The Little Book of Hygge Summary

By Meik Wiking

Denmark is nothing if not consistent – and also extremely happy. In fact,

the Danes are so happy and consistent that they rank in the Top 10
Happiest Countries, and have maintained a top-five position for
numerous years. So, as it turns out, William Shakespeare may have been
wrong about Denmark. There doesn't seem to be anything rotten there at
all.

The Little Book of Hygge is a charmingly beautiful manual, aimed at making

our lives better, through embracing comfort, warmth, and generosity. It
delves into the Danish sensibility where much of their famed happiness
centers on "hygge," or "coziness."

Meik Wiking is a bestselling author, and CEO of the Happiness Research

Institute. When it comes to understanding happiness, there really isn't
anyone who is better equipped to deal with the subject. His books have
won international acclaim, and Wiking is recognized by Time magazine as
the world's happiest man.

We'll briefly begin by defining hygge, and then we'll show how we can all
bring a little bit of Danish magic into our lives. So, if your life needs a little
bit of brightening up, or if you feel the need to be more fulfilled, this is an
utterly charming and heartwarming book to cozy down with. Not only is
hygge is part of the Danish spirit and culture, it's also encapsulated in the
delightful writing style, and the beautiful illustrations and photographs.
Happiness Lives Here

Denmark is a country that prides itself on work-life balance. While

business and careers are important, the Danes also place a very high
value on leisure time, family, and solitude. The country's social, political,
and economic structure allows for a very high quality of life; however,
there's another compelling factor to how Danes experience everyday life.

Everyday life in Denmark is frequently dark and cold because of their

winters, and their summer months are also relatively cool. While some
people might moan about the cooler climate, the Danes embrace it
because it's the ideal setting for "hygge." And hygge is at the center of
Danish happiness.

So what exactly is this mysterious hygge?

Hygge is the pursuit of everyday happiness – it's about finding joy in the
experience of each and every day. It's about finding an appreciation for
the small things that add huge value to our lives. This appreciation
manifests itself in Danish culture, because hygge is also about
togetherness and sharing. While you can experience hygge by yourself,
the Danes put a lot of emphasis on spending time in intimate groups. The
core ideas are around well-being, coziness, warmth, safety, intimacy, and
gratitude.

Hygge has been described in several ways: 'the art of being consciously
cozy,' 'a hug without touching,' 'socializing for introverts,' 'cocoa by
candlelight.' Anything annoying or invasive is the antithesis of "hygge."

Although hygge is about creating an idyllically cozy atmosphere, it isn't

an aesthetic. Where people often misinterpret it, is that it's not about
consumerism or commodification. Recently hygge has shot into the
stratosphere of popularity. It was shortlisted for the Collins dictionary
word of the year in 2016, but ironically Brexit got the vote. Whereas
Brexit is exclusionary, hygge is all about a spirit of sharing, togetherness,
and equality. Social media influencers, Pinterest users, and YouTubers
have taken to hygge in a massive way, and it's lost a lot of its original
ethos. For example, a precursory Google image search will show images
of perfection. These images reveal an idyllic chocolate-box world with
chunky socks, perfectly coordinated color schemes, elaborate lighting
concepts made to look like candles, piles of woolen blankets, and
expensive wooden furniture. While some of these elements are hygge,
Wiking asserts that hygge is for everyone, it's not a design scheme, and it
shouldn't necessarily come with a hefty price tag.

So, you'd be wrong to listen to the social media influencers and hygge
appropriators. You don't have to go out and spend a fortune to
reconfigure your home to join in the hygge revolution, and find happiness
in domestic bliss. The Little Book of Hygge shows us simple ways to make
our lives better, how to embrace the spirit of hygge,and the importance
of identifying "hygge moments." Furthermore, it's about embracing life's
small moments, sharing them with others, and being more mindful of life's
beauty and wonder as it occurs.

So what are some of the little things that make your life better, and let's
see if these encompass the spirit of hygge?

Let There Be Light

How do you feel when you walk into a room with fluorescent or bright
lights?

Many of us feel overwhelmed, annoyed, disoriented, uneasy, or stressed.

