A Chic Paris Lockdown – Part 2: Day 1 – Get Your Hyggie On

 November 3, 2020

It’s “Confinement 2” here in Paris since last Friday (Oct 30.) Same rules apply – you can only go 1 km distance from your residence and you can only go out of your apartment (max of 1 hour) for certain reasons (such as getting the essentials of life like food, medicine, fresh bread and chocolate.) One big difference is that the schools remain open so children do not have to do on-line school. In some ways, things are a bit better than last March when France first “locked down” – at least, we know what to expect. In other ways, it’s just as unsettling as it was last Spring. 

For this “Lockdown 2” adventure, let’s turn back to Fiona Ferris from New Zealand. She published a book right after New Zealand’s lockdown titled, 30 Chic Days at Home.  In her first day (chapter), she writes that she plans to use her “confinement” time to focus on being light-hearted and productive. It’s a good goal and I am following in her footsteps starting today.

The title for Day 1 is “Create a Cozy Nook.” Fiona discusses looking around our living area for an underused space that might make a pretty and cozy spot for a bit of self-care: a good book and a delicious cup of tea. We can dress up the space with a small bouquet of flowers or a lovely lap blanket.  The idea is to exercise our creativity in such a way that we have a “new” and pretty space that nurtures our soul right now.

My apartment here in Paris is a nice size for Paris – which translates to “pretty small” for most US sensibilities. No unused corners here. But….  looking around my beloved apartment, I must admit that there are some pretty cluttered corners!  (The corner where we all put (throw) our jackets looks like an avalanche waiting to happen. And the various sport supplies heaped in the opposite corner by my 2 teen-agers….Sigh.)

The Danish have a term called “Hyggie” (pronounced “Hoo-gah”.) It is used to refer to that feeling of warmth, coziness, safety and companionship that we might feel if we were seated in a comfortable chair by a nice fire watching the snow fall outside. (For me, there would be the scent of cinnamon and cookies baking.) The term also includes the sense that this moment is (peacefully) shared with friends and loved ones. No crazy rushing around. No endless to-do list looming over our shoulder. We can relax and enjoy this moment.

Hyggie is what I want to implement this lockdown (among other things – more later.) I will take Fiona’s “nook” idea and go tidy up the 2 spaces that definitely could be much more supportive of a more positive mindset. After that, maybe a small “tea break” (Moroccan Mint infusion combined with fresh mint leaves, to be exact) while I make a list of what other ways can I add some “hyggie” to my “chic Paris lockdown – part 2.”