Winter Is Here-- And so Is Hygge!

window-1956424_1920.jpg

I’m sure by now you have all felt the effects of the sun setting before 5 pm.  Those dark winter months of the Pacific Northwest are here to stay, at least until next March.  After the manic fun-filled energy of the summer months, it can be hard to feel jazzed about winter.  Or is that just me? The sun has usually been set for an hour or two by the time I get off work, which makes life feel a little less joyful.  But here in Oregon, it’s nowhere near as bad as even more northern latitudes.  Surely, people must find a way to cope with the dark and dreary winter? Right? 

fog-1535201_1920.jpg

The Nordic countries, Denmark and Norway in particular, have crafted a cultural phenomenon around these winter months. It’s called hygge (pronounced like hyoog-uh).  At their northernmost regions, these nations only see 1-4 hours of sunlight a day, sometimes even less. It can be difficult to feel happy and cheery when you don’t get nearly enough sunlight.  Hygge translates to “coziness” in English, but it carries more meaning than just the straight translation.  At its core, it’s about gathering with loved ones and feeling cheerful and content in the moment. It is not, despite some companies’ best efforts, a buyable commodity or marketing scheme.  It is more like a moment in your life where, despite the crappy weather outside, you are warm and happy and filled with love. The closest equivalent I can think of in American culture is the super-cheesy Christmas Spirit you see in commercials around the holidays. Minus the capitalism. Don’t get me wrong; I love hygge.  It is the only way I can make it through the winter season in the land of the 4 pm sunset. 

blaze-2178749_1920.jpg

So what types of activities are considered to be hygge? Think wrapping up in a cozy blanket with a cup of hot cocoa,or sitting by the fire on a cold night.  Doing puzzles, reading in bed, watching a movie with the kids and a big bowl of popcorn-- all hygge. It’s about making the most of the time we have and sharing moments with the people we care about.  Miek Viking, the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute and author of “The Little Book of Hygge” describes a very hygge moment spent in a cabin one Christmas.  No matter what you describe as hygge, it should always  have a certain emphasis on simplicity and camaraderie in the present moment. Here at the Pearl, we see moments of hygge play out everyday.  It’s two friends giggling in the lounge as they sip tea before their appointments.  It’s coworkers going on a wintry walk around the block together on their lunch break. 

Cup of coffee sits in front of window with rain and fallen leaves

Where do you see hygge in your life?  If you feel stressed by the lack of sunshine, how might you enjoy incorporating this into your life? I’d love to hear more about your definition of the word in the comments below.

Wishing you all a warm, safe, and hyggelig December,

Hannah.

Featured
Holiday Gift Guide 2024
Holiday Gift Guide 2024

Is it me or is that time just ticking away? How’d it turn into Friday? I swear I was just shaking my fist at the Monday morning sky whispering, “Not you again!” Do you ever feel like you have just enough time in a week to do what the company wants, what the kids want, what the community wants? Then your to-do list becomes a to-doom scroll? If it’s rolling under the car, it’s probably too long. What if we could help you think about one less thing and help you make some feel-good choices this season?

Easy Habits to Improve Your Immune System
Easy Habits to Improve Your Immune System

As those hot summer days transition into beautiful fall days, we all know that there is the potential to come in contact with seasonal colds and the flu. Add a global pandemic on top and it because apparent that health and wellness are of utmost importance this time of year. As I lean into my own season of wisdom and deeper self care, I have found there are ways to better support my body and immune system with the shift in weather and potential contact with unwell coworkers, kids, and community.

When the Pollen Comes 'A Callin'!
When the Pollen Comes 'A Callin'!

Managing allergy difficulties is especially rough during the spring and summer months in the Pacific Northwest. I love the magnificent majesty that is Oregon. As the season changes, so do the allergens in the air, triggering symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and congestion for many of us; sometimes I have to go inside to breathe better or stop clawing at my face, despite wanting to enjoy a picnic or walk about on a sunny afternoon.

The Power of Traditions: Uniting Past & Present
The Power of Traditions: Uniting Past & Present

Introduction

Traditions are the timeless threads that weave through the fabric of our lives, connecting us to our roots and shaping our sense of identity. While many of us associate traditions with holiday rituals and celebrations, their significance extends far beyond these festive occasions.