These feelings are the opposite of hygge.

Hygge is all about feeling maximum levels of comfort and coziness.

Hence, the very first step is to create an atmosphere that's welcoming –
even if you're just welcoming yourself. Creating an atmosphere often
comes down to lighting, and for the Danes, there's nothing more essential
than an abundance of candlelight. If you're fortunate enough to have a
fireplace in your home, this definitely creates a "hygge-like" atmosphere.

While hygge isn't about accumulating things and relying on objects to

create the experience, you're going to have to invest in lots of candles.
The good news is that there's nothing less hygge-like than expensive
scented candles. This isn't the time to load up on fancy candles endorsed
by celebrities – candles shouldn't cost more than a couple of dollars.

Candles are so crucial that the Danes burn the most candles in Europe.
On average, a Danish person burns just over 13 pounds of candle wax per
year. Wiking explains, 'No recipe for hygge is complete without candles.
When Danes are asked what they most associate with hygge, an
overwhelming 85 percent will mention candles.'

The candle is so fundamental to the Danish state of being, that if a Dane

were to refer to you as a "lyseslukker," you'd better take a long hard look
in the mirror. This insult can be translated as "someone who puts out a
candle." Candles are so ubiquitous, and so much a part of daily life, that
they're found in almost every Danish building. So whether you're at home,
in a coffee shop, in an office block, or classroom, you're bound to find an
abundance of candles.

Switch to Silent

Are you the type of person who finds it very annoying when someone's
cellphone goes off in a cinema or quiet space?

Noise can pierce through the tranquility of an atmosphere, and

completely ruin a moment. When creating a cozy and welcoming
experience, we need to consider the impact of both sounds and silence.
Sound affects how we relate to the space around us, and it can be very
distracting – particularly if it's a manufactured sound.

Whether you choose to experience hygge alone, or with other people, it's
crucial to practice mindfulness and "be in the here and now." Since hygge
is about enjoying what's around us, living in the moment, and being free
of distractions, it means that technology should be switched off and
ignored.

So, for anyone who battles with friends and family members attached to
their devices, embracing hygge might be an excellent way to get them to
digitally detox for a few hours.

Mindful Indulgence

Hygge is about embracing small and indulgent pleasures. However, this

isn't a license to scoff down that giant slice of chocolate cake – you
actually have to enjoy and appreciate it. The Danish philosophy seems to
be that if you genuinely enjoy eating something, then you can delight in
cakes, cookies, cheese, coffee, and so on. The idea here is that life is
about enjoying pleasures, and not feeling without or restricted.

In many other cultures, mindful eating isn't practiced as often as it should

be, and instant gratification results in consuming without enjoyment. The
hygge philosophy is to celebrate indulgent treats, to share them, and
experience them slowly. Savor the moment. And don't rush what you're
putting into your body.

The Danish coffee shop is at the heart of hygge – in fact they have a
word called kaffe-hygge. By bringing together lighting, atmosphere,
warmth, beverages, and delicious homemade treats, the simple act of
meeting a friend for coffee can be intensely hygge-like. However, kaffe-
hygge also brings together the idea of good quality and ethically sourced
ingredients.

We're all Equal and Should Live in Harmony

Ethics, equality, fair, and organic are some of the other words you're
likely to find in the hygge lexicon.

The Danes pay high taxes, but you'll seldom hear them grumble about
this. Despite the high taxation, Denmark is a very equitable country, and
the taxes are used on free quality education, free healthcare, excellent
infrastructure, an efficient transport system, and an abundance of
cultural and recreational facilities.

The mindset of the Danish population is that community is paramount.

Whereas other countries adopt a singular, and "me" attitude, the Danes
are all about the collective "we." This sense of community and
togetherness imbues all aspects of daily life, and even though solitude
and being alone is encouraged, the sense of community is solid.

If you don't like sharing, then hygge is probably not something that you'll
relate to. Hygge is all about sharing meals, being hospitable, sharing
moments, and sharing conversation. It's about listening and not being
arrogant or self-involved. Life isn't a competition; it's about everyone
enjoying things together, and sharing in the joy and simple pleasures.

