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Nordic countries have consistently ranked at the top of the happiest countries in the world. But why are they considered happier? Is it the country’s situation itself, or is it the habits of the people living there? I set out to find exactly what makes them so happy.

Many factors contribute to these rankings, such as work-life balance, politics, education systems, and more.

As someone who moved from Romania to the UK about 5 years ago and has found a lifestyle that really fits our family here, I can realistically say we’re probably not going to move to a Nordic country. At least not anytime soon. However, I wondered: How can I incorporate some of their habits into my life to make it simpler and calmer?

While I’ve been accidentally following certain Nordic habits for years—ones that have always felt right for our family—I also adopted new ones after doing this research.

In this article, I’m sharing 10 Nordic habits that have made a significant impact on our daily lives.

Keep reading below or watch the video:

1. Friluftsliv (open-air living)

The first concept I learned from the Nordic countries is friluftsliv. Getting outside as much as possible is one of the things that people in Nordic countries really prioritise.

One thing I’ve noticed for us, as a family of four with kids, is that when we’re having a hard day or struggling, or when the kids are bouncing off the walls, the best thing we can do is just head outside. It doesn’t even matter what we do.

And it doesn’t mean it has to be this expensive full day out to a special entertainment place. It can simply be a walk in the park, a hike, or simply spending time in nature. It might even include a little treasure map for the kids to find pine cones or leaves and spot birds. Simple things like these can make a big difference. 

Nowadays, we try to get outside every single day. We very rarely have a day that’s fully inside. And I think that’s really helped our mental state as a family.

Research has shown time and time again that getting outdoors, taking a short walk, and spending time in nature can greatly benefit our physical health, mental state, and overall well-being.

When I read Mo Gawdat’s book, “Solve for Happy,” one of the things that really struck me was his mention of childhood. He writes that a child’s default state is happy and content, unless something external is bothering them. Issues like hunger, dirty nappies, or a tummy ache can disrupt this. Without these, their default state is just calm and content, and at the end of the day, happy. 

This made me realise that sometimes the pursuit of happiness isn’t about accumulating things, reaching the next status, or achieving the next goal. Like saying to myself, “Oh, when I reach 100k YouTube subscribers, that’s when I’ll be happy,” or thinking, “When I buy a bigger house or get the next job, then I’ll be happy.” All of these goals we set for ourselves do have a purpose, and they can serve us in life. But it doesn’t mean they are going to make us happy.

2. Hygge (cosiness)

Hygge simply means creating a cosy and warm atmosphere, away from the daily rush. It’s a space where we can enjoy time alone or with loved ones—those we appreciate in our lives.

This concept is something that not only makes our homes nicer, but it also makes the people living inside those homes a bit happier. 

It doesn’t have to be this big, complicated change we need to make in our homes. It’s just about creating that cosy, calm space where we can enjoy the little moments more. So at the end of the day, we can enjoy reading a book in our favourite nook rather than spend it frantically trying to catch up on house chores. 

Or it can also mean creating a clutter-free home so that we feel comfortable inviting people over and hosting little gatherings with people in our lives, and spending that quality time together. Because at the end of the day, as humans, we are social beings and we thrive when we have a bit of both, right? Both alone time and spending quality time with people we love. 

3. Work-life balance

A big one that really struck me was their work-life balance. Is this where they really got it right? They say work to live, not live to work.

According to statistics I came across while researching this article, the average work week in Sweden is about 30 hours. In the UK, for example, it’s around 42 hours.

It also often happens that countries like Finland, Denmark, and Sweden are ranked among the top for offering flexible working hours (source). This can make a big difference when it comes to balancing work and life. And I think this especially comes into play for families with kids. At least that’s what I found in our case. 

Some people living in Nordic countries have said that affordable and quality child care, along with these flexible hours, is one of the best things about living in a Nordic country. 

When I look around at our community of moms that we have around here in the UK, and at the early child care and school systems, it becomes clear that there needs to be some sort of sacrifice here or there. 

Either the mom pauses her job until the child starts school and needs flexible hours—something I also need—or she may rely on someone else, like a grandparent or another family member, to take care of the kids while she works.

And for some of us, it’s not an option. In our case, moving countries means we don’t have family close by to take care of the kids while we work.

So I can see how having a better work-life balance in Nordic countries can significantly reduce the stress levels of working parents and make them happier in general. 

When we had our first baby, I very quickly realised that I would not be able to go back to work full-time unless we did some sort of sacrifices. That was my push to really go ahead and work hard on my online business, which includes YouTube, my website, Instagram, and everything that I do on social media. 

And I’m really grateful to say that now I can do this full-time. And it has given me a lot of flexibility. Had I not had this, I think it would have been a much more stressful situation. Is it still a juggle? Yes, absolutely. But I do think that having flexible working hours is one of the main things that helps us feel calmer and happier.

Flexibility and work-life balance aren’t just important for parents; they’re essential for everyone. We all want time to enjoy our hobbies, work on side projects, or simply focus on personal pursuits.

By the way, if you need help with maybe starting and growing your own online business, similar to what I do here, then I have a whole range of free resources for you to help you get started. My 12-month blog plan has been downloaded by tens of thousands of people who found it helpful. I have a YouTube guide to help you get started on YouTube. And I have a lots of other little freebies that can help you as well. I also have some paid programs, if you’re interested. But I think the freebies are a really good place for you to start growing a business.

