Finland ranked number one in the World Happiness Report for the eighth year in a row. This incredible achievement is a true reflection of the country’s unique lifestyle and values. This consistent ranking highlights several key factors contributing to Finnish well-being, including strong family ties, a deep connection with nature, and a commitment to community.
Being actively engaged with family is a high priority for Finns and helps develop a sense of belonging and emotional support. This focus on supportive social connections creates a world where people are accepted and recognized. Frank Martela, a Finnish philosopher, noted, “Having people around you who care about you, and whom you care about, makes people happy.”
Central to Finnish life is the beloved sauna, an institution so ingrained in the culture that it’s as common practice as teeth brushing. In addition to being therapeutic retreats from daily life, saunas are social spaces, where friends and family come together. Studies show that 84% of sauna users experience better sleep quality after having a good sauna session. In Finland, most of their saunas have a lake or cold plunge just steps away. Swim with the fishes. These at-one-with-nature pools provide refreshing dips that enhance body and mind.
Finnish residents take the concept much further, with a deep and abiding connection to the outdoors. Rain, shine, or snow, the students enjoy walks almost every day in woods and fields, getting to know the calming influence of nature. An active daily culture revolving around skiing, hiking, and sailing brings healthy small-town values together with a big-city quality of life. Finns regularly cook with local ingredients, relying on seasonal produce—pickled foods during colder months and fresh fruits and vegetables in summer.
The grounded approach to life’s purpose further contributes to Finland’s happiness. Community support and altruism are extremely popular among Finns as a form of social bonding. Martela encourages, “Do something nice for someone today! Caring about other people and doing things to make their lives better makes you happier and gives your life more meaning.” This philosophy emphasizes the ways in which collective action in moments of crisis can create connection and improve community and individual health.
Furthermore, the Finnish model encourages a lifestyle where personal fulfillment is compatible with a sense of societal obligation. The focus on supporting each other runs deep within the culture, forming a foundation of success on which everyone is lifted to succeed.
In the most challenging of times, we can usually see plenty of ways to lift each other up. This creates a powerful culture of mutual support and increases our collective power, Martela continued. Such feelings are popular sentiments across much of America—an independent but interdependent country.
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