According to the financial journalist of the The Wall Street JournalJoe Pinsker: “More than a decade ago a study became popular where it was said that The ideal amount of money to be happy was 75 thousand dollars (69,200 euros)“, an amount that once updated would be equivalent to about 110,000 euros. A salary that is very very far, if not light years away, from the payroll of the vast majority of Spaniards, which is around €30,237 per year, that is, 2,520 euros per month. Does that mean that we are left out of the paradise of happiness? Is salary an impediment to being happy? If we look at the different studies on the matter, all may not be lost, and that, after all, people whose salary does not reach the minimum mentioned in the study have some chance of catching that bird of happiness.
This hope is born from another figure, this time the one that places Norway in seventh place in the ranking of the happiest countries in the world. A position he occupies thanks to the confluence of several factors, one of them being his economic level, although not the only one, nor the most important. And, although it is undeniable that its inhabitants enjoy an enviable quality of life with a average annual salary in 2023 of €63,693 per year, The truth is that it seems that it is their habits and not their pocketbook (or not only) that makes them one of the happiest people in the world.
Money is not everything
One of the best-known philosophies of life among Norwegians is Kos philosophywhich is based on three basic pillars: enjoying everyday acts, connecting with nature and creating social relationships.
- Enjoy everyday acts. The idea is to be aware of the importance of everyday life and the value of the moment. Learning to live in the here and now, the main premise of Mindfulness. Having a coffee with a friend, taking a walk in the park, the bus ride to work… Everything can be enjoyed. The point is to become aware of what we are doing. If we do, we will enjoy it much more. Furthermore, we not only experience immediate pleasure, we will also obtain well-being in the medium and long term.
- Connect with nature. Since most people live in an urban environment, regaining contact with nature is key to finding emotional balance, reducing stress or elevating the mood. It is proven that contact with nature, in any of its forms, is a true balm for the soul. You can take a trip to the countryside, or take a walk through a park. Anything goes.
Contact with nature reduces stress.
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- Create relationships. The third leg on which the kos philosophy is based has to do with social relations. Creating new emotional bonds, as well as strengthening existing ones, makes us feel good. This is stated by Robert Waldinger, professor and researcher at Harvard University. The expert, director of the largest study of happiness that has been done so far, affirms that The stronger the relationships, the longer we will live and the happier we will be.
Happiness is out there
We have seen that one of the pillars of happiness is contact with nature. So much so, that there is a habit among Norwegians (and also Swedes and Danes) to which much of their happiness is attributed: it is Friluftslivan expression that literally means “outdoor life” and was popularized in the 1850s by the Norwegian playwright and poet Henrik Ibsen.
The writer of works as well known as Doll’s House (1879), used the term to describe the importance of spending time in remote places for one’s own physical and spiritual well-being.
This concept, today, is used in a much broader way and refers to activities as different as run In the woods, go to work by bikemeet with friends in a sauna by the lake (with a dip in the cold water included) or simply relax in a mountain cabin.
Reduces stress and anxiety
For some time now, the incidence of disorders such as stress and anxiety It is so high that they are close to being considered one of the largest epidemics of this time. Friluftsliv is revealed as an effective tool to deal with these ailments.
It is proven that spending time in a natural environment, whether it is a forest, the beach, the mountains, or even a park, has positive effects on physical and mental health. And, on the one hand, walking for a few hours, regardless of whether we do it in the city or the mountains, will have benefits for cardiovascular health and the state of the muscles and joints. And on the other hand, it will take care of our mind, which will have an impact on a good state of mind, decision making, self-esteem, or the ease of falling asleep.
