KEEPING THE INNER CALM

In the spirit of the happiest nation in the world, I thought I would dedicate this months post to the Finnish and their secret: which apparently is their relationship with nature. When others go to therapy, Finns put on a pair of rubber boots and head to the woods, something many of us can learn from.

“Nature has a calming effect on us. Only fifteen minutes in the forest will relieve our stress levels and reduce our blood pressure. It is the natural cure for our body & mind. Finns are one of the happiest countries in the world and we believe it is due to our close connection with the nature.” – Visit Finland

If you want to find out how you can improve your life and find inner calm in true Finnish style, I recommend taking the Better Life Survey created by Hintsa. The test will show you how balanced your life is and you get your personal report with inspiration on how to reduce stress and improve performance. Because simple, little lifestyle changes have the power to positively impact your daily energy, mood, and performance in a matter of days.

When it comes to keeping the inner calm, this is something closely connected with finding that Scandinavian feeling. This month on Instagram I have seen many calm and lovely moments shared while the seasons change, both outdoors and indoors. There is a longing for warmer weather and sunshine, but also a relief when the cold is here and we can snuggle up inside and have a hyggelig time with friends or on our own. Spring is also a time for change, and a good reason to do a spring clean to simplify our lives. I believe a calm home equals a calm life, which you can read more about here.

How do you find #thatscandinavianfeeling in your life and keep your inner calm? I love looking at all your posts on Instagram of how you slow down and enjoy the little things, and it makes me so happy that so many of you are using and discovering my hashtag. Every month I feature four moments shared in the feed by you, and below you can find this month’s selection. These monthly little catch-ups are a great way to get to know each other and to discover new accounts, so make sure you click through to see more of their beautiful feeds and give them a follow – let’s spread the love!

1 // @ateliermeipel
“That Scandinavian feeling, for me, is finding inspiration in the raw beauty of nature and applying it to everyday objects so they can bring simplicity and joy to our daily lives.”

2 // @curatedisplay
“I think that Scandinavian feeling comes from mindfulness – to be aware of your surroundings and present in the moment (with that cup of coffee). It’s about taking time and care in choosing the things that you buy for you and your home and using them often. Ultimately, it’s about gaining a sense of clarity you find when you slow down and take the time to enjoy the simple things in life.”

3 // @anoukrose
“That Scandinavian feeling for me is all about keeping the inner calm and finding the balance in life. There are so many things that can through us off center, and it’s very important to find a moment to refocus on what matters most. Creating a safe place to do that and surrounding myself only with what adds value is part of that, too.”

4 // @worldofkarnstrom
“There is truly magic with changing seasons and that the daylight never is the same. Just as with our lives from day to day. So take some time to appreciate the small things in life and just learn to be in that particular moment right there and then.”

Join in and share your moments too by adding the hashtag on your Instagram posts. How do you find that Scandinavian feeling wherever you are? How are you enjoying the little things in life?

And if you haven’t already, make sure you head over to the #thatscandinavianfeeling feed and have a browse of all the entries we have had so far by clicking the hashtag below: