Rain or Shine Mamma

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes

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Is Friluftsliv the New Hygge? How a Deep Connection with Nature Can Save Us from the Pressures of Modern Life

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January 11, 2018 By Linda McGurk

Can I share a secret? My passion may be connecting children with nature, but due to my job as a writer I actually spend most of my day glued in front of a screen, sedentary seated in my climate-controlled office. My phone and email notifications are constantly pinging, I have about 56 different browsers and 17 spreadsheets open on my laptop while simultaneously fighting wi-fi issues and at least a couple software installations gone wrong. By the time I wrap up work and pick my girls up from school in the afternoon, I often feel like I have accomplished nothing, yet have very little left to give.

I’m spent, finished, deep-fried.

This is the reality for many of us. We’re mostly indoors, juiced up on electronics and far removed from our original home, the natural world that sustains us. About 80 percent of the population in the developed world lives in cities, which in itself makes our human experience much different than that of our distant ancestors. But humans evolved in nature for millennia and our bodies and brains haven’t changed that much since we lived in caves. We even have internal, biological clocks that synchronize with the rhythms of nature, functions that are suppressed by our modern lifestyle.

Is Friluftsliv the New Hygge? How a Deep Connection with Nature Can Save Us from the Pressures of Modern Life. Rain or Shine Mamma

Fortunately, there’s an effective antidote to all the frenzied busyness, techno stress and physical inactivity caused by the urbanized, digital age, and it comes in the form of a tongue-twisting eleven-letter word from Scandinavia: friluftsliv (pronounced FREE-loofts-leave).

As I write in my book There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather, friluftsliv losely translates to “open-air life,” but just like hygge (having a cozy time together) and lagom (not too much, not too little) it’s a word that lacks an accurate equivalent in English. First coined by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in 1859, the concept became a popular in Scandinavia after World War II as a reaction against industrialization and an escape from urban life. The government too realized nature’s healing potential and actively started promoting friluftsliv as a boon for public health. Today, it’s deeply ingrained in the Scandinavian cultural fabric. But what is friluftsliv exactly?

Is Friluftsliv the New Hygge? How a Deep Connection with Nature Can Save Us from the Pressures of Modern Life. Rain or Shine MammaThe Swedish government typically defines friluftsliv as spending time outdoors to get a change of scenery and experience nature, with no pressure to achieve or compete. Hans Gelter, an associate professor at Luleå University of Technology, says that friluftsliv is not an activity or program with a narrow goal, but “a philosophical lifestyle based on experiences of the freedom in nature and the spiritual connectedness with the landscape.”

In reality, friluftsliv means different things to different people, but in its original and most pure form, it can be described as the notion that returning to nature is akin to coming home.

What genuine friluftsliv is NOT:

  • Teaching about nature using a specific curriculum
  • Participating in a wilderness therapy program or getting a “nature prescription” from a doctor
  • Using nature as a playground for outdoor recreation, for example by participating in competitive or adventure sports
  • Changing, destroying or taking control of nature
  • Using motorized vehicles in nature

What genuine friluftsliv IS:

  • Learning the ways of other living organisms, and understanding your own place in the natural world with nature as the teacher
  • Developing a love and respect for nature through direct experience
  • Using all senses to create a deep sensation of connectedness with nature
  • Rediscovering our natural, biological rhythms through nature immersion
  • Growing self-esteem as well as physical, social and survival skills in the natural world throughout life
Is Friluftsliv the New Hygge? How a Deep Connection with Nature Can Save Us from the Pressures of Modern Life. Rain or Shine Mamma

So why is friluftsliv so effective against stress and other modern ails? According to Gelter, when we venture into wild places, our brains receive the stimuli they were originally developed for and we regain our natural rhythms and energies. This in turn explains why we feel harmonious and happy in nature.

“When looking into a fireplace we feel the flames alive and attracting our attention. No artificial light, like the cold mechanical lifeless light of a flashlight, will ever attract us in the same way,” he explains.

