Kathy Hamilton After a recent trip to Stockholm, I started to wonder, was there any particular I learnt about happiness in Scandinavia? Overall, I had a fantastic time in Sweden, but was that simply being on holiday, or could there be more to it? The more I thought about it, the more I realised that, yes, there are definitely some lessons on happiness that I learnt during my stay. Here they are:
Fika, Hygge, Lykke, Lagom. All words that have filtered into the English Speaking world recently, bringing with them a host of new ideas about what it really means to be happy. But there’s something they all have in common, each word originates in Scandinavian culture, the so-called happiest region on Earth.
1. There’s always time for cake and coffee
In Sweden, eating cake has become something of a national obsession. It’s called Fika, and it pretty much the first thing I learnt about happiness in Scandinavia. The thing I loved most about the concept of Fika is that it’s about more than simply eating cake. It’s about making the effort to inject some indulgence and joy into your day.
They have long, cold and dreary winters in Scandinavia. The kind with only a few hours of paltry daylight a day. So they’ve developed this unique style of café culture to combat it. The weather outside might be awful, but inside there’s warmth, friends, cake and coffee!
2. Spending time with friends is important
Many of the Scandinavian concepts, such as Hygge and Fika, come with an in-built assumption that moments are meant to be shared. There may always be time for cake and coffee in Sweden, but it’s not truly Fika unless you spend it with someone, for example. Friends and family play a huge role in Scandinavian life and making sure to spend time with them is important.
Funnily, although Scandinavia is one of the happiest places on earth, it’s also been said that it’s hard to make friends if you are new there. According to our tour guide, this is certainly the case. However, he said that once you’ve managed to crack the sometimes standoffish nature of many Swedes, you will have a loyal friend for life which more than makes up for the effort.
3. Fresh, clear water is truly a gift
I was surprised to discover that people in Stockholm are inordinately proud of their tap water. It’s fresh, sparklingly clear and apparently adds years to your life. I was slightly sceptical about filling my water bottle up at the various old fountains that dot the squares in Gamla Stan (Old Town) but I have to admit, it was some of the nicest water ever.
The funny thing is that once I knew that I could access this water for free the craving for other drinks lessened. It was so nice to sip fresh water in the sun that since I’ve got back I’ve made a conscious effort to swap some of my favoured sugary drinks for it.
4. Embracing the seasons is vital
As mentioned, Scandinavia is prone to dramatic changes in the weather. From icy cold winters to scorching summers, the various seasons make themselves felt in a big way. A healthy appreciation of the various changes throughout the year means it’s possible to see the positives. A key to happiness in Scandinavia seems to be embracing this variety.
In particular, with short days and long dark nights, winter can be a depressing time for many people. However, it is during this period that Scandinavians seem to make extra effort to combat it with cosiness and fun. In fact, it’s said that Fika originally developed as a response to cold winter days, to give people an excuse to bundle into a warm cafe, enjoy a hot drink, sweet treat and good company.
5. Take life at your own pace
I recently dedicated a whole post to this concept (read it here) but it was re-emphasised during my time in Sweden. This is a country that is very clear-cut about the importance of work/life balance. Did you know that it’s the most progressive country when it comes to maternity/paternity leave for example?
Scandinavians seem to know the sacred value of taking life at your own pace and stepping out of the hustle and enjoying the moment once in a while. Hygge, Fika, Lagom…in the end this what all of them boil down to. The most important things I learned about Happiness in Scandinavia was definitely this.
Overall Thoughts
Happiness is such a strange state, isn’t it? What constitutes it? How can we judge how happy one person is vs another? Many of the so-called “happiness hacks” out there seem to offer up an in the moment solution. Do this now, and you’ll be happier. Eat this. Visit here. But ultimately I’m not sure how long-lasting the effects of this can be.
Ultimately though, I think that one of the things I learnt about happiness in Scandinavia was contentment and balance. Life may be full of ups and downs but if you can find simple pleasure in everyday joys and keep the core values of family, friends and health close to your heart then I’m pretty sure you’re on the right path. What do you think?
