Midlife guide to…

Pyt

I’ve had a terrible week. How can I get my zen back?

My advice would be to borrow from Borgen country, brighten up your Brexit-battered brain and say “pyt” to all your troubles.

Come again? Is this the latest in Nordic self-care?

It’s Scandi shorthand for living a happier, more mindful life.

I hope it’s better than Carlsberg and other questionable Danish exports…

Well, we’ve already tried kalsarikännit – or, in its anglicised form, päntsdrunk – from the Finns, their art of chillaxing by drinking at home, alone, in your underwear. And we copied hygge, the Danish untranslatable idea for creating a mood of comfortable conviviality.

So, let’s give pyt a go.

What does it mean?

It doesn’t have a translation in English, it roughly equates to “ah, just forget about it”.

Explain please...

A pyt life is about accepting nuisances and moving on to more positive pastures.

I’m not quite ready, though…

Just give it a try: it’ll help you de-stress and put an irritating situation to rest once and for all.

How would I use it in context then? Say, if I spill my coffee...

Say “pyt” to that.

My train is

delayed? Pyt.

I think I get it. But, is it really all that terrible in Denmark to warrant such a dedicated phrase? Seems a bit much.

Apparently so. They’ve even installed pyt buttons as executive stress toys, which they randomly bop during the long winter darkness. All that relentless hygge-ing must be getting too much for them...