Hygge has been huge in recent years. But what is it, and how can moms practice hygge? We’ll explore both in today’s post. You won’t want to miss these ways that you can bring hygge to your life!
I first heard the term “hygge” less than a year ago.
I was “hanging out” in one of those massive Facebook groups for women in their mid-30s and a chat about it began. Honestly, I was too embarrassed to ask what “hygge” meant or to admit that I had never heard of it. Where had it been my whole life–and was I missing out on this elusive new fad?
It turns out that “hygge” has been around for a long time, but the concept has gained new ground in the United States over the past two years. Hygge has been a Danish tradition for a couple of centuries (source), and the word, pronounced “hoo-gah,” embodies a sense of well-being and contentment that comes with internationally cultivating a “cozy” life.
In the post “How to Hygge: Embrace the Cozy Danish Concept,” the blogger behind The LuxPad writes: “Largely defined as more of a feeling or mood more than a specific word, the concept can be interpreted as a mental state rather than a physical one. Simple words like coziness just don’t do it justice with countless moments from slipping into a hot bath, to enjoying your morning coffee with a fragrant scented candle lit nearby just two of many examples of hygge. You can hygge with a good book curled up on a sofa or with friends around the fire or dinner table, even places can be hyggeligt (hygge-like), demonstrating just how far the notion reaches.” (source)
Hygge is the epitome of self-care. It’s the purposeful practice of taking time to simply be.
In a culture that is rife with busyness, learning to sit still can come with a learning curve–especially for busy moms and homemakers who don’t have much margin to breathe, much less schedule in time to simply do nothing but enjoy a cozy space with loved ones (or by themselves!).
But the older I get and the more confident I become in both homemaking and motherhood, the more I’ve come to realize that these times of self-care are essential to not only our well-being but also the health of our entire families.
And during times of hygge, we can also grow closer to God. In fact, the whole concept reminds me of one of my favorite Scriptures, found in Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.”
I don’t know about you but when I actually find myself in pockets of “stillness” throughout my day, I sometimes don’t even know what to do with myself!
That’s when a list of how to hygge can be helpful. I hope the following will give you some ideas and inspiration to practice hygge in your home.
Moms Can Practice Hygge Alone Or With the Kids
Confession: I remember a time when I would wake up in a stupor, consumed with fatigue and simply putting one foot in front of the other just to get through each day. I would often fall into bed each night without even putting on my pajamas!
This was when my three girls were babies and toddlers. I had the three of them within four years, and I admit that I sometimes feel I spent the better part of six years living in a fog!
I know that many moms in the trenches don’t have an excessive amount of time to do hygge alone.
I’m not going to suggest anything crazy like devoting an hour of each day to self-care and cozy alone time. There will come a day and a time where that might be possible, but it probably won’t happen while your kids are little.
Instead, I’m proposing that moms of young kids commit to just 10 minutes of hygge each day.
Ten minutes after your kids are in bed should be doable–if you’re intentional about it! With that in mind, here are 3 ways you can hygge for some much-needed alone time during that 10-minute window (and shoot for more than ten minutes when you’re able!). I’ve also included ways to hygge with your kids. Yes, self-care and “cozy” can (and should!) include hygge with your kids as well!
1. Read a good book.
Ideally, this book would be something that can relax you. I admit that I have a hard time with this. I’m a non-fiction junkie, an information hog. I love learning, so most of what I read each year is non-fiction. But I’ve noticed that this means my mind rarely just rests.
If you’re not into fiction, I suggest reading memoir. Memoirs often read like fiction, but they don’t cause information overload the way that many non-fiction titles can. Some of my favorite memoirs include:
(Of course, you can always cozy up with my new memoir, More Than Just Making It. 🙂 )
With the Kids: Hygge together with a read-aloud. The Little House on the Prairie series is our favorite right now.
2. Sit and sip a warm cup of tea.
I’m a long-time tea drinker, and even though I added coffee to my warm drink line-up when our firstborn was six months old, I still prefer tea as my hygge drink of choice.
In the hectic of the every day, I find myself scarfing down my morning coffee or tea instead of savoring it.
In the tradition of hygge, I’m now seeking to sit and sip and enjoy the warmth and flavors–whether I am reading a good book, curled under a cozy blanket, or nestled in a chair by the window (where I can catch glimpses of the fall leaves on the trees or a winter’s snow in a few months).
Because I like to kill two birds with one stone, I usually opt for some kind of detox or de-stress tea.
My sister-in-law recently tried and has raved to be about Lipton’s new Detox Tea*–comprised of detoxifying herbs like dandelion and nettle in a green tea. She also told me about Lipton’s Stress Less* tea, which combines cinnamon, chamomile, and lavender in a caffeine-free blend that is perfect for right before bed–a comforting, cozy herbal infusion to help you unwind*.These herbal teas are carefully selected botanicals that are blended with essential oils that make every cup delicious.
In the past, you could only find soothing and healing teas like this in health food stores. My sister-in-law lives in rural Mississippi, and these varieties are available in her local Kroger. I’m excited that drinks like this are making their way into mainstream grocery stores.
With the Kids: Hygge together by making some homemade hot chocolate, curling up under a blanket together, and looking through an old photo album.
3. Watch a favorite show.
I lost my TV addiction my freshman year of college–after going without it for an entire semester. Our family gave up cable years ago, but we now watch shows via Hulu or Netflix.
I usually only watch one show per week, and right now it’s This is Us. You can usually find me hygge-ing to it, as I sip my warm tea, curl up under a cozy blanket in my fuzzy socks, and get lost in each week’s episode.
With the Kids: Join them on the couch to watch a classic show from your childhood–something like the Little House on the Prairie show comes to mind.
Do you hygge? What are some of your suggestions for ways moms can practice hygge?
* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent disease.”
Thank you, Miriam, for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
Allison
So, apparently, I’ve been hygge-ing for quite a while and didn’t even know it! I looooove to curl up on my couch in my comfy leggings and fuzzy socks with a cup a hot tea and just sit in the quiet talking to God. I do this in the wee hours of the morning before my kids get up.
Erin
I feel the same way! Fun to have a name for it now! LOL
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
Though I occasionally drink herbal tisanes, usually for medicinal reasons, my hygge beverage of choice is black tea. I find the ritual of brewing a pot or cup (and a stainless steel infuser basket) of loose leaf black tea, timing it for 5 minutes, then enjoying it “very hygge.” I do this several times throughout the day. Having the cat on my lap for a while is another.
Erin
That sounds very hygge indeed!!
Lizzy
I have to admit I have no idea what this is but definitely trying to find margins for this in my life too. I love to boil up a pot of chai tea from spices, as they are so good for you! Don’t get to manage that too often though.
Erin
Oh my goodness–chai is my FAVORITE!!!
Brandi
Hi Erin! I enjoyed reading your list of hygge ideas for moms! I need more of that relaxed, but intentional living! My youngest is 2 and I feel like I’m still living in a fog (maybe a 10 year fog?), but I want to be able to enjoy my kids and some down time before they are grown! Great ideas!