Friluftsliv: A Lasting Panacea To Overcome “Winter Blues”.

“It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it.”

“There is no bad weather, only Bad Clothes”, this Swedish saying changed my entire perspective 360 degrees about the winter. A starkly mesmerizing season, winter is all about powdery snow, tranquillity and a reflective frame of mind. Nevertheless, there is something extraordinary about Scandinavian folks’ philosophy of celebrating the winter which they have named “Friluftsliv”. The concept of treasuring an unsullied affinity for Nature has been an extraordinary attribute of Norwegian culture since time immemorial. A candid commitment towards enthusiastically celebrating time outdoors, Friluftsliv transcends beyond the weather barriers. 

Especially, Friluftsliv proves to be extremely helpful while dealing with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that triggers a unique kind of depression owing to the changes in seasons. Symptoms encompass mood swings, depression for no specific reason, low energy levels and many more. “Winter Blues” is indeed the term associated with “SAD”. This is where the philosophy of “Friluftsliv” emerges like an elixir empowering you to keep “SAD” at bay. 

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Few intriguing facts about “Friluftsliv”:

• “Friluftsloven” is a Friluftsliv‘s law that embraces the “Right to roam”. 
  
• “Friluftsbarnehager” is a unique concept of Norway featuring several outdoor kindergartens where the children do spend 80 per cent of their time while indulging in myriad outdoor activities.  

• There are many government-sponsored “libraries” that offer outdoor gears to borrow.

• There is a dedicated association named “The Norwegian Trekking Association” comprising over 260,000 members. Every year, volunteers do put their valuable time maintaining DNT’s cabins, planning trips, marking trails and more.  
  
• Interestingly, Norway is one of its kind of country that offers a bachelor degree in friluftsliv.

• Practising the art of friluftsliv imparts unparalleled spiritual, mental, physical and aesthetic experiences that perhaps cannot be translated into words. Even a simple activity like sitting quietly amidst the woods can do wonders beyond imagination.  

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Here are a few most proven ways to achieve friluftsliv:

• Connect (Through myriad outdoor activities)
• Be vivacious (Through cycling, hiking, jogging and more.)
• Mindful Observation (By capturing nature-inspired beauty) 
• Nurturing Curiosity (Trying a new activity)
• Bestow (by lending a helping hand to others in having a pleasant time outdoors). 

After learning about quite an alluring nature-inspired concept Friluftsliv, the mystery behind Norway’s consistent ranking amongst the world’s happiest places gets decoded in itself. Next time when winter is all set to arrive, embrace it with mindfulness like the Scandinavian way by cherishing the picturesque outdoors. Try Berry picking, walking the dog, or spending time in most pristine remote locations that are amongst those few leisure activities that go a long way in boosting your physical, mental and even spiritual well-being. Embracing “Friluftsliv “is indeed altogether a unique kind of escape by disconnecting from everyday stress. It is about soaking up in nature’s sublime beauty without devastating it.  

“There’s just something beautiful about walking on snow that nobody else has walked on. It makes you believe you’re special.”