Tis the season of the digital detox as we celebrate the National Day of Unplugging on March 3. This is the 14th year the Unplug Collaborative has celebrated taking a little self-care time in March. The art of unplugging is captured in two different ways by our friends in Nordic countries.

The first is the philosophy of hygge practiced by the Danish people. Hygge (pronouned “hoo-gah”) literally translates as “coziness” and where you wear your favorite pair of socks, sit by a warm fire and read a book, do some knitting or play an old-fashioned board game. It is all about slowing down and enjoying your living environment.

The second is called niksen, known as niks to insiders, brought to you by the Dutch and is the purposeful art of doing nothing. It is not meditation, which requires focus and effort, it is more like daydreaming and letting your mind wander by just staring out a window or onto a wide vista. While this sounds simple, and yes, the health benefits have been tracked by science, it is a lot harder than you think. Try spending a few minutes not doing anything. No conversation, no reading, no playing with the dog or doomscrolling, literally nothing. Researchers in the Netherlands observed how some people were originally uncomfortable with this “nothingness” assignment. The art of just “being” is hard. But suddenly you see, hear, smell things you had not noticed. A ladybug crawling along a windowsill, leaves fluttering in the breeze, the clouds rolling by – niksen creates a very aware multisensory experience because you slowed everything down to be present.

Cozy Reading Nooks Are Part of The Snug Home Unplugging Plan

Since March is also National Reading Month, one of the classic ways to practice hygge and niksen for your digital detox is to pick up a good old-fashioned book or simply take a daydream virtual vacation and settle into a nice, cozy nook for some relaxation and escapism.

The elements of designing a reading nook are as simple or extravagant as you want. The basics are:

1. A comfy chair (not your bed – that is for sleeping and…well, you know!)
2. A little side table or shelf where you can place your book, set a beverage and store your reading glasses (so you don’t have to hunt around the house for them – they are always there)
3. Task lighting is key. If your nook is near a window with natural light – this is great during daytime reading escapes. But if your escape is in the evening or when it’s dark outside, then a great floor lamp or little task light on your reading table/shelf is important. Also, remember that as we age our pupils require more light – twice the amount of light at age 60 as we needed at age 20. So don’t forgo the light!
4. The last element is my personal recommendation and it really captures the “cozy” in a reading nook space: wear reading socks. The point of taking a few minutes to escape into your book is have a comforting environment which means kicking off those shoes for even a few minutes. The reading socks I love are Barefoot Dreams which are more for fall/winter. They are designed to be thick and warm but also have little rubber dots on the soles so you can walk to the kitchen for more tea, coffee or cocoa without sliding across the wood or tile floor like Tom Cruise in “Risky Business.” During hot summer months, I put on cold therapy socks that also can moisturize dry feet. So you get your reading escape and a semi-pedi massage at the same time!

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Following are great inspirations for personalizing your cozy reading nook to fit your style and space.

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Caregiver Solutions for Reading Nooks for Older Adults

For family caregivers who are caring for older loved ones, the best reading nook designs should incorporate:

• A beautiful view but with glare and direct sunlight filtered or adjusted through treated windows, gauzy curtains or shades
• A comfortable chair that has easy access even from a wheelchair and preferably with arms (you can then put a tray or reading caddy across the arms to hold the tablet or book which helps for those with arthritis). Check out Pottery Barn’s latest Accessible Home chairs.
• An ottoman to elevate feet is helpful especially if health conditions or medications create edema and swelling in feet in legs it is good to elevate the feet every 30 minutes or so for long periods of being sedentary or sitting
• Have visuals, such as flowers or a gallery wall, that adds color and interest while taking a break from reading but also provides contrast which is easier to see items or the edge of the table
• Have a beverage within reach that helps older adults stay hydrated – a UCLA study found up to 40% of older adults are dehydrated

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©2023 Sherri Snelling