In this blog post, we will embark on a journey through the rich history of traditions, exploring their evolution and why they continue to play a pivotal role in our lives, both during the holidays and year-round.

The Art Of Healthy Boundaries
The Art Of Healthy Boundaries

During these shorter days and cold, long nights, many of us are spending our evenings getting cozied up in our sweaters or blankets and possibly thinking about the upcoming holidays. While some of that might give you the warm fuzzies, thinking about the holidays can also stir feelings of stress and anxiety. Whether dinner parties, company events, or family dinners with not-often-seen family members, these opportunities can be a great time to connect and feel the holiday spirit. Annddd they can also open us up to difficult people and difficult situations that can cause us to feel overwhelmed or even lead to emotional shutdown at a time of year we might like to otherwise enjoy.

Relaxation Delivered, A New Model for Care
Relaxation Delivered, A New Model for Care

Self-Care Check-In: Not Feeling So Hot?

How does your self-care look these days?

Do you have all the time you need to fit in exercise, eating well, and taking care of your mental health? Does your work day stay within its tidy bounds? Or does your to-do list affect your interactions with your family, your children, your partner? Does everything just go totally smooth and as expected every day? If you’re a busy professional (or just a living human), I’m guessing you’re balancing a lot and can probably answer NO to most or at least some of those questions

Prioritizing You—Self-care Through Spa Membership
Prioritizing You—Self-care Through Spa Membership

You're not alone. Life can get hectic, and it's easy to put ourselves last on the list of priorities. If you’re like me you think, “Oh yeah, I’ll schedule that massage when I get home. “ Nope! No I will not. I will get caught up making dinner, helping the kiddo with homework, answering texts from three days ago, and trying to remember to sit down. I often say, “I need an adult!” Cause let’s be real—we could all use the help of another adult from time to time. And even this adult struggles to prioritize self-care, despite being surrounded by a team of people at The Pearl believe that self-care is essential for overall well-being and happiness.

Do I Really Need You?
Do I Really Need You?

HUMAN CONNECTION IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR WELL-BEING.

Do you ever find yourself caught in between feeling both lonely and overwhelmed by social interactions? In a world where we are constantly surrounded by people, yet feel disconnected and isolated, it's easy to fall into the trap of comparing our lives to others through social media—feeling left out, questioning why we aren't receiving invitations or participating in the same activities as our peers. This critical voice inside our heads fuels self-doubt, pushing us to measure our worth based on what others are doing. The more we delve into this cycle, the more overwhelmed we become, until human connection itself feels like just another burden on our never-ending to-do list. And these hard feelings can be detrimental to our health…increased cortisol (stress hormones), lack of sleep, and can negatively affect our mental health. While we may jokingly throw around the phrase “compare and despair,” there’s a lot of truth to it. Never before in human history have the highlight reels of nearly everyone we know been constantly visible to us 24 hours a day.

The Power of Positive Touch: Nurturing the Queer Community
The Power of Positive Touch: Nurturing the Queer Community

As a queer person who has worked in a touch-centric industry for decades at this point, I can assuredly say that my relationship with touch was not always a simple or positive one.

The challenges faced by the queer community, which often go unnoticed by a heteronormative society, deserve attention and understanding. The narratives presented in stories, movies, advertisements, religious teachings, friendships, literature, and societal norms perpetuate the notion that there is a singular correct and acceptable storyline for people's lives, dismissing any other experiences as deviations to be concealed or left unspoken. Without counterbalancing messages to combat these pervasive feelings of exclusion, many of us have grown up with an inherent sense that our very essence as individuals is fundamentally flawed.

The Mental Weight of Motherhood - And 10 Ways You Can Help
The Mental Weight of Motherhood - And 10 Ways You Can Help

Being a mom is fucking hard. No matter how amazing a person is, this is an inescapable truth. And when you can tell it’s hard from a distance, you know it’s exponentially harder firsthand. Stereotypes aside and progress included, there is still an undeniable societal expectation that mothers bear the brunt of the mental load when it comes to caring for the family. From planning meals to organizing schedules to managing budgets, to maintaining a career, the to-do list for moms appears never-ending. Add to that the mental labor of keeping the family together, managing everyone’s emotions, and often being expected to be the primary caregiver for children, and it’s no wonder that so many mothers feel overwhelmed and exhausted.

Guest UserComment