The approach of autumn brings the promise of a fresh start, and tapping into the Danish concept of "pyt" could be the key to making the most of the new season.
Over the past five months, I've woken up most mornings feeling like I hadn't slept at all, my stress levels climbing before the day even began. I just haven't felt like myself.
This morning felt different. Despite going to bed late and being woken at 3 a.m. by foxes outside, I woke up energised, somehow finding time to shower, walk the dog, and eat breakfast, all before 9 a.m.
So what changed? Only that, stepping outside, there was a bite to the air. The seasons are shifting, and with autumn comes that familiar feeling of a fresh start.
We once marked a new school year with a shiny pencil case. Now, we channel those "back to school" vibes into a reset: a new job, a new hobby, new plans, and a long hard look at whether we're living the way we want.
This autumn, I recommend making that reset work harder than ever. So let's sidestep our usual love of "hygge" and instead embrace the Danish concept of "pyt".
Denmark is often called one of the happiest countries in the world, and Danish psychologist Marie Helweg-Larsen has explained why. Her answer is "pyt", a word Danes use to accept a situation is out of their control and stop wasting energy on it.
This isn't just Helweg-Larsen's idea. In 2018, "pyt" was voted Denmark's favourite word during the country's annual "Library Week". Writer Chris MacDonald, who has lived in Denmark for over two decades, has also praised it in a column on what life there taught him about happiness.
"Pyt is one of my favourite words," he writes. "It's the most positive sound I have ever heard. It has enormous power when it comes to letting go of things we can't change."
He isn't wrong. The idea that we can move on and begin anew is endlessly appealing. So take a deep breath, turn your face forwards, and feel the autumn sun. Then simply say "pyt", and let it go.