The main goal of my hygge journey is to create an environment that fosters a life that has more presence and intentionality. Since reading The Little Book of Hygge I’ve created a few rituals that help facilitate that pause that is so desperately needed for everyone, but especially for moms. The following list are comforting small rituals that give me the space to breath on days when the cortisol is through the roof.

1. Metta Meditation. I was first introduced to meditation via a 10 day silent retreat where I practiced Vipassana meditation 11 hours a day (I tend to go a bit extreme when I first try things). This was a life changing experience and the best introduction to meditation, but the two-hours-a-day “maintenance” they suggest is just not practical for me. Instead, I start my day with 10 minutes of Metta meditation. Metta meditation is basically a way of practicing kindness on purpose. I sit quietly and repeat simple phrases wishing myself well, then extend those same good vibes to people I love, people I don’t really think about, and even people who I’m frustrated with. It works for me because It’s less about “doing it right” and more about softening your heart and showing up with a little more patience and compassion.
   
2. NO NEWS. This is the smallest, easiest, but most impactful change that I’ve implemented. Not reading the news seems easy enough, but checking it in between emails became such an engrained habit and was drastically bringing down my mood/spiking my cortisol. I’ve since blocked all news sites on both my computer and phone, gotten rid of all social media except Pinterest and LinkedIn, and as a result feel much more in control of my mood. Our adrenal glands can only handle so much before they become fried.
   
3. Stoicism. I love my new habit of reading The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday. The whole idea is simple: a short Stoic lesson for every day of the year that helps you live calmer, clearer, and more intentionally. Very Hygge.
   Today’s lesson:
   You don’t have to have an opinion. “We have the power to hold no opinion about a thing and to not let it upset our state of mind- for things have no natural power to shape our judgement.” -Marcus Aurelis, Meditations, 6.52
   
4. Fika. I love the Swedish ritual called fika, which is basically a built-in pause in the afternoon (usually around 3pm) for a cup of tea or coffee and something small and sweet. It’s not about snacking or powering through emails, it’s about actually stopping. Fika became part of everyday life in Sweden back in the 1800s as coffee became more common, and it stuck because people realized how calming it was to slow down together. I’ve started thinking of my own version of fika as a way to reset the day instead of pushing through that mid-afternoon slump. A warm drink, a little treat, and a few quiet minutes that feel intentionally unrushed. It’s such a simple way to make the rest of the day feel softer. My go to sweet treat: Clio bars.
   
5. Get Outside. Once a day, usually in the late afternoon, I step outside for a few minutes of fresh air and natural light no matter the weather. This sounds easy enough, but I live in the Pacific Northwest where it rains 150 days a year (very hygge). I leave my phone (why is this so hard) for a quiet pause to let my body reset. It’s a simple way to slow my nervous system down and gently shift out of the rush of the day.