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I get uptight, I work a lot. Could a Happy Finnish help?
Finland has just been named the happiest country in the world — again. It’s topped the World Happiness Report for the eighth year in a row. And while it’s easy to put that down to saunas and clean air, the real reasons run deeper: trust, connection, balance, and a culture that values rest as much as resilience.
It’s made me reflect on my own experience. I don’t think of myself as a stressy person. Yes, I get uptight. I work a lot. I run my own business, and I’m rarely fully switched off. But recently I was diagnosed with an ectopic heartbeat — extra beats, likely caused by stress.
Classic me: always keen to do more, even when it comes to heartbeats. I didn’t feel stressed, but it caught up with me.
So, I’ve made changes. I don’t work past 7:30 p.m., I avoid emails before 7:30 a.m., and I’ve overhauled my mornings—no caffeine, no alcohol, and just 10 minutes of yoga and breathing to reset my system twice a day. It’s not perfect, but it’s progress.
Why am I telling you this? Because after 25 years of studying happiness, one thing is clear: we each need to take ownership of how we feel, behave, and show up. Finland’s example reinforces this.
Yes, leaders and workplaces have a role to play — and must play it — but don’t hand over your happiness. There’s no quick fix. It’s the small, consistent choices that build resilience. Stress is normal. It’s how we rest and restore that makes the difference.
What we can learn from the Happy Finnish (now the title makes sense, eh! – that was your brain, not mine)
Recently, the UN World Happiness Report was released to mark the International Day of Happiness. It was compiled by asking people in different countries to rate their own lives on a scale of 0 to 10, with zero being the worst possible life and 10 being the best possible life.
Finland rated highest, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The UK is not even in the top 10. It comes in at number 24, dropping four places from its 20th slot in 2024.
There are several reasons why Finland has become a shining example for the rest of us, including high levels of income equality, extensive social support, and low crime rates. And saunas. It has an estimated 3.3 million saunas, meaning roughly 0.6 saunas per person.
The Nordic country has plenty going for it. According to the World Health Organisation, it has the cleanest air in the world and the best global sleep score (interestingly, Finnish parents leave babies outdoors in prams in all weathers to sleep, a practice that is thought to contribute to the nation’s sleep expertise. Fact).
Clearly, a nation with only 5.5 million citizens that can still produce the iconic Nokia 3310, the Angry Birds mobile phone game and F1 driver Kimi Räikkönen must have something going for it.
So, what can we learn from this that will help us as individuals work and live better and create environments conducive to happiness?
Trust: Finland’s secret weapon
Imagine a workplace where trust flows freely. That’s Finland. Finns trust their neighbours, their government, and public officials. This sense of security allows people to focus on what matters: living, working, and innovating.
When you don’t waste energy second-guessing others, you can put your brainpower into more productive use, like cracking that tricky project or coming up with ideas.
As a leader during the recession and pandemic, I discovered just how important trust is. Those times were stressful, uncertain, and filled with constant change. But what made the biggest difference wasn’t just resilience; it was having a team that trusted each other.
Knowing that we had each other’s backs meant we could try new ideas, make mistakes, and still move forward because everyone understood we were doing our best. Being open and honest was key.
Research from Forbes shows that workplace trust directly boosts performance, with teams reporting 76% higher engagement, 50% more productivity, and 74% less stress. But trust isn’t a perk we hand out. It’s earned, mutual, and fragile — break it, and you break your culture.
So, what builds trust? It’s not a flashy away day or a tick-box exercise. It’s the everyday stuff: turning up when you say you will, listening without jumping in, admitting when you’ve messed up, giving credit, saying thank you, and meaning it. It’s being decent, consistently. Even if you need to have a tough conversation.
Nature: Finland’s natural recharge button
You’re never more than a 10-minute walk from open space in Finland. That’s no accident. Finns know nature isn’t just nice — it’s necessary. Time outdoors boosts creativity and reduces stress. In fact, research shows that after four days in nature (and away from screens), creativity can spike by 50%.
But you don’t need to vanish into the woods to feel the benefits. A five-minute pause, a stroll, or even looking out the window can help reset your brain. Some of my best ideas have come from simply stepping away.
Leaders and teams can role-model this. Normalise taking breaks. Hold walking meetings. If organisations have access to green spaces, or simply encourage people to get outside, be conscious, too, of how your actions impact others - booking a meeting over someone’s blocked-out break might feel small, but it sends a message. Could it wait? Could you check first?
This kind of everyday awareness - respecting time, encouraging pause, showing it’s okay to step back - builds a culture where people feel valued. And the bonus? According to Forbes, companies that support mental recharge see a 31% boost in creative thinking and a 23% improvement in decision-making. Nature and breaks aren’t just a nice-to-have; they’re a business advantage.
‘Sisu’: The Finnish grit
‘Sisu’ is Finland’s version of resilience — a blend of grit, determination, and quiet strength. It’s what helps you dig deep when things get tough. But it’s not about pushing relentlessly but choosing your effort wisely — knowing when to press on and when to regroup.
Since my diagnosis, I’ve had to adjust how I work and lead. I still push hard — it’s in my nature — but I’ve learned that real grit isn’t about never stopping, it’s about staying focused on what matters, even when it’s hard.
Sometimes, that also means building in small moments to reset - like reading for 10 minutes before bed instead of scrolling - or carving out a quiet break in the day. These pauses aren’t a weakness; they’re part of the strength that keeps you going.
Leaders and managers play a key role here. It’s not about telling others to be resilient but showing it. That means being open about challenges, demonstrating consistency, and living the message: resilience is built through action, honesty, and the courage to keep showing up — even when things get uncomfortable.
When teams see that, they don’t just hear resilience; they start to believe in their own.
Lead with love
This year’s Stress Awareness Month theme, ‘Lead with Love, ’ encourages us to approach ourselves and others with kindness, compassion, and acceptance.
Jeffrey D. Sachs, president of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, said the findings reconfirmed that:
“Happiness is rooted in trust, kindness, and social connection. It is up to us as virtuous individuals and citizens to translate this vital truth into positive action, thereby fostering peace, civility, and wellbeing in communities worldwide."
HR professionals, L&D teams, and leaders have a powerful role to play in building these habits. Encouraging open communication, promoting mental recovery, and creating environments where people feel supported and safe will help teams thrive. But as I’ve mentioned, there's a lot we can do as individuals too.
By weaving in behaviours that build trust, connect you with nature, and ‘sisu’ into your everyday, we can be happier and healthier teams - and develop the kind of happy Finnish that won’t give HR palpitations.
Laughology has supported brands such as VMO2, HSBC and Starbucks through leadership transformation and cultural change. If you want to talk to one of our change experts, please get in touch with doug@laughology.co.uk
