2 min readThe Finns have unlocked the key to true happiness, or at least the researchers at Oxford, Columbia, and Simon Fraser University say so.
In the latest World Happiness Report, produced in part by the United Nations, Finland won the title of World’s Happiest Country for the ninth consecutive year, leading Iceland, Denmark, and Costa Rica. Based on the single-question survey format favored by researchers, the Finns are leading the charge up the life-happiness ladder, with long life expectancy, a widely acknowledged air of generosity, and overall low levels of perceived public corruption. This year’s research examined more than just the Finns’ life satisfaction. It also revealed a striking correlation between low happiness rankings and high social media usage.
To combat the screen-driven culture of the rest of the world, Finland’s tourism board is offering twelve lucky visitors the opportunity to “Chill Like a Finn” with an all-expenses-paid, seven-day trip to Lakeland, an outdoor paradise that’s also Europe’s largest lake district. The contest winners will be required to unplug from their screens on the banks of Lake Simaa and amid the rolling hills of Neitvuori, which are far more picturesque than your PC’s desktop—trust us.
The week-long retreat will take place in June, and its program will challenge visitors to take on Finnish culture in the Land of a Thousand Lakes. Think hiking through the dense hilltop forests, paddle boarding on glassy lakes, and working up a good sweat in the sauna—where the very concept was invented!
Travel hopefuls should apply for a chance to win via the official contest website. By the way, the process does include a social media component. So you’ll have to take to your screens to secure your Finnish getaway.
