Word: This text on consolation and connection is written by contributing author, Tammy Strobel.

Have you ever skilled guilt over taking breaks, spending time with buddies, or prioritizing your well-being? In case your reply is sure, you’re not alone. As an example, I nonetheless really feel responsible for working part-time as an alternative of full-time. This isn’t logical as a result of I simplified my life in order that I may work much less. This 12 months, I’m making a acutely aware effort to embrace practices that promote consolation, connection, and contentment.

Apparently, buddies who stay in numerous components of the world, like Spain and Portugal, have shared that the cultural way of living varies considerably from america. In these locations, individuals take time to have fun holidays and relish easy pleasures. Conversely, within the U.S., many staff don’t make the most of all their trip time, and a few, like myself, really feel responsible for opting to work fewer hours.

These reflections led me to discover practices embraced in different components of the world. On this article, I’ll share practices from totally different nations – just like the Danish idea of Hygge and the Swedish philosophy of Lagom – that encourage relaxation, fostering consolation and reference to family members, and coziness. All through this text, you’ll discover tiny steps that you may incorporate into your routine. Choose just a few of those tricks to infuse pleasure into your day by day life and, most significantly, have enjoyable!

1. Hygge (Denmark): The Artwork of Coziness

Meik Wiking, the creator of The Little Guide of Hygge: Danish Secrets and techniques To Comfortable Residing, shared with SELF that “hygge has been referred to as every little thing from ‘the artwork of making intimacy’ to ‘coziness of the soul,’ and even ‘cocoa by candlelight.’” I completely adore this idea! There’s one thing magical about turning the thermostat up just a few levels and snuggling on the sofa with my cat, husband, and an excellent guide. Having a cup of scorching espresso by my aspect elevates these easy pleasures, making them much more significant. 

Tiny steps to search out connection and luxury with Hygge

• Savor easy pleasures like scorching drinks, candy treats, watching motion pictures, and extra. 






• Gentle candles, flip the lights down, put in your favourite lounge put on, and snuggle up with a mushy blanket. 






• Deal with being within the second as a way to relaxation and loosen up with family members.

2. Fika (Sweden): Espresso Breaks & Connections 

Anna Brones and Johanna Kindvall wrote a beautiful guide referred to as Fika: The Artwork of the Swedish Espresso Break. They clarify, “Functioning as each a verb and a noun, the idea of fika is straightforward. It’s the second that you just take a break, usually with a cup of espresso, however alternatively with tea, and discover a baked good to pair with it. You are able to do it alone, you are able to do it with buddies. You are able to do it at residence, in a park or at work. However the important factor is that you just do it, that you just make time to take a break: that’s what fika is all about.”

In essence fika is greater than a espresso break. It offers individuals a second to decelerate, loosen up, take pleasure in significant conversations, and savor easy pleasures.

Tiny Steps to take pleasure in Fika

• Join with colleagues, buddies, or household by taking common espresso or tea breaks.






• Pair your espresso with candy treats like cake or cookies.






• Use Fika as a approach to decelerate and loosen up.

3. Lagom (Sweden): Simply Sufficient

Lagom is a Swedish precept that interprets to “simply sufficient” or “simply the correct amount.” Author and thinker Jonny Thomson explains lagom as, “realizing when sufficient is sufficient, and looking for steadiness and moderation fairly than consistently greedy for extra. Lagom is that feeling of contentment all of us get when we’ve all that we have to make us snug. It’s neither a millionaire’s splurge in Vegas, nor a pauper’s chilly winter night time. It means having a roof over your head, meals in your stomach, buddies at your again, and cash — simply sufficient cash — in your pockets. If Goldilocks had a catchphrase, it might be ‘let’s lagom this bear home.’”

Lagom jogs my memory of lots of the concepts related to easy dwelling like embracing easy pleasures and realizing how a lot is sufficient. For instance, my husband and I lived in a tiny home for roughly 5 years. We outgrew our little home, although. We wished a house that had more room for entertaining and cooking. Now we stay in a two-bedroom condo, and that’s “simply sufficient” house for us. 

Tiny Steps to search out consolation and reference to Lagom

• Goal for contentment in work, train, social meet-ups, and extra. 






