First Psychology blog

Imagine yourself sat beside a log-burning fire on a cold night, cuddling your dog, wearing your favourite pair of fluffy socks, and wrapped in a blanket, while drinking a warm beverage. This image captures what is implied by the Danish concept of 'Hygge'. What is Hygge? Hygge is a defining characteristic of Danish culture, developed to combat the difficult feelings and decline of wellbeing commonly experienced through the long, dark winter months. Pronounced as “h-oo-g-a,” this Danish concept, when translated reads as 'coziness' and is defined as the coziness that facilitates a person to feel comfortable, content and promotes good wellbeing. The framework of hygge requires allocating time away from your fast-paced life to be in a positive, present environment which encourages relaxation and the enjoyment of more peaceful pleasures in life. The essential components of this framework are togetherness, presence, relaxation, comfort, and indulgence. The details of where, wh...

As we journey through life, one thing remains constant: the inevitability of ageing. Yet, in a society that glorifies youth and perpetuates the idea of eternal youthfulness, it can be challenging to embrace the ageing process. Growing older comes with both mental and physical issues and our health can be affected by many factors. In a study published on Frontiers it states that “multiple social, psychological and biological factors are determinant of mental health, as well as life stressors. Among these, the lack of independence, limited mobility, chronic diseases, pain, frailty or other mental and physical problems, require long-term care.” However, with the right mindset, a shift in perspective and a healthy lifestyle we can slow down the ageing process and maintain optimal wellbeing. Ways to embrace the ageing process 1. Acceptance The first step towards embracing the ageing process is acceptance. Ageing is a natural part of life, and it offers us a multitude of experiences and ...

The greatest difference between a person who is sympathetic and empathetic is that an empath is much more sensitive to their surroundings and the people around them, often placing themselves in another person’s shoes to understand how they are feeling. According to the National Library of Medicine , “Important research on empathy and altruism has demonstrated that enhancing perspective taking, the capacity to see a person’s situation from his or her point of view, coupled with enhanced value being placed on the welfare of those who are unfamiliar can override bias.” While empaths often suffer from being highly emotional, oversensitive to crowded environments and can feel overwhelmed by intensely close relationships, there are, however, many benefits. 1. Intuitive Owing to their enhanced sensitivity, empaths tend to be extremely intuitive. This is a great skill to have as they’re able to read situations and people and avoid any negative environments. By noticing subtle signs such as...