Does the Scandinavian way of life make you happy? This question comes to mind when you look at rankings of life satisfaction and personal happiness.
The Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland regularly occupy the top places there.
So regularly that one can ask oneself why exactly this is the case. What do people in Scandinavia do differently from others and what is their secret to a happy and contented life?
What distinguishes the Scandinavian way of life from that of other countries?
After all, there is also stress at work in Sweden and people in Norway are also familiar with deadline pressure, work overload and deadlines.
Hygge, Lagom and Friluftsliv – pillars of the Scandinavian way of life
In search of an explanation, the terms hygge, lagom and friluftsliv quickly appear. Each of these terms denotes a particular concept, an attitude towards life as a whole and the way in which one looks at and shapes life.
Hygge from Denmark, Lagom from Sweden and Friluftsliv from Norway. In Finland they know the " Jokamiehenoikeudet", which is comparable in meaning to the Friluftsliv from Norway.
Each of these terms and the respective concept behind them is typical of the country from which the term originates. All together form the core of a Scandinavian way of life that contributes to happiness and contentment.
In this series of articles, to which this article is the prelude, I would like to take a closer look at all three terms and consider how the concept behind them contributes to a relaxed and happy life and, above all, how we can integrate the ideas behind them into our lives to a certain extent.
But so that you already know what it's all about, here's a brief overview of these three central terms of the Scandinavian way of life.
Hygge – The Danish Contribution to the Scandinavian Way of Life
The term "hygge" originally comes from Norway, but has been adopted into Danish and means something like "cosiness" or "comfort". A "hyggelig" way of life emphasizes the importance of cosiness and creating a cozy atmosphere - whether at home, in the living room or at a picnic together by the lake with friends.
Nature plays a major role in the concept of hygge, because it is above all the use of natural materials that contributes to a cozy and comfortable environment.
In addition, there are many other building blocks in the concept of hygge, which together make up hygge as a Scandinavian way of life.
You can find out more about this in the Articles about Hygge , which is the first article in this series.
Lagom – Sweden does it "just right"
The Swedish word "lagom" means something like "suitable", "appropriate" or "just right".
In a figurative sense, Lagom stands for an attitude to life that is about finding a balance and the right balance in life. Don't do too much, but also not too little of something – just "just right".
The right work-life balance is therefore an important area in which the Swedish lagom comes into play: not working too much, but not too little either. Because in a job we like to do, we find fulfillment and meaning – just like in the things we like to do in our free time.
Lagom also plays an important role in many other areas of Swedish culture and includes, for example, things such as the furnishings and design of one's own home, a healthy diet that does not neglect enjoyment or the importance we give to social contacts in our lives.
This makes Lagom another pillar of the Scandinavian way of life.
By the way: The attitude of the Swedes to nature is also shaped by Lagom. Because in nature, everything is lagom "by nature". This makes nature an important inspiration for the integration of Lagom into one's own life.
Click here for the Articles about Lagom , which forms the second part of this series of articles.
Friluftsliv – The essence of a Scandinavian way of life can be found in Norway
What "Friluftsliv" means is pretty obvious: open-air living. In other words, life in the open air. Being outside, spending as much time as possible in the great outdoors.
And so the Friluftsliv fits like hardly any other Scandinavian concept to what Flowfeather is all about. Namely, about strengthening the connection to nature and thus reducing stress and tension, strengthening one's own health and bringing more balance into one's own life.
And of course, this works particularly well in Norway with its deep fjords, imposing mountain landscapes, wild rivers and lonely fell landscapes.
Friluftsliv has therefore played a central role in the Norwegian self-image for centuries and is therefore also an important component of the Scandinavian way of life.
You can find out more about this in the article about the Norwegian Friluftsliv , the third and last part of the small series about the Scandinavian attitude to life!
Result
Hygge, Lagom and Friluftsliv form the pillars of a Scandinavian way of life that contributes to happiness and contentment in life. If we transfer the ideas behind these concepts to a certain extent into our own lives, we will bring a bit of Scandinavian feeling into our lives and live more relaxed, satisfied and happier.