As I’ve been thinking about
how to spend some “me time” today, I remembered I’ve been wanting to try the hygge lifestyle and a fika coffee break for a while. Do you know the difference between hygge and fika? They are all the rage in the world of self care right now, so I thought I’d break them down for you and maybe in the process decide how I want to spend a quiet hour this afternoon.
Hygge:
Origin: Danish, also practiced in Norway
Meaning: A way of life celebrating coziness and togetherness
How to: Create a cozy and warm environment, gather with loved ones, enjoy warm drinks and treats, relaxation
Pros: Easy to find little ways to incorporate into daily life, improved relationships, less stressful way of living
Cons: Some practices may not be as appealing in hot summer months, some aspects of the lifestyle may not appeal to everyone
The verdict: I’m so excited to add some hygge elements into my daily life (especially more gatherings with loved ones!). I don’t think it will feel as overwhelming to practice hygge if I start by thinking about how to make my current self care practices a little cozier.
Fika:
Origin: Swedish
Meaning: The practice of taking a relaxing afternoon coffee break
How to: Have coffee and a treat each afternoon, relax, unplug & unwind, slow down mindfully
Pros: Relaxing, happens daily so you prioritize self care, helps you practice mindfulness
Cons: May feel restrictive or forced since it is a daily practice, could be costly if you’re buying coffee and treats daily
The Verdict:
I love the idea of fika and I’ve been having a coffee in the afternoon for a while now (#momlife), so I’ll definitely continue to! I think I’ll try to take it outside and leave my phone inside from now on!
Buuuut….I am also such a huge fan of hygge! If you want an easy way to add more hygge to your life, check out this
“How I Hygge” worksheet!
So what do you think? Now that you know the difference between hygge and fika, which do you prefer? Have a great weekend, Besties!
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In Sweden we have fika many times a day. At least five times for me. My fist fika is at 6 am, usually a latte. It doesnt have to be coffee or tea with something to eat,it's often just a cup of tea or coffee. We have two 15 minute breaks at work where everyone fika toghether.
That is so amazing! Way better than once, for sure! 🙂 I love that co-workers fika together…I bet work is a much nicer place to be because of that!
I'm Swedish and fika is not only a coffee break but also a social event as it's usually done together with family, friends or coworkers as a way to spend time and catch up over a cup of coffee and often some cinnamon buns! Fika is at the very heart of Swedish socialisation.
Sounds amazing, Jonna! I love fika even more now! 🙂 Guess I'll be moving Sweden to the top of my must-visit list!! Cinnamon buns and coffee sounding pretty amazing right about now!
What a lovely little article about two of my favorite things.
Thank you! So glad you stopped by! 🙂
lagom is our equivalent to hygge. fika usually just refers to coffee
Thank you! Lagom is something I've been wanting to learn more about! 🙂