It is rather ludicrous that the 353 days before December 25 each year are days with enough problems and life’s issues — full of upheaval, instability, and emotional turbulence. And yet, it is in the final 7 days of the year that pressure exacts its toll. Large swathes of the religious and consumer imaginations wield their potent force on people’s lives, leading to the annual onslaught of Christmas anxiety and strain.
In the interest of one’s wellness in the midst of the hectic holiday season, it pays to heed the way of life of the world’s “happiest people,” the Nordic citizens of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. This region’s brutal winters bring closed-in cocooning and tilt into imbalance the work-life equation, which is at the core of the Scandinavians’ life satisfaction factor. The cold December and the demands of the holiday rush trigger the need to put the mind at ease. That’s why they practice “hygge.”
“Hygge” (pronounced “hoogæ” or “hyoo-guh”) is a concept of cultural conviviality, of taking care of one’s self, of feeling content with what one has or owns, of doing things that bring joy and satisfaction. It can be enjoyed alone or with other people sharing the same idea of happiness and contentment. To ensure joy and peace of mind, hygge, to those who engage in it, is a commitment.
As a “restorative practice,” hygge embodies a sense of coziness and togetherness, comfort, harmony, gratitude, and shelter. Danish families serve home-cooked meals, enjoy pleasant conversations, and engage in group singing. Individually, they also cherish their quiet corners and soft lights, even for a few hours of solitude or by reading, listening to music, or watching a favorite show.
Things that are “hyggelig” can help ease the pressure and demands of the Christmas season. The season of peace and goodwill for the world requires some private moments of peace and goodwill as well for everyone. It is a much-needed self-care accommodation in the midst of family expectations and social gatherings, and the frenzy of planning and cooking, shopping for gifts, decorating the home, entertaining, traveling, and ensuring absolute perfection for many other tasks. Managing mental health challenges associated with the highly commercialized religious event is key to benefiting from hygge.
Chicago’s own deep freeze Christmas and its attendant din and pressure can learn a thing or two from hygge. Grabbing a couple of hours of private time can do wonders to ease the mind, settle rattled nerves, and maintain a healthy mental state, ready for the grind of the succeeding hours. Note that New Year’s own riotous celebrations are gearing up and ready to launch in just another week.
So for the local folks, Christmas is the soaring season for experiencing things hygge, for allocating finite hours across life and holiday domains, and escalating conscious personal priorities for a change.
Learning to say “no,” planning in steps and setting boundaries around expectations are preliminary steps. It is the prelude to setting up one’s very own physical hygge that starts with choosing that elusive corner. Add convivial elements: gentle carillon bell chimes if not Christmas melodies in the background, a shower of soft lights from an overhead lantern, the warmth of the nearby flickering fireplace, a comfortable recliner or massage chair, a cup of steaming coffee or tea, some fluffy ample blanket to ward off the chill, a small reading lamp and a favorite book to complete the scene.
It’s time the environment is blanked out—and imagine thoughts that calm and soothe, just like how the Danes and Swedes and Norwegians seek comfort and peace of mind from their countries’ hollowed iced shoreline. Here, one marvels at the magical, majestic fjords, carved out by retreating glaciers whose pristine chill and silence make hyggae even more peaceful and nurturing.
Connie Triggiano is currently Board Secretary of Circa-Pintig, a Chicago community theater organization. She works as Academic and English tutor assisting foreign students to pass IELTS, TOEFL, Celpic, ESL and other English exams to gain admission to universities in English speaking countries. She also trains greencard holders to pass US citizenship exams and interview. She worked for many years as Vice-President of Chicago-based Leo Burnett Advertising in its Manila office where she managed the advertising accounts of the country’s biggest brands: Procter & Gamble, Pepsi Cola International, BPI, Vicks, Wyeth and Cathay Pacific. She edited a travel newspaper in Singapore and taught college freshmen in a local university. Connie graduated with a BA degree, major in English, from the University of San Francisco in California while working as an information officer for a United Way agency. She took up MS in Advertising at the Asian Institute for the Development of Advertising, UST Graduate School.
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