The Finnish Way of Achieving Mindfulness Explained by a Non-Finn
One of these past weekends I was relaxing in one of the massaging pools from our local swimming hall. At some point while feeling the bubbles cuddle my stiff back, I lost my train of thought. I remember I was deeply staring at the other side of the hall and it just daunted me: this is probably what people call “mindfulness”.
It was a moment that only lasted a few minutes but my mind was blank. I felt nicely refreshed afterwards. It felt amazing to be focused on that moment and enjoying it. In that unforeseen bit, I discovered that those instants had been frequent episodes during my time in Finland.
That moment, inspired me to dig deeper and figure out why — coincidentally I did notice that while living in Finland I had learned to take breaks more often and be more conscious about my work-life balance. I concluded that the way this country was built and is run daily, has helped its citizens become more conscious about their daily lives.
You’ve also probably seen Finland making headlines lately: their government is led by women, the country has one of the best education systems, it has been rated as the world’s happiest country, and most recently listed as one of the countries with the best work-life balance. One could just continue to brag about Finland endlessly.
Finland is a balanced country. Mindfulness is all about balance.
When it comes to mindfulness I have a few things to say: mindfulness is what some describe as being aware of the present moment and your surroundings. Commonly, some people achieve these moments by practicing meditation. However, it is also possible to achieve mindfulness in everything you do and anywhere you are.
The concept’s essence on the surface — without getting too superstitious, is something that I believe is present in Finnish culture. Perhaps it’s not something that Finns are aware of, but there are certain societal norms and traditions that I believe encourage mindfulness in Finnish culture.
How does achieving simple mindfulness within Finnish culture look like?
Here are three significant cultural cornerstones that make achieving mindfulness in Finland possible:
Respecting every person’s personal space (minding your own business)
You have probably seen the memes of Finns at a bus stop where the bus line has a five-meter gap between each person, thus showing the reality of how much Finns love their personal space. Another comparable scenario is inside the public trains or metros: people avoid sitting too close to each other and are extremely quiet.
In practice, this societal norm of respecting a person’s personal space means not being pushy with unwanted social interactions and giving people enough room to be on their own.
At first, it takes a while to get used to these situations but the more time you spend in Finland, you start to get used to it and in my case, you start to love it. Giving people space in public spaces and in life, as my husband describes it “ is a way of appreciating each other even though people don’t know each other”. It’s the foundation of respect and in Finland, you need to be okay with that.
The ability in which we give each other space to just “be”, decreases our personal social anxiety of always having to be willing to have to perform in front of someone or for something. It also allows people to focus on themselves and have quiet moments after long workdays, where you can be with your own thoughts — even inside public trains.
Nudity in certain spaces as a way of generating acceptance towards others and yourself
Saunas are extremely popular in Finland and often a shock to foreigners when you discover people go there naked — and then it’s your turn!
However, the first time I went to a Finnish swimming hall I was utterly embarrassed. I didn't know you are supposed to strip off your clothes publicly and wash your naked body before putting on your bathing suit and heading to the pool.
To me, that was one of the biggest cultural shocks when I moved to Finland. It was a shock because it wasn’t even an option . The reason as to why you can’t have your bathing suit on when you shower, is because you need to be able to get rid of any traces of makeup or body creams — meaning that it’s just a basic hygienic ritual. That’s why it can’t be optional — it’s a simple rule that everyone should follow.
For children to grow up with these practices, I am positive does them a big favor in the long run. Being so accepting of nudity sends a good message: bodies are just bodies, there’s more important stuff to focus on, than how other people’s bodies and your body looks like.
Inside Finnish shower rooms, everyone is equally vulnerable. You’re naked. And during my life in Finland, that has thought a very important lesson: you can be your perfect self with clothes on, but once you’re in the shower room your flaws will show.
Nowadays, every time I enter the swimming hall and have to shower naked, I practice a bit of unconscious mindfulness — I try to focus on myself, my daughter, move around naturally and have a good time.
Nature & outdoors as a source of inspiration and awakening your thoughts
Finns love their forests and spending time in nature any time of the year. I’ve learned during my time in Finland that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes. Finns don’t waste time and have made sure that every season is accentuated with a special outdoor activity that always keeps you looking forward to the next season:
Winter: This is a dark month as the sun rises late and sun sets early — however the glow is there: streets, houses & apartments glow in the dark with Christmas decor and the winter sports fans get ready for the snowy season ahead — once the temperature is steady under minus degrees for at least a week, local skiing and skating centers open.
Spring: This season is heavily awaited as the skies began to clear and days begin to last a bit longer. The snow melts away and Finns begin to revitalize! During Spring, Finland celebrates on May 1st the Labour Day “Vappu”. This celebration is one of the most awaited in Finland, that marks the beginning of summer.
Summer: This season in Finland is one of the most beautiful that brings to light some of Finland’s natural gems: a thousand lakes to swim in, enjoying time with your family in a summer cottage, go berry picking or partying until the sun sets the morning after.
Autumn: Mood-wise this is one of the cosiest and colorful seasons in Finland. This is the time when trees turn to all possible shades of orange and yellow. The season is also popular for adventuring outdoors and going mushroom picking.
To top it all, in Finland forests are free for everyone to roam — this is what the country calls “Jokamiehen Oikeudet” (Everyman’s right). To me, this is a bold statement from the country’s government to encourage its citizens to use its forests. Such benefit has served the country right —each season in Finland is enjoyed to the fullest even in the harshest conditions.
What I love about Finland, is that this country has made sure that wherever you go there is plenty of space and silence for you to enjoy and reflect on. Coming from a somewhat over the top happy region (Latin America) when it comes to social interactions, I just love having the option of living in a country that unconsciously encourages mindfulness within its people, with daily activities that make it easier for you to relax and be happy with your current self.
