How a Trip to Denmark Taught Me to Slow Down, the Hygge Way

I’ve always loved to travel. I’ve been to many different countries, and I still believe that traveling is one of the best gifts life can offer. It opens your eyes, broadens your understanding, and gives you memories you carry forever.

But there was one trip in particular that changed me, quietly and profoundly.

In September 2023, I went on a business trip to Copenhagen, in the beautiful country of Denmark. At first glance, it felt similar to the other European cities I’d visited before. The architecture was classic. The air was crisp. The blue skies stretched endlessly across cobblestone paths and historic buildings. The autumn breeze carried that familiar golden light that makes everything look like it belongs in movies.

It was a work trip, so most of my weekdays were spent with colleagues. But this time, we weren’t just stuck in meeting rooms, we had the chance to truly experience the culture through our Danish coworkers. We got to know the people, their traditions, and most beautifully, their way of life.

That’s when I was introduced to a concept I’d heard about but never felt before: Hygge.

Hygge isn’t just candles and soft blankets. It’s the Danish art of creating cozy, contented moments. It’s about being present and intentionally enjoying the simple pleasures in life, whether you’re alone or with people you love. It’s about slowing down not out of exhaustion, but by choice.

One weekend, our team decided to explore more of Denmark. We took a trip to a place called Klampenborg, just outside the city. We rode bicycles through an expansive forest that felt like something out of a dream. Trees stood tall in endless rows, their leaves painted in warm autumn hues. The sound of birdsong, uninterrupted by city noise, followed us as we cycled beneath a canopy of gold and amber.

The air was fresh. The world felt still. And for the first time in a long time, so did I.

There was this one moment when the wind touched my face just right, as I cycled through the trees. It wasn’t joy in the loud, laughing kind of way. It was joy wrapped in stillness. A feeling of deep calm that softened everything inside me.

I realized how long I had been living in noise, in cities, in routines, in endless lists and expectations. I realized that I had mistaken being busy for being alive.

That forest taught me to pause. It reminded me that peace doesn’t have to be rare. That slowness doesn’t mean falling behind. That I could choose to live more intentionally, one breath, one moment, one quiet joy at a time.

Hygge wasn’t just a cultural novelty. It was a mirror showing me what I had forgotten: that contentment can be created.

That trip didn’t just shift my mindset, it redefined my dreams. I used to equate success with constant movement: advancing in my career, staying productive, taking care of others, always doing. But Denmark showed me a different kind of aspiration. I began to dream of a life that’s not just full, but peaceful. A life where I could still be in tech, still be a breadwinner, and still carve out space for slowness, softness, and peace. It is possible. I no longer see those things as mutually exclusive. I now believe I can thrive professionally and live gently. I can show up for others and for myself. That clarity changed everything.

5 Key Takeaways from My Denmark Trip

1. Peace isn’t something you find, it’s something you create. You can bring serenity into your life by slowing down and being present in small moments.
2. Nature reconnects us to ourselves. The forest in Klampenborg reminded me of how far removed I’d become from silence and softness.
3. You don’t need grand plans to enjoy life. A slow bike ride, a warm drink, or a walk through leaves can be just as fulfilling as a vacation.
4. Slowing down helps you listen to your life. When the noise fades, your intuition becomes clearer.
5. Culture can teach us how to live, not just where to go. The Danish way of life reminded me that calm is a lifestyle, not a luxury.

5 Tips for Slowing Down, Hygge Style

1. Create cozy rituals. Light a candle before your evening tea. Wrap yourself in a soft blanket. Let ordinary routines become comforting habits.
2. Add softness to your space. Think warm lighting, natural textures, and calm colors. Hygge thrives in environments that invite ease.
3. Savor the moment. Don’t multitask your joy. When you drink coffee, just drink coffee. Let it be enough.
4. Spend time in nature, even briefly. Step outside. Feel the wind. Watch the sky. Hygge finds magic in the natural world.
5. Disconnect to reconnect. Put your phone down. Read a book. Journal your thoughts. Reclaim the quiet parts of your day.

That trip to Denmark wasn’t just another stamp in my passport. It was a quiet awakening. A lesson in being alive without rushing. A reminder that slowing down isn’t the opposite of productivity, it’s the foundation of presence.

And now, even back in the busy rhythm of city life, I carry a piece of that forest, that breeze, and that Danish calm with me. Every time I light a candle or breathe more slowly, I remember:

You can make your life softer.
You can make your life slower.
You can make your life yours, even as you continue to give, lead, and grow.