{"id":125,"date":"2018-06-08T08:35:36","date_gmt":"2018-06-08T08:35:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.idealflatmate.co.uk\/flatmate-HQ\/?p=125"},"modified":"2019-06-03T10:18:14","modified_gmt":"2019-06-03T10:18:14","slug":"living-hygge-in-london-tips-from-a-happy-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/flatmate-HQ\/living-hygge-in-london-tips-from-a-happy-nation\/","title":{"rendered":"Living Hygge in London: Tips From a Happy Nation"},"content":{"rendered":"

What the Hygge<\/span>?<\/span><\/b><\/h1>\n

It\u2019s no secret that Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world. In fact, they ranked number two in the <\/span>2017 World Happiness Report<\/span><\/a>, second only to Norway. With the UK ranking considerably lower at number 19, we might do well to take a leaf or two out of Denmark\u2019s book. And, if you want a specific book, Marie Tourell Soderberg\u2019s <\/span>The Danish Art of Happiness<\/i><\/span><\/a> is a great place to start!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In her book, Soderberg equates a large part of Danish happiness with the concept of <\/span>hygge<\/span><\/i>– a term untranslatable in English but one which is often branded as \u2018cosiness\u2019. As this encyclopedia of <\/span>hygge<\/span><\/i> suggests however, there is so much more to this apparent wellspring of happiness.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps our difficulty in defining the term is that<\/span> hygge<\/span><\/i> and <\/span>hyggelig<\/span><\/i> moments (there is a whole vocabulary of hygge terms!) mean different things to different people.<\/span> <\/i>The Danish Art of Happiness<\/i><\/span><\/a> explores a collection of individual ideas of <\/span>hygge<\/span><\/i> that seem commonly centred around feelings of contentment, warmth, safety and being present in the moment.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018We Culture\u2019<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Hygge<\/span><\/i> flourishes in and very often hinges upon a sense of belonging, shared experience and community. Psychologist <\/span>Iben Sandahl<\/span><\/a> says that <\/span>hygge<\/span><\/i> generates a \u2018we culture\u2019. She explains in the book that an attitude of \u201c\u2018we find safety in each other\u2019 and \u2018we share this experience\u2019\u201d is what Danish society is built on, \u201c-a community orientated society.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to <\/span>Hygge<\/span><\/i> With Your Flatmates<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h1>\n

Yes, <\/span>hygge<\/span><\/i> can be a verb as well as a noun!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>What better opportunity to bring some Nordic-style happiness into your life than in your flatshare? A flatshare is a happy community just waiting to happen – yet so often opportunities for human connection and shared experience are lost thanks to our attachment to technology and screens. While alone time is necessary (and it\u2019s possible to <\/span>hygge<\/span><\/i> on your own too), here are some tips on inviting a little <\/span>hygge<\/span><\/i> into your household.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. The Dining Table<\/b><\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n


\n<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Sandahl<\/a><\/span> notes that the basic need for human contact (demonstrated in babies\u2019 dependence on body and eye contact for survival and development) are linked to \u201cthe satisfaction and joy that results from <\/span>hyggelig<\/span><\/i> contexts; we feel stimulated, seen, heard and recognised\u201d.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Consider the humble dining table, though it may seem arbitrary, its very design encourages togetherness, invites conversation and forces eye-contact and human connection. Pulling up a chair and sharing some good food with flatmates promotes wellbeing and forces you on some level to connect without distraction, enabling that sense of being seen, heard and recognised.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your schedules don\u2019t align and you can\u2019t stretch to a meal, sharing a cup of tea, \u00a0glass of wine or your favourite single malt around the table is just as good. Drinking something slowly together promotes conversation and encourages people to stay around the table for longer, enabling relationships to build and people to feel comfortable and safe with each other.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Practical Tasks<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Psychologist Heidi Schutz says \u201cit can be very <\/span>hyggelig <\/span>to do practical things together.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

This could start with something as simple as cooking a meal together. As well as being a time and cost-effective alternative to each housemate cooking alone every night, it will encourage a sense of community and contribution- essential for both contentment and of course <\/span>hygge<\/span><\/i>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

3. Games<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Board, card, parlour, drinking – the varieties of games at your disposal are endless and wide-ranging! The sentiment behind them, however, is the same, to give your eyes a rest from screens and provide an opportunity to connect with some real live people – and have some fun in the process. After all, many of the contributors to <\/span>The Danish Art of Happiness<\/span><\/i> emphasise the importance of being connected and \u2018in the moment\u2019 to create a sense of <\/span>hygge.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A good game can dissolve insecurities and tensions between people, and encourage eye contact and communication, again stimulating those feelings of being seen, heard and recognised that contribute to a <\/span>hyggelig<\/span><\/i> time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Fire<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

This section comes with a health & safety warning!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThousands of years ago we were hunter-gatherers…The fire became the central place of warmth and light and the culture of togetherness in eating evolved.\u201d <\/span>-Marie Tourell Soderberg<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Warmth! Light! Ambience! From a couple of tea lights on the dining table to a roaring fire-pit in the back garden, the warm golden glow on a dark evening can spark feelings of well-being, relaxation and community.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Chimineas and fire pits come in a range of shapes and sizes, and can fit in the tiniest of spaces, ideal as sprawling gardens can be scarce in the capital! The warmth and light generated from a fire, even a small one, can keep you cosy and outdoors for hours. Stargazing with a friend and a glass of mulled wine can be a great way to relax after a long day, and a small fire will make this possible- even in the winter months.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What the Hygge? It\u2019s no secret that Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world. In fact, they ranked number two in the 2017 World Happiness Report, second only to Norway. With the UK ranking considerably lower at number 19, we might do well to take a leaf or two out of Denmark\u2019s … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Living Hygge in London: Tips From a Happy Nation”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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