4. No shoes inside

Before researching this topic, I had no idea that this was a Nordic habit. It’s something we’ve been doing pretty much our whole lives. We grew up with this rule in Romania. Maybe it was just part of our family values, but we’ve always followed the ‘no shoes inside’ rule. After all, we don’t want to bring in rain, snow, mud, or just general dirt from outside.

I think this is especially important in the UK. Here, carpets are often placed right inside the entrance, and they cannot simply or easily be mopped clean. The no-shoes-inside rule makes a lot of sense to me, and it’s something we’ve been following our entire lives.

5. 3 things rule

This rule is all about keeping the to-do list to the bare essentials. Not being able to accomplish a long list, often unrealistic, of 10-20 items, can feel really stressful. And our whole goal here is to feel happier and calmer. 

For my work, I usually put two, maybe three main tasks on my to-do list for the day. Those are the things I want to accomplish that day. 

That’s not to say I won’t do other things as well. But, for example, today I have two videos I want to film. Once I’ve finished them both, depending on how much time I have left, I might do some other little jobs. I might post or reply on Instagram, or reply to emails. But my two main tasks are the videos. 

I try not to overwhelm my to-do list because then it dissipates my focus, and it just makes me less productive and more stressed, which is not really what I want. 

6. Lagom (less is more)

Lagom is the concept of not too much, not too little. And this is something I’ve noticed a lot in Nordic countries. It seems like the focus is on “less is more”. So, when the two extremes might be having an extremely cluttered home versus being extremely minimalist, Lagom seems to be somewhere in the middle. 

It’s about finding the right balance that works for us: having a calm, airy space without clutter, while still keeping the necessities that make our lives easier and more convenient. And this might look different for everybody. 

What I found helpful is to think about my ideal day. What would I be doing? Who would I be with? What sort of items would I be using that day?

In my case, I would definitely wake up and follow my skincare and makeup routine — I still need those items. I’d love to put on a nice outfit that I enjoy wearing. I’d absolutely spend the day with my family, part at home and part outside, as this balance works best for us. And when I think about the number of items I need for my ideal day, it’s actually not that much.

This made it a lot easier for me to identify the items I can declutter, because many of the things that don’t fit into that category aren’t truly necessary.

Of course, there are little household items and cleaning products we need to have. But the real clutter comes from the unnecessary things we keep because we think they’re sentimental but don’t make us feel great. Letting go of these items can really help us feel happier over time. It’s like a weight has been lifted when we do that.

7. Eating meals early

I actually didn’t know this was a Nordic habit! I picked it up from my kids as they wake up at 5 AM. Then we have breakfast at 6 because we’re already hungry. This means having an early lunch — sometimes between 11 and noon, which is quite early compared to the standards in other countries.

This leads to an early dinner too. After we get back from the school run, we usually have dinner around 5, sometimes even a bit earlier for the kids. 

I find that when we come back from school, even if they’ve had a small snack on the way home, if I wait until 7:00 PM to serve dinner, they’ll end up asking for more snacks before dinner. So, instead of giving them extra snacks and then having them not eat much at dinner, I prefer to serve dinner earlier. Later they might have a few snacks or dessert if they still want it.

After dinner, now that the weather is nicer and the days are longer, we sometimes go for a walk or in the park, relax in the garden, or spend time unwinding with a puzzle, a book, or building something with blocks with our kids.

This habit frees up space in the evening, so we’re not spending time cooking, cleaning, and tidying. And it also means we don’t go to bed with full and uncomfortable tummies.

So yeah, that’s one habit we’ve adopted without even intending to.

8. Walking and cycling more

When I asked my husband about his work trip to Sweden, he mentioned that one of the things that really stood out to him was how many people use bikes for transportation, even in bad weather.

And that’s something we’re trying to incorporate more now as our default.

When we go on the school run, we choose to walk instead of always taking the car. I’m not saying we never take the car. But getting those steps in, getting some fresh air, and maybe stopping at the playground with the kids after school—these things really help us find better balance. I feel like they make all of us just a little bit happier throughout the day.

9. Keeping surfaces mostly clear

I’ve noticed this tendency in Nordic cultures to have surfaces mostly clear of clutter and excess decor items. They seem to really focus more on being functional, airy, and calm, rather than having surfaces cluttered with knick-knacks.

Not that we can’t have any decor. It’s just all about having those intentional pieces that we love looking at, rather than having shelves and tables all covered with things. It brings a sense of calm and simplicity to the space, making it feel more peaceful and organised.

This is something I’ve been doing for a while now since I’ve been more on this minimalist side of things. And it’s helped a lot. Not only with the visual clutter, reducing that stress of seeing all of those items every day, but it also sped up cleaning.

When I want to clean a clear, not cluttered surface, I just move one item out of the way, give it a clean, and put it back. Whereas if I have tens of items, it’s going to take a lot longer and require much more effort.

10. Simple daily rituals

In Nordic cultures, people also seem to focus on simple daily rituals. Be it a morning yoga or a quick stretch workout, and having an evening tea to wind down. They also tend to avoid rushing by preparing things the night before. This way, mornings are more peaceful and less stressful, without the frantic rush to head out the door.

This is something I’ve been trying to do as well though I don’t manage every day. But when I take the time to prep the night before—organising the kids’ school lunchboxes, water bottles, and laying out their clothes—the next morning goes much smoother and easier. I’m calmer, and I can focus more on the kids, helping them have a good start to their day, rather than stressing out and rushing out the door.

Let me know what other Nordic habits you have learned about—maybe something you’re currently using in your life. I’d love to hear that!