With their picturesque landscapes and laidback cultures, Scandinavian and Nordic countries continue to dominate global happiness and wellbeing lists.
And while overall wellbeing in the UK has improved since 2011, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), we’re still lagging behind the likes of Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Norway.
There was little change in the ratings of happiness in the UK between 2011 and 2016, according to the data, but we remain similar to the EU average of 7.4 out of 10. It’s not bad, but it’s no match for Finland, which came top of the list with 8.2 out of 10.
A similar trend emerges when you look at life satisfaction: the highest-ranked countries were Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland (all scoring 7.5 out of 10). In comparison, the UK came halfway down the list, scoring 6.7 out of 10. So, what can we learn from our Nordic friends?
Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute, based in Denmark, previously told HuffPost UK: “The Nordic ‘secret’ to happiness lies in their ability to limit misery – that is, people who report very low levels of happiness.”
“When Finland is called the happiest country in the world, it is because Finns have the highest average score compared to the other populations in the study. It does not mean that Finland is a Utopia, nor that Finns are never unhappy,” he added.
“It just means the Finish average is relatively higher, as they have fewer people with very low levels of happiness compared to the UK or the US. You could also say that Finland is the least unhappy country in the world.”
This may be true, but Brits wanting to channel Nordic and Scandi contentment might still find inspiration from wellbeing “buzzwords”, that have often been borrowed from countries where they’ve been embraced for centuries.
Making its way into the public vernacular in 2016, the Danish concept of Hygge is all about feeling calm, connected to your own sense of wellbeing and above all, cosy. In terms of interiors, it’s an excuse to turn your home into the ultimate zen den, with calming colours and inviting blankets.
Meanwhile Lagom loosely translates from Swedish as “not too little, not too much, just right” and means adopting a more balanced and frugal approach to living. It’s about letting go of a decadent, materialistic lifestyle and finding joy in looking after the planet.
And finally Friluftsliv – adopted in Swedish, Danish and Norwegian cultures – is about spending time in nature and communing with it. Breathing in some fresh air, unwinding, and moving your body to improve your mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
If you ask us, they’re mantras to live by.