For five consecutive years, Finland has ranked 1st as the happiest country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report.
In the 2022 report, residents of 156 countries were asked to rate their lives today on a scale of 0 to 10, where the worst possible life is 0. The study also looked at factors that contribute to social support, life expectancy, generosity, and the absence of corruption.
As a Finnish philosopher and psychology researcher who studies the foundations of happiness, I am often asked: What exactly makes the people of Finland so extremely satisfied with their lives?
To maintain a high quality of life, there are three things we always observe:
1. We do not compare ourselves with our neighbours.
There is a famous line by a Finnish poet: Kell' onni on, se onnen kätkeköön. Roughly translated, it means: Do not compare or boast about your happiness!
Finns truly take this to heart, especially when it comes to material things and openly displaying wealth. I once met one of the wealthiest men in Finland. He was pushing his baby in a pram to the tram station. He could have bought himself an expensive car or hired a chauffeur, but he chose public transport. This is what success looks like in Finland: just like everyone else!
A tip for happiness: focus more on what makes you happy, and less on looking successful. The first step towards true happiness is to define your own standards rather than comparing yourself to others.
2. We do not forget the benefits provided by nature.
According to data from a 2021 survey, 87% of Finns consider nature to be important to them because it provides peace, energy, and relaxation.
In Finland, employees are entitled to four weeks of summer holiday. Many of us use this time to go to the countryside and immerse ourselves in nature. The fewer the amenities, even if there is no electricity or running water in the house, the better.
Many Finnish cities are densely built, which means that for many people, nature is available right on their doorstep. I live next to Helsinki's Central Park, where I go for walks regularly.
A tip for happiness: spending time in nature increases our vitality, improves our well-being, and provides a sense of personal growth. Find a way to add greenery to your life, even if it is just by buying a few plants for your home!
3. We do not disrupt the circle of community trust.
Studies show that the higher the level of trust in a country, the happier its residents are.
In the 2022 lost wallet experiment, the honesty of residents was tested by dropping 192 wallets in 16 cities around the world. In Helsinki, 11 out of 12 dropped wallets were returned to their owners.
The people of Finland tend to trust one another and highly value honesty. If you have forgotten your laptop in a library or lost your phone on a train, you can be completely certain that you will get it back.
Children often travel home from school by public transport and play unsupervised.
A tip for happiness: think about how you can present yourself to the community! How can you create greater trust? How can you support policies that are built on this trust? Small steps, such as holding a door open for strangers or giving up your seat on a train, are also significant.
Dr. Frank Martela is a philosopher and psychology researcher who studies the foundations of happiness. He is also a lecturer at Aalto University in Finland and the author of the book "A Wonderful Life: Insights on Finding a Meaningful Existence".