5 Nordic lifestyle trends that could improve your wellbeing
In recent years, there always seems to be a new popular lifestyle concept from Nordic countries. Yet, far from being a fad that has little effect on your wellbeing, embracing some of them could actually make you happier.
The Nordic countries are the perfect nations to help us discover what makes people happy. They consistently rank highly across all areas of wellbeing.
Indeed, Finland was ranked the happiest country in the 2025 World Happiness Report for the eighth consecutive year. The other four Nordic countries – Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden – are all in the top 10.
There are hundreds of factors that affect your happiness, including health and wealth. However, the research found some of the most positive influences are simpler, such as sharing a meal with others, having social support, and being part of a reliable community.
So, what simple lifestyle concepts could you embrace from the Nordic nations? Here are five cultural concepts that could improve your quality of life.
1. Dugnadsånd
Dugnadsånd is the latest Norwegian concept to gain traction in the UK. It loosely translates to “community spirit” or “working together for a common good" and is defined as “the collective willingness of people to come together in the context of community projects – emphasising cooperation and selflessness.
Dugnadsånd involves entire communities coming together to volunteer to clean up the local area or helping those less fortunate. The focus of dugnadsånd is on helping others and forming stronger social bonds while doing so.
With the World Happiness Report highlighting the importance of social connections, Dugnadsånd could improve your overall wellbeing and that of people around you.
2. Friluftsliv
With stunning mountains, fjords, and beautiful forests, it’s not surprising that many people in Norway embrace the great outdoors. Friluftsliv means “open-air living” or living life “in the fresh air” and isn’t just seen as a thing to do, but as a philosophy and a way of life.
From hiking to relaxing by a lake, friluftsliv isn’t about a specific activity, and is instead about enjoying all that nature has to offer and living a simple life in nature without destroying or disturbing it, regardless of the weather or season, no matter your age or physical condition.
There are plenty of studies that support this lifestyle trend. Indeed, an NHS study found that 80% of people found spending time in green spaces made them healthier and more energetic, and 70% said they felt better physically and mentally.
The good news is the UK has great options for embracing friluftsliv, from your local green space to one of the stunning national parks.
3. Hygge
After spending time outdoors, you’ll be ready to try your hand at the art of hygge, the Danish concept of creating a cosy and comforting environment where you can unwind and spend time on the things you enjoy.
So, that might be settling down on the sofa with a good book, tucking into a homemade meal with your family, or just chatting with your partner into the evening. Hygge is a useful reminder that sometimes you need to slow down and enjoy the small, peaceful moments in life.
The Danish concept of hygge is a nice comparison and contrast to friluftsliv. Broadly translated as a cozy, contented mood evoked by comfort and conviviality, hygge is more about a psychological state rather than a physical one.
For the Danish, hygge is often about informal time together with family or close friends, either at home or in another quiet location and can include a picnic during the summer months. It is taking the time to celebrate the small joys in life, discussing the deeper topics and overall taking the opportunity to unwind and take things slow.
So, take the time to slow things down, spend some time with your loves ones and just learn to be, together, sheltering in the comfort that being with one another can bring against the storminess of outside life.
4. Lagom
Lagom is a Swedish concept that you can apply to many areas of your life. It means “just right” and is about finding balance and moderation. Lagom can be compared to the idiom “less is more”, or and also challenges the idea that “more is better”.
For the Swedish, lagom is more than just a word, it’s a way of life and can be seen as the basis of the country’s psyche. You might want to implement it in your working and social life, trying finding that perfect balance that’s right for you and embracing it means finding, and aligning, things to match your unique rhythm.
5. Fika
Finally, while when directly translated fika is Swedish for a “coffee break” it’s much more than that. Fika is a tradition in Sweden, where you take time out of your day to pause and enjoy your favourite (typically hot, and definitely non-alcoholic) drink and snack, normally something sweet like a cinnamon bun, but any kind of baked good can be substituted in.
That being said, it’s not what you have that’s important in a fika, rather, it’s about dedicating some time to having a pause from whatever you were doing and to enjoy socialising with your family, friends, or colleagues to forge stronger social connections or simply reflect.
As the World Happiness Index report found, social connections are an essential part of creating a happy lifestyle for many people. So, invite someone out for a coffee, put away your phone, and focus on being present.
While a fika is normally enjoyed in a social setting, you can fika alone and benefit too. Take a break, get some coffee and a pastry (you don’t have to buy it if you don’t want to, home-made works just as well) and take some time for yourself, slow down, and watch the world go by.
Make Nordic lifestyle concepts part of your day
You don’t need to head to Stockholm or the wilderness of Norway to make these lifestyle trends part of your daily routine. Incorporating even small elements of dugnadsånd, friluftsliv, hygge, lagom, or fika into your week could help improve your wellbeing. You won’t know until you try.