Both concepts are about wellbeing and creating a relaxed and cosy environment throughout your day-to-day routine. The main difference between the two is that where hygge is a Danish tradition, mys is Swedish. Mys is about time for yourself, separating work from pleasure and making sure relaxation is a primary part of one’s day. Not too dissimilar to hygge, mys encourages comforting and hearty food as well as incorporating fredagsmys to the end of your week which translates into ‘cosy Friday’. To be honest, I’m sold. If the Swedes are encouraging mandatory total indulgence after work on a Friday, I’m in.
For me, and probably for many people, the bedroom is a sacred place. But if you have a partner, bedtime can sometimes feel like more of a war zone rather than a haven. Admittedly I don’t really relate, because I’m the one who deep sleeps and coils the duvet around me until I’m completely cocooned. Bliss. [caption id=“attachment_32136” align=“alignleft” width=“173”]
Samol Herbal Hair & Scalp Oil, from £5.40 www.samolherbal.com[/caption] For those left on the outside, join the Swedes who believe in having two duvets to ensure blissful bedtime is maximised for both. If you sleep solo, well this just seems like a win-win. For an even more luxurious sleep cycle Samar Farooq suggests Samol Herbal Hair and Scalp Oil, which is intended to relieve anxiety. Samar recommends: “To help soothe your worries away and help you get a restful sleep, as well as treating your locks, leave the oil in overnight and then simply wash out in the morning.”
Get off your computer, get off your iPad, get off Instagram, get off Facebook, get off your gaming console, and get off Netflix. Mys is all about ‘me time’ and maintaining that all important connection with actual people and natural elements. Not necessarily endorsing mys, but I think she hits the nail on the head, in an interview with Pitchfork Bjork explained: “You can be on Facebook for a long time, and then you get a feeling in your body like you’ve had three hamburgers. You know it’s trash. “I always advise my friends: just go for a walk for an hour and come back and see how you feel then. I think we’re meant to be outdoors.”
Food glorious [organic] food! Yes mys is all about indulging in food, but it’s also about indulging in the right food. Swedes believe in eating organic, local and season produce to optimise hearty eating. Nutritionist Cassandra Barns said: “Eating foods when in season means that you’ll be eating the way nature intended it. “Summer fruits and vegetables tend to contain higher amounts of water, which dilutes their nutrient content. Compare this to winter fruits and veggies and you’ll find they’re richer in nutrients such as vitamin C and contain more valuable fibre.”
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Try a cacao bar such as OMBAR 72% Raw Cacao (www.ombar.co.uk, £1.99)[/caption] There’s indulgent food, and then there’s a one way ticket to clogged arteries, a heart attack and perhaps high blood pressure. Again, the Swedes believe in comfort but the right kind of comfort such as dark chocolate instead of milk or white. Cassandra Barns explains: “If you love the taste of chocolate, just indulging in your favourite treat can release endorphins to the brain. And with dark chocolate, you’re getting the endorphin hit without the sugar overload.”
The older I’ve become, the more I’ve turned into my mother - it’s substance over style all the way. But it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to don tracksuits and wear pjs all day long. You just have to dress for the weather with basic things like thick socks, wooly jumpers and layers. [caption id=“attachment_32139” align=“alignleft” width=“205”]
Carnation Footcare’s Silversocks (www.firstaidfast.co.uk, £12)[/caption] Carnation Footcare Podiatrist, Michael Ratcliffe, said: “During the winter months our extremities, such as our feet tend to suffer the most from the cold. It’s really important to keep your feet well insulated during this time. “For toasty, fresh feet I would recommend Carnation’s Footcare’s Silversocks. Silversocks are made with pure silver threads. These unique fibres act as a natural heat thermostat, regulating temperature and helping to keep toes toasty when the temperature drops.”
Like hygge, the Swedes are also big advocates on work/life balance. And I agree, it’s a fundamental step to enhancing your well being. So, if something can be left until tomorrow then leave it till tomorrow. It’s a misconception that mental and physical health are not linked, but it doesn’t take a scientist to realise that this is bull. Dr Marilyn Glenville, the UK’s leading Nutritionist, believes: “There is nothing in your life right now more important than your health. Learn to say no if you feel that you have taken on too much. “Being assertive is invigorating and empowering. It also helped to make list f way is or I not a priority and to tackle the priority tasks first. This will help give you a sense of control over your life.”
