Walking in nature, avoiding unnecessary things and 3 more Scandinavian ways to beat stress

1. Be moderate

Scandinavians are able to succinctly describe any feature of their culture. These terms include the Swedish word lagom.

Lagom is the philosophy of Brantmark N. What is lagom. Swedish recipes for a happy life. M. 2018 of moderation in everything, the desire to provide oneself only with the most necessary and not burden one's life with unnecessary trash and luxury. This concept can refer to anything: work, conversation, clothing. The Swedes do not try with all their might to fill in the pauses in the conversation, they speak the truth, even if it is unpleasant, respect other people's time and therefore are punctual. Parents in Sweden do not measure their children's achievements and from an early age teach them to love nature.

So lagom is the quintessence of the Scandinavian worldview, combining modesty, benevolence, honesty and lack of selfishness.

2. Create coziness in your home and relationships

This principle is embodied in another concept, now Danish - hygge (hygge). Traditionally, this word is understood as the concept of home decor, which is characterized by things that create a feeling of comfort: warm blankets, wooden furniture, a favorite mug. The hygge-style interior is characterized by neutral colors and maximum natural light.

But for Danes, hygge is more than a style of decor or an atmosphere of home warmth. It is also happiness to be where people are waiting for you, as well as communication with nice people. In general, relationships are an important part of Scandinavian culture. This is how What is hygge describes? VisitDenmark Hugge Denmark's official tourism website:

Hygge is about creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying good things, living with good people. The warm candlelight is hygge. Watching a movie in a cozy atmosphere with a loved one is also a hygge.

And according to Good genes are nice, but joy is better. The Harvard Gazette, the author of one of the longest-running studies from Harvard, close, harmonious relationships are the key to a long, happy life.

3. Spend more time outdoors

Spending just two hours a week walking in the park or spending a weekend in nature will make you feel healthier and happier.

The Norwegians fully agree with this Ferrier M. Fjord focus: is Norway's friluftsliv the answer to surviving a second lockdown? The Guardian. and believe that the more time you spend outdoors, the better. And no matter what the weather is outside the window: if you dress warmly, frosts are not terrible. This Norwegian philosophy is called "friluftsliv", which means "life in the fresh air."

Norwegians take this concept literally. Nature is primarily a home for them, so children are taught to take care of it from an early age, and the state and residents themselves support Nikel D. Friluftsliv: The Key To Living A Happy Life In Norway. Forbes is domestic tourism and strives to build the urban environment in a way that is closer to nature.

4. Don't Work Too Much

It is known that working more does not mean more efficiently. What's more, overwork is harmful to mental performance and overall health.

There is such a thing as Parkinson's law. It means that the work takes up all the time that you allocate for it. The Scandinavians seem to understand this and allocate time efficiently.

Thus, Norwegians work on average for a quarter of The World's Most Productive Countries and How to Replicate at Work. Expert Market is smaller than Americans, and at the same time has a higher GDP per capita. And among the employees of Swedish nursing homes, Savage M. was recently held. What really happened when Swedes tried six-hour days? The BBC has experimented with the introduction of a six-hour workday and the results have been positive.

It is also worth mentioning here the fika ritual, which is widespread among the Swedes. Once or twice a day, they leave work and go out for coffee, a bite to eat, and chat with colleagues.

Research has proven over and over that taking breaks does not harm, but rather enhances productivity.

The effectiveness of the Scandinavian approach to work is confirmed by high labor productivity. Norway, Denmark and Sweden are members of The World's Most Productive Countries and How to Replicate at Work. Expert Market is one of the six best countries in the world for this indicator.

5. Understand that being super successful is not the main thing

One of the most important but difficult to reproduce elements of Scandinavian happiness is described by the Danish-Norwegian word "Janteloven" What is Janteloven? Scandinavia Standard (janteloven).

What is amanteloven expressed in? For example, in the fact that overall success is more important than personal success, and being ordinary (average) is normal. But it's also honesty: in the Scandinavian countries, you will most likely get Rahim Z back. Norway Is Happiest Country in the World. What’s the Secret? Time lost wallet. It is also the extreme modesty of the Scandinavians, which was already mentioned above.

In general, amanteloven is a lifestyle in harmony with oneself and other people, and in this it largely intersects with hygge and lagom.

The answer to the question why the Scandinavians feel happier than many other nations is not limited to these points. A number of state and cultural characteristics of these countries make it possible to create comfortable living conditions for all citizens. For example, Norway and Sweden (as well as Iceland and Finland), according to the World Economic Forum, consistently top the ranking of countries with the least gender inequality. And no matter how difficult it is, their experience can and should be adopted.