Why is Finland the happiest place on the Earth? View these 6 steps to being happy like the Finnish people.
The following written content from Visit Finland
Fans of Northern Lights, sauna and Santa Claus won’t be surprised to hear Finland has been named the happiest place to live – 4th year in a row.
This year Finland topped the World Happiness Report, in which 156 countries were ranked by happiness levels, based on factors such as freedom, honesty, welfare, good health, and generosity. If you want to be happy like a Finn scroll down for our six tips.
STEP 1. SWEAT IN A SAUNA
There is nothing more Finnish than sauna, it is such a big part of Finnish culture it can’t be compared to anything else. For Finns, it is a must at regular intervals, and if they go too long without sauna, they’ll start feeling incomplete. Needless to say, sauna makes us happy.
STEP 2. WALK IN THE FOREST
There is something magical about the forest and the Finnish soul has always been linked with it. The green colour is calming; the gentle rustling of the leaves and pine needles is like music. Finns feel good in the forest. Not alone, not lost – the forest provides protection and peace.
STEP 3. SWIM IN A HOLE IN THE ICE
Believe it or not, swimming in icy water really does you the world of good. Quite simply, the secret of plunging into icy water lies in the feeling that surges through your body once you get out of the water – as soon as you’re back on dry land your circulation kicks in and your body starts to warm up and makes you feel, well, happy.
STEP 4. PICK BERRIES
Berry-picking is something nearly all Finns do, regardless of age. Wandering in the woods, deep in thoughts, filling your basket with blueberries…it is a Finnish kind of therapy for the soul. Once home, you bake a delicious blueberry pie and eat it with milk. Simple things are what make us happy.
STEP 5. ENJOY THE MAGICAL LIGHT
Contrasts are a key factor in the allure of Finland where 24-hour sunlight in the summer replaces the dark winter days and blazing Northern Lights. Summer in Finland is a spectacular time of the year. For those who venture north of the Arctic Circle, the sun does not set at all from May to August – making a single summer’s day last for three months. During winter the Northern Lights shine about every other clear night between September and March. Who wouldn’t be happy under such a constant, spectacular light show?
STEP 6. HAVE SPACE
In the rush and crush of modern life, the rarities are what make us happy, such as space, quiet and time. The space to breathe, a time to dream – you can find these treasures in Finland, where the lakes are many and the people are few. Read more from Visit Finland
