Hygge, Holistic and Humph
I always say reflexology is like having a big hug so it is appropriate that I am into all things HYGGE. My sister always says my house must be cold as I have a penchant for blankets – fluffy, quilted and tartan! My best gifts are scented candles and my friend makes fun of my love of hot chocolate as soon as the temperature plummets.
When I had my treatment room I made good use of Pinterest to decorate it and hygge style was definitely an influence even if I didn’t really know what it was then. Then my mate Sal gave me ‘A Little Book of Hygge’ and that was when my life was complete!
So what is hygge?
hygge
[ˈh(j)uːɡə, ˈhʊɡə]
NOUN
1. a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture).
“why not follow the Danish example and bring more hygge into your daily life?”
Hygge is a recent phenomenon meaning well-being and being cosy and comfortable, Hygge encompasses taking pleasure in simple things and making the most of living in the moment.
There top five things that make my life hygge
1) Candles
My current favourite is Yankee Candles’ Black Cherry. My other favourite fragrance which I love is grapefruit. Grapefruit is high in antioxidants, it is low in calories and high in nutrients. Did you know that grapefruit oil is an orange-tinted, citrus scented oil frequently used in aromatherapy. Through a method known as cold-pressing, the oil is extracted from glands located in the peel of the grapefruit.
Grapefruit essential oil has distinct properties that may offer a variety of health benefits – including reduced blood pressure and stress levels. Other benefits include:
– it may suppress appetite
– it may promote weight loss
– it may help balance mood
– it is antibacterial
– it may help reduce stress and lower blood pressure
– it may contribute to healthy skin preventing skin conditions such as acne
2) Textures
I adore my living room, it is small, cosy and very relaxing. We have slouchy sofas robed with blankets and adorned with cushions of all sizes, colours and fabrics. Sometimes I have the urge to go to John Lewis or M&S and buy trendy new matching ones but what is the point with a house of leggy youths and cuddly cats. Unfortunately we don’t have a real fire but I can dream! My living room is where my children ‘hang out’, where I have entertained book club, coffee club, pamper events and I indulge in binge watching drama on Netflix (There you are you know my guilty secret!) People have been known to crawl under a rug and snatch a doze and when the sun streams through the window it’s hard to resist a naughty nap.
3) Simplicity
In 2020 and in order to embrace all things hygge I am attempting to declutter. I have fallen in love with THIS GIRL CAN ORGANISE on Instagram! I started with my wardrobe. Learning all sorts of tips from YouTube and Pinterest my bedroom is becoming a proper sleep cave with cream bedding and throws, clothes tidied away and stored in drawers and my bathroom is a haven for relaxation. Beautiful tropic products for spa like bathroom routines adorn the shelves.
4) Comfy lounge wear
I have loved getting into my pyjamas at the earliest opportunity for my whole life. Now there are whole sections of comfy lounge wear – hard to believe I know. I don’t actually own any lounge wear because I can’t see the point. Why not just put your pyjamas on?
5) Favourite photos
There are apps for organising and storing old photos. Albums of family photos are becoming a thing of the past. I love looking at old photos, especially when visiting friends and family. Remembering happy holidays, weddings, Christenings and Christmases and those who are no longer around. With Instagram, snapchat and Facebook the younger generation are living for the moment and instantly showing their adventures but what about saving those memories for posterity? Do you know I no longer have a camera. I have to remember to download my photos on to my laptop or use iCloud or they will be lost in the ether.
On a more serious note – for 25 years I worked a frenetic and stressful job as an English teacher in a secondary school. I did exam marking to earn money for family holidays and other luxuries. Planning and marking until the early hours was the norm. I juggled work with bringing up my family. Eventually the stress took its toll on my health and I was signed off work with anxiety. Every cloud has a silver lining. Being off work gave me time to rethink my future – I left teaching, trained as a reflexologist and changed my lifestyle.
So hygge may seem a bit of a buzz word but I think it summarises quite nicely the way I want to lead my life and to help others, by enjoying a well-balanced lifestyle and teaching others how to look after themselves.
Judith, x
