10 Ways to Hygge at Home for Emotional Wellness

Recently, I read a book called "Hygge: The Danish Way of Living Well" by Meik Wiking. Hygge [prononounced Hoo-ga] is a Danish word for finding happiness in simple and little things in life such as candles, flowers, sunrises, sunsets, a cup of tea, old songs, a cozy reading corner, classic books, etc. 

In the current scenario of the Corona Virus outbreak, when we are compelled to stay indoors, it is the best time to find and discover our hygge -our safe haven. And once we discover that sweet place, we can enjoy this chaotic period instead of panicking. Everything that is related to hygge makes us feel happy, calm, and safe. 

Hygge is a situation where there is a lot of relaxed thoughtfulness. Hygge is about being kind and loving to yourself. Danes believe that their homes are the best place to practice hygge. They put a lot of effort into making their homes hyggelig. 

Let's take a look at the 10 ways to Hygge at Home for our Emotional Wellness:

1. Light an aromatic candle

According to Danes, Hygge is incomplete without candles. Every evening, light an aromatic candle and meditate for a few minutes. As you inhale the aroma of the candle, imagine divine light healing your mind, body, and soul. Envision your heart radiating love to everyone in the world going through some suffering. Inhale love. Exhale anxiety. 

My favourite scents are lavender, sandalwood, rose, jasmine, and vanilla. 

2. Make a playlist and share with your friends

Create a hygge playlist of 20-50 songs that make you feel happy, safe, peaceful, motivated, and inspired. Share it with your family and friends. Music is a great way to connect to your own self and with your loved ones. 

3. Enjoy Board Games

Spend the time that you are getting with your family by indulging in board games. Whether it is Ludo, Carrom or Chess, engage in a game for that sweet feeling of nostalgia and uninterrupted bonding. 

4. Cook a special meal together

Make an evening special by cooking a special meal along with your family and friends. Time spend with loved ones creates a warm and relaxed atmosphere. 

5. Bring out those photo albums

One of the best ways to hygge at home is to take out all the photo albums and watch them with your family. Relive the most beautiful moments, laugh together and spend a memorable evening. Alternatively, you can arrange your digital photographs in various folders and start a slide show. 

6. Write Notes of Gratitude

Hygge helps us to stay in a state of gratefulness everyday because it is all about savoring the simple pleasures of life. It is all about making the most of the moment. You can start your day by thinking of the 10 things that you are grateful about. You can write little notes of gratitude for your family, friends, acquaintances. Email it to them or give them when you meet them the next time. 

7. Curl up with a Classic Book in a cozy reading corner

Create a beautiful hyggekrog in your home, which means a 'cozy nook'. It is the place in a room where you would love to curl up with a book and a cup of tea. You can put a blanket, a few cushions, and fairy lights to make it your comfy place. Now read that classic book that you have been longing to read for a while. I recently read all the 7 Harry Potter Books within 20 days by creating a cozy nook in my room. And I enjoyed every minute of it. 

8. Get back to a hobby

True happiness and satisfaction in life depends not on what we have consumed but what we have created. When you are compelled to stay indoors, befriend an old hobby. Start painting or calligraphy. Play a musical instrument. Dance like no one is watching.

9. Start a Hygge Journal

A Hygge journal or Happiness Journal is for preserving the most beautiful and endearing moments of your life. They need not be extravagant moments, but rather sweet, simple, heart touching moments that make you smile again and again. 

Write the most beautiful moments that you have experienced in the past month or year. You can relive them whenever you feel a bit low. Alternatively, you can make a bucket list of happy, hyggelig moments that you would like to experience this year. 

10. Appreciate Nature

Slow down and look at the beauty of Nature comforting us unconditionally. Enjoy the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets that we so often take for granted. Bask in the moonlight. Gaze at the stars. Water the plants in your garden. Appreciate the flowers blooming and the birds chirping without any complains. Get one with Nature. Take plenty of photographs. 

These are some great ideas to hygge at home. Hygge is a way of life, a feeling, and a mood that helps you to remain happy with the things that you already have in life. It is a great way to boost our emotional wellness. Let's go within and find our hygge. 

This post is a part of Blogging with a Purpose series in association with Blogchatter. My theme for this year is Physical, Mental, and Emotional Wellness. 

#CauseAChatter

10 Powerful Affirmations to Begin the Day With

“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”- Claude M. Bristol

Our mental state depends on the things that we constantly tell ourselves. Negative self-talk can push us towards stress, anxiety, and depression. Positive self-talk can uplift us to a state of peace, love, harmony, and confidence. Affirmations are powerful and empowering words that we choose consciously to tell ourselves.

When we wake up in the morning, we must create positive and empowering thoughts that will keep us energetic throughout the day. If we start our day with thoughts like “I am late”, “I don’t know what will happen in today’s meeting”, “The traffic is so bad.”, “The weather is so bad”, etc, we will lower our vibrations instantly.

Instead of feeling recharged and energetic, we will feel anxious and stressed about the day ahead. Our negative thoughts occur mostly because we are not aware. Practicing affirmations is training our mind to start the day with positive, loving, and empowering thoughts.

My morning routine comprises saying my affirmations for the day ahead, a session of yoga and practicing a gratitude exercise .

10 positive affirmations to begin the day with

Affirmations have a lot of power. When we affirm something, it becomes our reality over time. You can practice the following affirmations within one hour of waking up in the morning. 

“I am healthy, happy, and complete.”

“I love and approve of myself exactly as I am.”

“I attract loving people in my world.”

“I am at peace with myself and everyone around me.”

“All my relationships are harmonious.”

“I add value to the world through my work.”

“I am a magnet for Divine prosperity.”

“I am worthy of the very best in life.”

“I trust the process of life to bring me my highest good.”

“Life loves me. All is well in my world. Today is going to be a great day.”

How to practice affirmations?

You can write down these 10 affirmations on a notebook or on your Smartphone. While having your morning tea or coffee, open the page where you have written them.

Begin with the first affirmation. Say the words slowly and feel them deeply in your heart. Continue the same way for the other nine affirmations. You will experience a happy and peaceful feeling while saying them. 

Repeat the 10 affirmations again, this time a little faster with a smile on your face. Feel the Universe blessing you as you say each affirmation. This simple exercise will take a maximum of 5 minutes, which we all can spare.

Wrapping it Up

Choosing healthy thoughts with awareness is the kindest thing that we can do for ourselves. Positive affirmations in the morning are a great tool to be in a state of awareness and boost our positivity.  If you start practicing affirmations daily, it will soon become a habit and then a lifestyle. 

We are the Creators of our own reality. We create our reality through our thoughts, feelings, words, and deeds. Therefore, it is extremely important to train the mind to begin the day with positive thoughts.

Start your mornings with these 10 powerful affirmations and you will notice a significant change in your mindset within 2 weeks. If you want to read a beautiful book on affirmations, you can check our Louise Hay’s “You can Heal your Life.”

This post is a part of Blogging with a Purpose series in association with Blogchatter. My theme for this year is Physical, Mental, and Emotional Wellness. 

#CauseAChatter