Oh, and if you plan on discussing politics, save it for later. Hygge
moments mean shelving any differences of belief and embracing the
spirit of unity and togetherness.

Keeping it Together

The spirit of unity, togetherness, and gratitude is paramount to

experiencing the true wonder of hygge. However, hygge isn't about large
crowds; it's about intimacy.

What better way to experience this than by telling stories and

reminiscing? Hygge embraces nostalgia and capturing those beautiful
memories and moments. However, hygge isn't just about the significant
events like Christmas, birthdays, and so on. Hygge is about making the
everyday something to celebrate. Americans give thanks once a year, but
why not do this more often? You don't have to put on an elaborate feast
to convey gratitude. The Danish mentality is that exercising gratitude and
being thankful is part of every meal. After all, the moment you're
experiencing now could be as good as it gets.
When was the last time you enjoyed a family dinner?

Family dinner isn't just about sharing a meal with relatives – it's about
acknowledging that family comes in many forms. We are social animals
and form kinship through storytelling and creating memories.
Relationships are continually being built upon, so never take that family
meal for granted. Set the table, turn off devices, light candles, and share
a nourishing meal together.

Home is Where the Hygge Is

Finding comfort in one's home is the essence of hygge. The Danes put a
lot of emphasis on their homes because they spend a lot of time in them.

The Nordic Lifestyle has become increasingly popular. The Nordic

aesthetic is so popular that some people even refer to it as "furniture
porn." There's no doubt that the Danes are passionate about design and
aesthetics, but that doesn't mean that creating a home around the idea of
hygge, should be expensive.

Nonetheless, our author does recount a delightful story of when he was a

student and spent his hard-earned salary on a very expensive chair. He
spent a month's salary on an antique chair and got to enjoy it for two
years before it was stolen. Wiking, the happiest man in the world, wryly
muses, 'needless to say, I was angry that my beautiful chair had been
stolen. But at least the burglars had good taste'. Few things capture the
Danish sensibility more than this.

71% of Danes experience hygge at home. So, with this in mind, how can
we create that feeling of harmonious home-based hygge? The first thing
is to focus on things that are relaxing, comforting, cozy, and snug. But
remember, it's not about perfection or huge expenses. Wiking suggests
that to create a hygge-like space, we need to ask ourselves: 'How would
a Viking squirrel furnish his living-room?'

Here are a few ways to get started if you want to bring hygge into your
home.

Many Danes have a sanctuary or "nook" in their homes called a "hygge-

krog." You don't have to have a bay window, or even a large house to
create your own hygge-krog. On the contrary, Danes celebrate small
spaces because they're safe and welcoming. With a little imagination and
some cozy cushions, blankets, a few books, and obviously the obligatory
candles, you'll be able to create some Danish magic in your own home.

If you have a fireplace, stock up with wood and use it. What's more, invite
friends and family members to share the space with you. If you don't
have a fireplace, create other ambient spaces in your home by lighting
lots of candles, creating pools of light, and providing blankets and comfy
areas to relax. A dining room or kitchen table is another great space to
share with people.

When thinking about what makes a home hygge-like, focus on natural

materials, wood, and bringing the outside in. Highlight all of the beautiful
books around you, have an abundance of blankets, cushions, and
textures. And finally, remember that hygge is about appreciating what
you have. After all, simplicity is happiness.
In Conclusion

Hygge is a noun, and a verb, and a feeling. Hygge can also be an

adjective – something can be hygge-like. Perhaps hygge has also
become a Zeitgeist, a rebellion against capitalism and instant
gratification? However we define it, it's utterly irresistible to those
introverts among us. It's license to relax, license to indulge, and license to
put on warm wooly socks and hunker down with a good book and a
steaming hot beverage or glass of wine.

The best part about it, is that it's a shared experience, so it's guilt-free. In
fact, the book provides us with recipes like meatballs and homemade
bread, perfect for sharing among friends. Provided that we indulge
mindfully, share abundantly, and savor each precious moment, we're
completely nailing the essence of hygge.

So it could be time to slow down, turn down the lights, switch to silent,
and embrace collective well-being. Maybe, just maybe, this little book
isn't so little after all?