Hygge or hyperactivity?

The word Hygge became popular in Denmark to indicate a Danish flavour of cosiness and relaxing lifestyle. It can be a social sense of togetherness -spending time together-, or it can be a more solitary version with books, sofas, fireplaces, cats and cups of tea. Hygge expresses a kind of well-being, of harmony with other people without looking at the clock. Hygge may well be the opposite of hastening and hyperactivity.

Hygge was originally a Norwegian word, which meant something like consoling or comforting. It is related to an English word we all like: to hug: to embrace, literally: to build a fence or form a hedge ('haga') around someone. (The word Hygge is therefore etymologically related to my family name Lahaye.)

It is clear that there is a growing market for Hygge. We have all become restless and hyperactive. The reason may be the earlier discussed Beschleunigung of life. Hyperactivity brings us in a vicious circle. It creates restlessness and stress. We long so much for rest that we become restless in trying to achieve it. We can’t even wait for anything anymore. As soon as we are kept waiting, we take our smartphone and make other people wait for us.

Let us be restless in fighting hyperactivity and let us leave no opportunity unused to bring more Hygge in our daily life, be it with colleagues or with family members. Let us get rid of the smartphone and let us hug our dearest and nearest a little more. I refer to my earlier blog Lifestyle.