Hygge? Koselig?

You don’t need to spell it - you feel it. What these two words have in common and how to experience it.

Hygge (pronounced hyoo·guh) has been a trending word in the past decade, synonymous with cozy. The word hygge originates from a word that means well-being. The word first appeared in the written Danish language in the early 1800’s. Hygge is focused on the atmosphere and experience - provoking a sense of home and safety from the chaos of the world. The feeling of hygge can be experienced alone or amongst others.

A similar, but less known word is the Norwegian word, koselig (pronounced koosh-lee). Koselig is both a noun (koselig) and a verb (kose). Koselig is challenging to translate but can be roughly translated to the feeling of warmth, intimacy and togetherness, while connected with nature. It differs from hygge with an emphasis on our connection to each other and with nature.

Research has affirmed that we should pursue experiencing hygge/ koselig in our daily lives to achieve well-being.

A few brief ways to koselig supports wellness:

• Social connection is critical to our health and tied directly to longevity.

• Decreasing stress has numerous mental and physical health benefits.

• Disconnecting from digital devices calms our nervous system down and decreases our cortisol levels.

• Reconnecting with the nature around you decreases your odds of dying prematurely and increases positive mindset.

• Warm lighting boosts creativity and watching a live fire induces relaxation and lowers blood pressure.

Koselig has been an important aspect of Norwegian culture due to long, dark winters. Norwegians needed to focus on finding joy in the mundane and dark seasons. However, koselig is relevant all year round - to allow yourself to fully embrace each season of life and to prioritize what is meaningful for connection and wellness. In Norway, there is a saying ‘there is no such thing as bad weather - only bad clothing’.

This powerful Norwegian philosophy reminds us to adjust our mindset and to search for or create joy in small moments.