How hygge can help us slow down

For many of us, the idea of ​​“slowing down” in January may seem counterintuitive. With the barrage of'new year, new me', advertisements for cleanses and exercise regimens to rid the body of any remnants of festive revelry, and an ever-present feeling of pressure to get back into full swing after a few days of relaxation during what is often the busiest time of year. In fact, if you have any intention of "slowing down" in December, chances are that family gatherings, work parties, to-do lists, shopping, and scheduling (not to mention the underlying uncertainty as to whether Christmas plans will actually go ahead this year because of you-know-what) meant that you may not have had the time needed to slow things down. If we don't take the time to rest and rejuvenate over Christmas, we'll end up stumbling into the New Year more ragged and drained than before, meaning the cycle of never-ending stress, anxiety and borderline burnout will rear its ugly head once again.

Living in the rhythm of nature

To give ourselves the time we need to recover and regenerate physically, emotionally and spiritually, it is important to make our lifestyle choices not according to the calendar on the wall, but according to the natural rhythm of the seasons. The three winter months in the UK are December, January and February, and the winter season holds a very particular energy that supports very specific activities. Winter is all about hibernation, rest, living a slower pace, strengthening our closest social connections, and taking time to reflect, reset, and eat specific seasonal foods. Winter is not about a high-energy, stressful, fast-paced life. Winter is not about detoxification and self-imposed pressure to make unreasonable life changes. Winter - and especially January, which is the middle of winter - is about bringing more hygge into our lives to slow us down.

What is Hygge?

Hygge (pronouncedHyoogahorhug) is a Danish and Norwegian term for a feeling of coziness, comfort, warmth, simplicity, nesting, unity with loved ones and deeply encompasses nature and the seasons. In these Scandinavian countries, the typically harsh winter results in families spending much more time hibernating at home, making time for cooking meals together, and making less time for the stressful hustle and bustle that can occur at other times of the year. This ability to adopt a restful and restful lifestyle is perfectly aligned with human development and in Meik WikingsThe Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way to Live Well,We will be introduced to various principles that we can practice to live more hygge.

If you want to learn to slow down, live by the laws of nature rather than the somewhat artificial calendar dates, and empower yourself to live at your own pace, read on to find out how to bring more hygge into your life.

Present

Immersing yourself in the present moment is one of the core principles of hygge living. This ability,Bemore anddoless is the key to truly engaging with life's small joys and helps build a sense of contentment not only with life, but with ourselves. It's now easier than ever to be distracted by technology and the demands of a busy life, but when we let the phone, social media, television, online meetings and endless emails take over, we lose our vitality and end up missing life as it passes us by. Practicing presence could be one of the most rewarding intentions you set for this new year and is incredibly valuable for our well-being. Be more present by setting strict work/life boundaries; Choose a time to turn off your email and stick to it. If necessary, delete email apps from your phone so that you can only access emails consciously and specifically on your laptop or computer. Similarly, spending an excessive amount of time on social media is a quick way to waste a lot of time and also prevents us from being present. Choose a place in your house to store your phone (like we did with home phones before cell phones were widespread!), and when you're finished using it, put it there. Having your phone in your pocket means it's all too easy to reflexively reach for it, but spending time without it allows us to re-immerse ourselves in everyday life and truly live it.

Our tips to help you practice presence:

Comfort

Feeling truly good is a wonderful thing for the nervous system, but we very rarely experience it anymore. Comfort is a feeling of being able to let go, relax and relax the nervous system, but when we are “on” 24/7, our body and nervous system can never relax. Feeling comfortable in our own skin is also an important aspect of hygge and is something many of us struggle with in January as external pressures change our bodies. The truth is, our bodies don't really want to lose weight in the winter - it has evolved over millions of years to store a little fat to maintain warmth during the colder months of the year. Any type of cleansing, quick, or mindful weight loss program is much better suited to spring, when the bitter greens start to grow again, the days get longer, and we're naturally more motivated to feel lighter. This is why most New Year's resolutions to give up favorite foods don't always go according to plan... January is the time to develop a sense of trust and love for ourselves in the body we currently find ourselves in. It is also the time to experience joy (another principle ofhygge),no guilt. Cook hearty, warming meals with seasonal foods like grounding root vegetables, dark leafy greens, and take your time! This is the month for slow-roasted one-pot meals, enjoyed slowly at the table with your loved ones. Instead of diving headfirst into a juice cleanse, give your body the nutrition it really needs over the winter and save the discomfort of detoxification for later in the year.

Our tips for more comfort when practicing:

• Das Praktizieren von restaurativem Yoga kann helfen, das Nervensystem tief zu entspannen und wieder in Gang zu setzen, indem es dem Körper beibringt, loszulassen und sich wirklich wohl zu fühlen. Verwenden Sie die Yogamatters Ultimate Restorative Kit um sich selbst oder einem geliebten Menschen R&R zu schenken.
• Kochrezepte von (Link entfernt) mit über 200 einfachen Rezepten, darunter Eintöpfe und gebackener Dahl – perfekte Winter-Hausmannskost!
• Der (Link entfernt) wurde entwickelt, um mehr Selbstakzeptanz, Selbstachtung und Selbstliebe in Ihr Leben zu bringen. Verwenden Sie diese Karten inmitten des Drucks, sich im Januar zu ändern, um Ihr eigenes Gefühl für persönliche Kraft und tiefe Verbindung zu sich selbst zu stärken.

gratitude

Gratitude is thoughtful, which of course requires us to slow down and pause. When we take a moment to reflect on what we are grateful for in life, we are practicing another key aspect ofHygge.While the first few days of January are often filled with resolutions, new intentions, thoughts of change, and generally accelerating into another year, it can all weigh on us and often cause us to make decisions based on what we thinkshoulddo, not what is really right for us. Feelings of genuine gratitude help us feel both present and well, and significantly boost mood - useful in the darker winter months. Gratitude helps us become aware of all the things we are already grateful for in life and naturally makes us live more slowly and mindfully. Aside from writing a daily gratitude list, we can increase feelings of gratitude by expressing them to others; who are you grateful to? When was the last time you thanked yourself? Receiving gratitude is also a powerful way to rewire the brain to feel more socially connected and calm.

Our tips to help you practice gratitude:

• Der (Link entfernt) ist eine einfache Möglichkeit, konsequent eine Haltung der Dankbarkeit einzunehmen. Verwenden Sie das Tagebuch, um sich an etwas Positives zu erinnern; ein einfaches Vergnügen, jemand, den Sie schätzen, oder sogar eine herausfordernde Erfahrung.
• Mit 50 falschen Streichhölzern, die Aufforderungen enthalten, Ihre Umgebung zu schätzen, ist das Funke Dankbarkeit Kasten ist eine schöne und einzigartige Möglichkeit, Dankbarkeit mit einfachen Handlungen zu üben, wie zum Beispiel einen geliebten Menschen anzurufen oder sich an vergangene Anlässe zu erinnern, die Ihnen Glück gebracht haben.
• Beginnen Sie jeden Tag des Jahres mit einer Dankbarkeitsmeditation von (Link entfernt) von Emily Silva. Begleitet von Illustrationen und Naturfotografien soll dieses Buch Ihnen helfen, früh aufzustehen und Ihren Tag sinnvoll zu beginnen.

These are just three ways hygge can help us slow down this January, which is more important than ever in a time of constant change and uncertainty. Forget the calendar on the wall and empower yourself to live at a more natural pace aligned with the winter season in January.