As Finland is crowned the world’s happiest country for the sixth year running, a look at the science reveals that the Nordic nation’s secret is more accessible than you think.
For the sixth consecutive year, the World Happiness Report has crowned Finland the happiest country on Earth. While the small Nordic nation’s high quality of life, gender equality, and safety may play a role, research into how Finns move reveals that something else may be at play.
Although often overlooked, physical and mental health are crucial criteria behind the ranking of countries in the report, and Finland doesn’t just lead the world in happiness. According to a recent report from the World Health Organization, Finns are the most physically active people in Europe – and this doesn’t just mean hitting the gym.
DrRaija Laukkanen, Adjunct Professor at University of Oulu believes that how and - crucially - where we move are key to understanding Finnish happiness.
“Outdoor activities are part of the Finnish way of life, which partly explains our high level of happiness. Physical and mental health cannot be separated, and exercising in nature reduces blood pressure and heart rate”.
Laukkanen is theDirector of Science Collaborations at Polar, a Finnish sports watch and heartrate measurement technology company with nearly 50 years’ experience in the art of personal guidance.
Daily activity and regular exercise are proven ways to improve mood in general – which may go a long way towards explaining the high wellbeing levels in physically active Finland.
But what really sets the country apart is the relationship that Finnish people have with the outdoors. Activities like cross-country skiing, Nordic walking and swimming in lakes are beloved everyday pastimes for countless Finns, all of which can offer significant happiness and wellbeing benefits.
“In Finland, being outdoors is very natural to us. We spend a lot more time than other countries just being outside, walking in the forest, going camping, taking our bicycles to work”, explained Laukkanen.
This is something that Finland shares with the likes of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland, which also rank among the world’s happiest countries. For Polar, what these countries have in common are high levels of “physical activity literacy”, a deeply ingrained understanding that physical activity is part of a healthy life.
“In the Nordic countries, physical activity is hardwired into us from a very early age, and our environment is the source of our energy” adds Laukkanen.
So, what can stressed-out people in other countries who are interested in injecting some Finnish happiness into their own lives take from this? Crucially, the trick is to take it easy, doing not too little, and not too much. Taking a leisurely approach and regularly moving – rather than focusing solely on sweating it out with heavy weights at the gym – is a low-barrier way for people everywhere to improve mental wellbeing.
Above all, the most important thing is being outside.
“Exercising in nature or just visiting green and blue environments reduces blood pressure and heart rate. Studies have shown that exercise of equal intensity is experienced as lighter and less challenging when taking place outdoors rather than indoors” says Laukkanen, who is also a founding member of the International Nordic Walking Association.
Sleep may also play a role. Insights from Polar sports and fitness watch users across different countries show that Finns rack up more Zzz’s than almost anywhere else, averaging 7 hours and 45 minutes a night – a full hour more than users in Japan, who ranked at the bottom of the sleep scale.
If the numbers are anything to go by, the secret to Finnish happiness may well be a walk in the park and a lazy lie-in.
For those looking to incorporate the Finnish way of life into their own lives, Polar is here to help. Their Finnish-designed watches allow you to learn more about the way you move and sleep and build better habits for lasting change. You can also check out their science-backed guide on how to move link a happy Finn.
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