Why Are Scandinavian Countries So Much Happier?
Everyone wants to discover happiness, but for most people, this is an ongoing struggle that they try to fight the majority of their life. However, it seems that the people who live in Scandinavian countries may have discovered the secret to happiness since they consistently rank at the top of the list of the happiest countries in the world.
The World Happiness Report has placed Scandinavian countries in the top four spots for the happiest places in the world, with Norway coming in at number three for 2019. This is quite impressive considering the fact that they managed to finish in the top five spots every single year since the World Happiness Report was first launched back in 2012.
But what is it exactly that makes the Scandinavian countries so much happier than the rest of the world? Here are a few things that might contribute to the nation’s remarkable track record for happiness.
Emphasis on Personal Life Above Work Life
For many Western countries, there is a strong emphasis put on productivity and commitment to the workplace. How successful someone is is often a direct reflection of how much time and energy they put into what they do for a living. However, in countries like Norway, there is a much bigger emphasis put on improving someone's personal life rather than their work-life.
While putting more effort towards being a productive worker is good for some reasons, it often does not help improve someone's health. Therefore, Norwegian companies tend to encourage employees to take more frequent time to themselves in order to go out and participate in some of the great activities in Norway, such as glacier hiking or going on a vacation to try and re-energize themselves and improve their mental health. This helps to prevent them from feeling burned out or experiencing work-related depression.
Spending Time Outdoors
It has long since been proven that spending time outdoors has a direct correlation with improved mental health. That is why it is such a big deal that Scandinavians spend such a large portion of their time outdoors.
With the incredible amount of fjords in Norway, in addition to all of their glaciers and other natural elements, it makes the country the perfect place to get out and experience nature. In most cases, they only need to travel short distances in order to find some truly astonishing natural splendors.
Scandinavians truly take advantage of this fact as proven by their tendency to engage in things like forest bathing. This involves venturing into the heavily forested areas and just aimlessly wandering through them for an hour or two while simply absorbing the serenity of their surroundings. This can help someone to mentally reset themselves and allow them to let go of a lot of their stress and negative emotions, which definitely has the ability to make them happier.
If you’re interested in slicing off a bit of Norway’s famed “happiness” for yourself, book your Norway Experience today.
Get to know the Norwegians
The typical Norwegian cherishes nature and embraces the great outdoors. Minimalist in design and lifestyle, they prioritize practicality. Norwegians honor heritage and folklore, fostering a vibrant, inclusive society that blends tradition with a modern, open-minded outlook while embracing sustainability.
Traditional Norwegian food
Norway has a lot of interesting traditional food, and any travelers visiting Norway would do well to sample some of the local cuisines. Culinary traditions in Norway have been dominated by meat, fish, and seafood that could be hunted or caught. These days the Norwegian food space represents an interesting mix of old and new due to culinary influences from all over the world.
Why Norway Is Perfect for Adventure Travelers
Norway is often referred to as a dream destination for adventure travelers. The varied Norwegian landscapes provide adventurers with a rich diversity of outdoor activities to choose from throughout the year, including hiking, biking, skiing, kayaking, and rock climbing, to name a few. There's no shortage of thrilling experiences to be had in Norway's great outdoors!
The 17th of May – Norway’s National Day
The 17th of May is Norway’s national day, and what a party it is! Though many countries mark their national day with military parades, Norway’s celebration is lighthearted and fun, with a special focus on kids enjoying this special day. In this article, we’ll tell you all about Norway’s Constitution Day, how it began, and how it’s celebrated across Norway today.
Why a Scanditour is the New Eurotour
Done the whole Eurotrip thing? Looking for some fresh insight into where your next travel adventure should be? Head over to Scandinavia, and Norway in particular.
What is ‘slow travel’ and why Norway ticks all the boxes
Have you ever felt more exhausted after a trip than before you left? Then you have probably done the exact opposite of slow travel! When slow traveling, there is no need for a vacation after your vacation.It is not about "likes" that generate hotspots on Instagram and overwhelmingly long bucket lists.
How to stay warm and koselig this winter
Anyone who has ever taken a trip to Norway during the winter season knows just how vicious the Norwegian winters have the potential to be. This is especially true for Northern Norway where you can find really cold temperatures. So how do Norwegians tolerate the cold and long winter? With the “philophy of koselig” of course.
Learn Norwegian words and phrases before your trip
If you’re planning a trip to Norway, you might be interested in learning a few Norwegian words and phrases. It can be really helpful to have some handy phrases up your sleeve for communicating with locals during your upcoming trip to Norway, so we’ve prepared a great guide that will help you learn the lingo before you arrive!
Sustainable travel in Norway
These days, more and more travellers are focused on sustainable travel. People want to experience their dream destinations while minimizing the negative impact on the local environment and community. Fortunately, Norway is one of the most sustainable countries in the world, and plenty of measures have been taken to ensure that travellers can enjoy an eco-friendly Norwegian holiday.
Traditional Norwegian food
Norway has a lot of interesting traditional food, and any travelers visiting Norway would do well to sample some of the local cuisines. Culinary traditions in Norway have been dominated by meat, fish, and seafood that could be hunted or caught. These days the Norwegian food space represents an interesting mix of old and new due to culinary influences from all over the world.
Why Norway Is Perfect for Adventure Travelers
Norway is often referred to as a dream destination for adventure travelers. The varied Norwegian landscapes provide adventurers with a rich diversity of outdoor activities to choose from throughout the year, including hiking, biking, skiing, kayaking, and rock climbing, to name a few. There's no shortage of thrilling experiences to be had in Norway's great outdoors!
The 17th of May – Norway’s National Day
The 17th of May is Norway’s national day, and what a party it is! Though many countries mark their national day with military parades, Norway’s celebration is lighthearted and fun, with a special focus on kids enjoying this special day. In this article, we’ll tell you all about Norway’s Constitution Day, how it began, and how it’s celebrated across Norway today.
Why a Scanditour is the New Eurotour
Done the whole Eurotrip thing? Looking for some fresh insight into where your next travel adventure should be? Head over to Scandinavia, and Norway in particular.
What is ‘slow travel’ and why Norway ticks all the boxes
Have you ever felt more exhausted after a trip than before you left? Then you have probably done the exact opposite of slow travel! When slow traveling, there is no need for a vacation after your vacation.It is not about "likes" that generate hotspots on Instagram and overwhelmingly long bucket lists.
How to stay warm and koselig this winter
Anyone who has ever taken a trip to Norway during the winter season knows just how vicious the Norwegian winters have the potential to be. This is especially true for Northern Norway where you can find really cold temperatures. So how do Norwegians tolerate the cold and long winter? With the “philophy of koselig” of course.
Learn Norwegian words and phrases before your trip
If you’re planning a trip to Norway, you might be interested in learning a few Norwegian words and phrases. It can be really helpful to have some handy phrases up your sleeve for communicating with locals during your upcoming trip to Norway, so we’ve prepared a great guide that will help you learn the lingo before you arrive!
Sustainable travel in Norway
These days, more and more travellers are focused on sustainable travel. People want to experience their dream destinations while minimizing the negative impact on the local environment and community. Fortunately, Norway is one of the most sustainable countries in the world, and plenty of measures have been taken to ensure that travellers can enjoy an eco-friendly Norwegian holiday.