adding plants or an office garden. Think about adding couches
for people to use when they have long reports to read or need
to hold a quick and informal meeting. A hygge office is also one
that is egalitarian. Organize activities such as office potlucks for
lunch one day of the week. When everybody shares, everybody
gets hygge.
THE HYGGE MANIFESTO
Here are 10 ways to bring some hygge into
your neck of the woods for a happier home,
office and lifestyle.
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P: The last chapter in your book, Hygge and Happiness,
dives into the reasons Danish people are so happy. For
those around the world who aren’t privy to Danish culture
and lifestyle, what’s your tip to them toward achieving
hygge?
W: There is no faster way to get hygge than to light a few
candles, or as they say in Danish, levende lys, or “living lights.”
Then make a hyggekrog or nook. It’s the one thing every home
needs and it is the place in the room where you love to snuggle
up in a blanket, with a book and a cup of tea. And then start a
new tradition with your friends and family. It is common
knowledge that the best part of memories is making them—
playing board games on the first Friday of every month, or
celebrating the summer solstice by the sea, or any meaningful
activity that unites the group will knit everyone more tightly
together over the years. That’s hygge, anywhere.
P: A common hygge misconception is that it can only be
achieved in the winter. Why is this an incorrect way of
interpreting hygge?
W: Hygge is about a cozy atmosphere and being with loved
ones, so you can hygge all year. Hikes and bike rides in the
spring, summer picnics by the sea, and apple picking in the fall
are all hygge.
P: Above all else, what is hygge really about?
W: Ultimately, hygge is about an atmosphere. It is about being
with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we
are safe, that we are shielded from the world and that we allow
ourselves to let our guard down. n
WANT TO ACHIEVE HYGGE in your life?
Click here to download a Hygge Manifesto
PDF to hang in your home or office.
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ATMOSPHERE Turn down
the harsh fluorescents
and light some
candles.
PRESENCE Be in the
here and now; turn
off your phone when
you’re in a meeting or at
dinner.
PLEASURE Indulge in what
makes you happy (cake is
very hygge).
EQUALITY Think “we”
over “me.” Share the
responsibility and
the credit.
GRATITUDE Take it all
in and be grateful for
what you have.
HARMONY Not everything in life is a
competition, especially conversation.
COMFORT There’s no rule that says your
office must be stiff.
TRUCE No drama. Let’s discuss
politics another day.
TOGETHERNESS Build
longstanding
relationships with
narratives.
SHELTER This is your
tribe, where you’ll find
peace and security.
May 2017
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