Many of us have encountered hygge through its cosy, simple aesthetics. While aesthetics are certainly part of hygge, hygge is so much more than beautiful candles, warm blankets and knitted socks. At its heart, hygge is about creating conditions that support wellbeing, ease and personal connection.
The more I learn about hygge the more connections I see between hygge practices and a slow and sustainable creativity.
Slow & Sustainable Creativity Embraces Hygge
- Hygge begins with a sense of safety.
Safety instantly allows our bodies to relax, possibly stop predicting the worst-case scenarios, which would help us to be more at ease with ourselves, and the world.
For me, an important factor of feeling safe is having economic security. My understanding of economic security doesn’t only mean having money in my bank account but also:
- living below my means (the longer I’ve been practicing this the easier it integrates into my lifestyle),
- having a variety of skills that I can use daily such as baking, cooking or mending clothes,
- having my balcony garden and growing herbs, flowers, baby tomatoes and rhubarb (this is what I currently grow as I have no more space)
- collecting seeds from my own plants or the plants I find and occasionally buying seeds (I also gift seeds to friends with gardens),
- looking at my needs holistically and focusing on my needs versus my wants (for example before I buy something I take my time, read re-views, do my research etc.),
- not obsessing about the future and retirement.
Different factors, skills and beliefs will make different people feel safe so I encourage you to spend some time reflecting on what makes you feel safe and at ease in the physical world and how that could translate to safety and ease in your creative practice.
For me, having economic security allows me to focus more fully on my creative practice.
- Hygge encourages being and living here and now.
It isn’t always easy to be present especially when so much is happening in our own lives and the society that is out of our control.
In my case and in the current state of the world, following the news does more harm than good. (Especially to people who want to be fully present for themselves, their families, friends and communities, the news builds up the constant cycle of fear of the future as fear is a well-known control tool.) Limiting my exposure to news, political podcasts and anything and everything that was taking me away from the present moment had to go. Focusing on here and now not only allows me to be there for my family, but also helps me get to know myself better, which positively impacts my creative practice, project development and my connection to creativity and creative self.
Reflect on what stops you from being fully present in life, at work or for your family (in my case it was the news and the politics). Once you know the main cause, identify actions you need to take to remove yourself from situations that block your connection to the present moment.
- Hygge celebrates simple pleasures.
Sounds so easy, right? But the simple pleasures, such as a long walk in your local park or a tea or coffee from your trusted ten-year-old thermos might be perceived by some as “not very exciting”. Especially if you compare yourself to people online, people who seem to live not only in fabulous locations, have unlimited budgets, the ability to travel on a whim or engage in constant overconsumption. That kind of lifestyle has been portrayed by mainstream and social media as very exciting and desirable. For me personally, it is not as I like slow-conscious living and travelling possibly as far away from major metropolis as possible.
However, that doesn’t mean I don’t get caught up comparing myself to others all the time losing sight of what I already have access to.
I have a feeling that there is a general assumption that the simple pleasures are not worth the bother because of their simplicity, accessibility or affordability.
For me, a walk in a park, a swim, or really good hot drink not only helps me relax but also offers the breathing space between everyday life and work.
Simple pleasures are priceless for creativity. Some of the most amazing ideas emerge when we are immersed in activities that aren’t over-stimulating, cognitively draining or financially straining.
Since I love lists, I suggest you make a list of top 5 activities that are simple, bring you joy, and you can engage with ease and without additional expenses. Simple pleasures can change your life drastically and very quickly.
- Hygge values connection and togetherness.
In the world, where productivity is almost forced down our throats sometimes spending time with others becomes impossible or is treated like yet another task on the “to do list”.
Before I consciously decided to slow down, I kept thinking about work, projects, planning and mentally writing and re-writing my to-do lists. I could never switch off, which meant that spending meaningful time with others was hard.
However, I feel that without spending meaningful time with others it’s hard to carry on making art, engaging with creativity and creative expression.
Connection with real people is nourishing and vital for a healthy mind, body and spirit.
So next time you are with your friends and family see if you are truly present for them and for yourself. If not try to identify what stops you and what needs to change in the future for you to be fully in the moment.
- Hygge encourages comfort and wellbeing.
Creativity and creative ideas need the right kind of soil, to sprout and grow. Embracing the hygge concepts can assist you in looking after your wellbeing, the kind way. Burnout culture and the cult of extreme productivity is not the right approach for building slow and sustainable creative practice and won’t help create long lasting meaningful comfort and wellbeing.
If I let external pressures get to me, my wellbeing suffers and as a consequence, my creativity suffers too. In the past I embraced the extreme productivity and ended up burnout.
Use reflective practices to gather information on what gives you moments of comfort and enhances your wellbeing and do those activities daily, even if it’s a short 5-minute playful break. (I know life is busy and we are all busy but looking after our wellbeing should come first before everything else.)
- Hygge focuses on slowing down to appreciate everyday experiences.
It could be tricky in a world that seems to run on speed and constant new trends.
But, from my own experience I can tell you that slowing down has helped me recover my energy levels, be creatively curious again and playful.
Appreciating everyday experiences has not only enhanced my quality of life but also has given my brain and body the space to recover after busy periods, reconnect to what’s essential to me and embrace the fact that sometimes doing nothing is the most productive thing I could possibly do that day.
Reframing productivity in the context of slow and sustainable creativity through reflective practices has recentred me and reintroduced joy and curiosity in my creativity.
Go back to your list of simple pleasures, pick one activity, act on it and appreciate the experience.
Hygge reminds us that creativity does not grow through pressure, competition or endless doing. It grows through slowing down, connection, presents and simple everyday pleasures.
Just like hygge, creativity can’t be forced. It emerges when we create the right conditions for it to flourish.
Perhaps a slow and sustainable creative practice is less about doing more and more about creating a life that welcomes creativity.
Happy Creating,
xx
Magda
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