College can often be overwhelming for many reasons – from an academic, financial, and/or social standpoint. So, you may sometimes find yourself needing to slow down and relax. Introducing the Danish concept – hygge.
“Spelling and pronouncing ‘hygge’ is the easy part. Explaining exactly what it is, that’s the tricky part. Hygge has been called everything from ‘the art of creating intimacy’, ‘coziness of the soul’ and ‘the absence of annoyance’ to ‘taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things’, ‘cosy togetherness’ and, my personal favourite, ‘cocoa by candlelight.’”
This quote sets the tone for Meik Wiking’s The Little Book of Hygge The Danish Way to Live Well. And in short, hygge can be summarized as the feeling of ‘home’ or being comfortable.
Although hygge will mean something different to everyone, here are some ways Mohawk College students can embrace their inner hygge this winter.
Winter can be stressful, however, that stress can be reduced.
1. Light a candle and cozy up on the couch with your favourite hot beverage and a good book (or movie).
2. Plan some time to call or see (in a socially distance safe way) a loved one you haven’t spoken to in a while.
3. Plan a night of the week to either take the time to cook your favourite meal or order in from your favourite restaurant.
4. Go on a long walk and listen to music (or just spend some time outdoors).
5. Take some time to organize something that’s making you feel overwhelmed (i.e. cleaning your room, organizing a ‘to-do’ list for the upcoming week, meal prep, etc.).
6. Do something that made you happy when you were a child (go tobogganing, make a fort, sing karaoke – just something you haven’t done in a long time that once filled you with joy).
7. Bring some greenery into your home/room.
8. Spend a day without technology (this may be even more important since a lot of things have changed to a digital format because of COVID) to avoid technology burnout.
9. Bring out your most comfortable clothing (your favourite cozy sweater, pants, etc.).
Cozy slippers are also a great item to pull out.
10. Plan something to look forward to (a date night with a loved one or significant other, a socially distanced birthday party or holiday gathering, a fun night to yourself, etc.).
As noted, college can be daunting for many reasons and this can be amplified in the winter with the cold weather, the holidays, midterms, and exams. So, regardless of what you call it, it’s important to take some time to do things that relax you and make you happy and spend time with people who support you (if you can do so in a safe way with COVID-19).
As your virtual built-in best friend, the MSA is also here to support you throughout your time at Mohawk College. Whether you want to attend a virtual event, join an MSA Club, or need to access the MSA Food Bank, or any other MSA service you can always lean on the Student Association for support.
The Career Closet is one of the many MSA services available to students.
Written By: Paige Petrovsky
MSA Marketing Copywriter
