Find your Finnish calm: 5 tips for happiness at home
By Jun Ji-hye
Visit Finland, a state-run organization promoting tourism for the northern European country, has announced five tips on how to be happy at home as many people around the world have been forced to stay home amid the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
The tips on how to relax at home the Finnish way were shared as Finland was named as the happiest country in the world for the third consecutive year in the 2020 World Happiness Report announced March 20 by the U.N. Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
The report determined the ranking of 156 countries, scoring various aspects such as GDP per capita, life expectancy, social support and social freedom.
“Time and again we see the reasons for wellbeing include good social support networks, social trust, honest governments, safe environments and healthy lives,” SDSN Director Jeffrey Sachs said in a statement.
Start your day with a cold shower
Finns love winter swimming as much as they love the sauna.
The benefit of plunging into icy water lies in the feeling that surges through your body once you get out of the water ― your circulation kicks in, and your body starts to warm up, making you feel happy.
Your body starts to produce serotonin and dopamine, and stress starts to melt away.
The easiest way to do this at home is to take an ice-cold shower. Alternating between cold and warm showers lead to a sauna feeling, further improving blood circulation.
Make sense of the world by reading
Finland was named the world's most literate nation in 2019 and Finns are among the world's most enthusiastic users of public libraries.
With a population of 5.5 million, some 68 million books are borrowed each year. Helsinki's Oodi library, opened in 2018 to celebrate the centenary of Finland's independence, was awarded the best public library in the world in 2019.
A Fin holds a book featuring the Moomins, most known and adored Finnish literary icon. / Courtesy of Visit Finland
The Moomins are probably the most well-known Finnish literary characters. Moomin books can be found in every bookshop and library in Finland.
Experience a relaxing forest path from your sofa
With about 70 percent of Finland being covered in forest, exploring nature is a part of everyday life in Finland.
Over 3.2 million people visited the national parks in Finland in 2019. According to the Natural Resources Institute Finland, it has been scientifically proven that only 15 minutes in the forest calms your pulse and helps you to rest.
To share the power of nature with the world, Visit Finland shared the relaxing sounds of Finnish Lapland on the “OnlyInLapland” YouTube channel.
Bake cinnamon buns to be enjoyed with coffee
One of the most common desserts in Finland is Korvapuusti, a cinnamon bun baked in the Finnish style with a dash of cardamom.
With average coffee consumption amounting to almost 10 kilograms per person per year in Finland, there is even a word for enjoying a cinnamon bun with coffee.
Finnish style cinnamon buns with coffee / Courtesy of Visit Finland
“Pullakahvit,” which literally means bun coffee, is the highlight of the day for Finns.
A recipe for Finnish style cinnamon buns is available on the “thisisFINLANDtube” YouTube channel.
Artistic experiences online, catered to your taste
Finns use art to calm the mind and transport their thoughts to stress-free comforting places.
Many of the galleries in Finland are currently offering online exhibitions.
Amos Rex, which recently won the prestigious Leading Culture Destination Award for New Cultural Destination of the Year, has unveiled its new exhibition through Instagram.
The Rovaniemi Art Museum, which is located in the Arctic Circle, and Ateneum Museum are offering virtual tours online.