You can take a class on happiness from Finland, the happiest country in the world

Claire Harmeyer
·2 min read

Ever wondered about the secret to happiness? Well, locals from Finland, the happiest country in the world, are spilling the tea. The country has been ranked No. 1 in the World Happiness Report for three years straight, and locals are ready to explain how they maintain their happiness—even amid a pandemic.

Rather than doing a deep dive into the statistics behind what makes Finns so happy—lifestyle, health, education, income, etc.—you can now hear from Finns first-hand about the day-to-day habits that contribute to their happiness via a virtual course.

The free, 60-minute online classes will feature six local experts showcasing different activities that contribute to their happiness.

Topics include exercise, food, free time, relaxation, and more. The first course live-streamed on May 15th, and the classes will continue throughout the month of June. (You can watch it in the YouTube video below.) The following class dates are May 22nd, May 29th, June 6th, and June 12th. The live-stream classes will be available on Facebook and YouTube with a Q&A taking place on Instagram afterward, but they will also be posted online after the fact, so you can watch and share with friends at any time.

Some experts you can expect to see: Päivikki Koskinen, a freelance journalist and therapeutic coach, who will share her love for saunas and ice baths. Plus, Sasu Laukkonen, a Michelin-starred chef, who will focus on food.

The classes stem from an ongoing program called Rent a Finn, which was launched in 2019. The in-person program allowed visitors to spend the day with a Finn, who would demonstrate how locals live and the habits that contribute to their happiness. But now, in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the program has shifted to an online template, dubbed Rent a Finn Goes Virtual.

It seems that Finns realize we need some help being happy now more than ever, and we are all ears. Tune into the next Rent a Finn live stream this Thursday, May 22nd.

As information about the coronavirus pandemic rapidly changes, HelloGiggles is committed to providing accurate and helpful coverage to our readers. As such, some of the information in this story may have changed after publication. For the latest on COVID-19, we encourage you to use online resources from CDC, WHO, and local public health departments, and visit our coronavirus hub.