• Embrace simplicity and “sufficient” in day by day dwelling.






• Foster equality and equity in relationships and communities.

4. Gluggaveður (Iceland): Window Climate Wonders

“The Icelandic phrase gluggaveður, which interprets as ‘window-weather’, refers to climate that’s good to look at out of your window, however much less satisfying whenever you’re outdoors. The wet day whenever you sip a cup of tea listening to the pitter-patter of rain on the roof, the howling wind shaking timber outdoors as you watch from the security of the kitchen desk,” says author Julia Barbosa.

Unknowingly, I engaged in gluggaveður final weekend. I sat on the sofa and watched the rainfall and the clouds race by. Then I combined some hygge into the day. I placed on mushy lounge put on, pulled out a blanket, and napped on the sofa. After I awakened, I continued to look at the climate from the window whereas consuming a scorching cup of tea. It was pleasant! 

Tiny Steps to embrace gluggaveður

• Respect the great thing about rain, snow, and winter landscapes via home windows.






• Unplug and comfortable up with a tea or espresso.

5. Ikigai (Japan): Discovering Objective and Pleasure

Ikigai – a Japanese phrase and philosophy – encompasses components that convey objective and pleasure into individuals’s lives. Author and thinker Jeffrey Gaines explains that ikigai brings achievement to people. Additionally, it may contribute to the nice of others by prioritizing social connections and doing significant work.

“For instance, if I’m obsessed with disaster counseling, am additionally expert at it, there’s a want for it in my world on the time, and I’ve a number of job presents on this subject, I would say I’ve discovered my ikigai candy spot,” says Gaines. The thought behind ikigai is to convey collectively “what you like to do, what you might be good at, what the world wants, and what you could be paid for.” 

Tiny Steps to encourage consolation and reference to ikigai.

• Uncover your “Ikigai” by brainstorming what brings you pleasure and objective. 






• Have interaction in actions that foster social connection like sports activities, gardening, attending neighborhood occasions, and extra. 

6. Ubuntu (Africa): I Am As a result of We Are

Wikipedia highlights that there are “many alternative (and never all the time appropriate) definitions of what Ubuntu is. Even with the assorted definitions, Ubuntu encompasses the interdependence of people on one other and the acknowledgment of 1’s accountability to their fellow people and the world round them. It’s a philosophy that helps collectivism over individualism.” Ubuntu is a stupendous idea. The philosophy jogs my memory that we’re all linked, and that people are social animals who want connections to thrive. I’ve found that slowing down can create house to attach with family members and communities.

Tiny Steps that will help you embrace Ubuntu

7. Siesta (Spain): Afternoon Nap Custom

In accordance to the BBC, the Siesta originated in submit Civil Battle Spain. They clarify, “Historically, the Spanish working day was break up into two distinct components: individuals would work from 9am till 2pm, cease for a two hour lunch break and return to work from 4pm till round 8pm. This disjointed day took place as a result of in submit Civil Battle Spain, many individuals labored two jobs to assist their households, one within the morning and one within the late afternoon. The 2 hour break allowed staff, particularly these in rural areas, time to relaxation or journey after the primary job ended.”

Apparently, the custom of the siesta is altering in Spain. In small cities, like Ador, the siesta remains to be a sacred custom. In bigger cities, this isn’t the case; over 60% of Spaniards don’t have the chance to take a day nap. Some corporations are attempting to convey the siesta again as a result of naps lower fatigue, improve productiveness, and extra importantly, enhance employee well-being. 

Tiny Steps to benefit from the Siesta

• When you can, incorporate brief naps into your day to recharge, relaxation, and enhance your well-being.






• When you can’t nap through the day, decelerate and meditate for a couple of minutes. You are able to do this on scorching or chilly days. 

Parting Phrases …

This 12 months, I’m going to borrow concepts from the gorgeous cultural traditions talked about above. The concepts impressed me to infuse extra consolation, connection, and contentment into my day by day life. Decide just a few of the tiny steps I shared on this article and be part of me!

Books that Encourage Consolation, Connection, and Contentment

• Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Lengthy and Comfortable Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles

There could also be affiliate hyperlinks on this submit of which I obtain a small fee.