This year, I’m going to dive deep into the philosophy of friluftsliv both in my personal life and here on the blog. Why? Because having my body and mind deeply rooted in this practice is literally what saves my sanity on a daily basis. It also guides me on my parenting journey, since I believe that giving my children the gift of friluftsliv is one of my most important responsibilities. We may not be able to completely escape the pressure of modern life, but friluftsliv gives both adults and kids a way to recuperate from it and connect with something much greater than themselves.

I hope you will join me on this journey!

Is Friluftsliv the New Hygge? How a Deep Connection with Nature Can Save Us From the Pressures of Modern Life. #hygge #friluftsliv #nature #forest #relaxation #unplugging #mindfulness

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Filed Under: Featured, Inspiration, Parent with Nature 22 Comments

Comments

  1. Noreen says

    January 12, 2018 at 10:20 am

    Excellent post and very well said! Ever since reading about this concept in your book, I have been drawn to it. Like you, it’s how I grew up (though, we didn’t have a word for it) but I have not been living it in recent years. And I feel that it’s harder for people to get into that kind of flow with nature when they have never truly experienced it before. Can’t wait to see how you will share your knowledge since we all so desperately need more friluftsliv.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      January 12, 2018 at 10:45 am

      Thank you, Noreen! And I agree with you that it’s much harder to get into it when you don’t grow up with it, and that’s why it’s so crucial to connect children with nature early on. The next generation of parents will be much more disconnected from it than we were, and I think friluftsliv can help bridge that gap!

      Reply
  2. Mandy Smith says

    January 12, 2018 at 10:32 am

    I love this! Having read a plethora of Scandinavian books the past two years (trying to connect to ancestral roots), this concept, friluftsliv, stood out. I will definitely be joining you on the journey to bring more friluftsliv into my life in 2018.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      January 12, 2018 at 10:43 am

      Wonderful, Mandy! Looking forward to have you following along. I can tell Scandinavian culture is really hot right now and obviously friluftsliv is one of my favorite aspects of it as well!

      Reply
  3. Bekah says

    January 12, 2018 at 10:46 am

    Great post! I’m thinking about ways to incorporate this into my everyday (or at least every month! routine)Thank you 🙂

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      January 13, 2018 at 7:34 am

      That’s great, Bekah! I believe that creating a routine is key to making nature time a habit. It doesn’t matter how small you start, as long as you get out there. Good luck!

      Reply
  4. Rudy Anderson says

    January 12, 2018 at 11:48 am

    I grew up in the high plateaus of Colorado and the mountains of Wyoming. Outdoors was where I always wanted to be. All summer and every day after school I would head to the hills. It never occurred to me that I was making a connection to nature. I was just trying to keep warm and get a higher view of my surroundings, but the smell of sage and pine, the lichen stained stones, the lizards, rabbits and the willows became part of me without even noticing. I’m now 68 years old and even though I took my children camping as often as I could, and they still love going, I see it’s not the same with them. They go for the activity, not the nature, and most of my grandchildren are still young enough that they love the while experience. You inspire me, so my new goal this year is to spend at least half a day a week in the woods, and take a grandchild with me as often as I can.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      January 13, 2018 at 7:32 am

      Rudy, that’s a wonderful goal. I can just about guarantee you that your grandkids will remember those days and treasure them dearly as they get older.

      Reply
  5. Carla@ouramanahsourfutures says

    January 13, 2018 at 6:43 am

    Here in the UK the weather is grey and damp and through a bout of illness we haven’t been in nature much. Reading your writing always makes me aim to take my kids in nature everyday. You have motivated me again. Thank you x

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      January 13, 2018 at 7:31 am

      Oh good! I know how tough it can be to motivate yourself on those gray, dreary days – I struggle with it too. But I always think of how beneficial it is to my kids and how good I feel afterward, and ultimately that’s what gets me out the door even when it’s cold, dark, rainy or all of the above!

      Reply
  6. Melissa says

    January 23, 2018 at 7:00 pm

    Thank you for such an in-depth explanation!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      January 25, 2018 at 6:32 am

      You’re very welcome!

      Reply
  7. TeeTee Mama says

    February 5, 2018 at 6:14 pm

    I just heard about you and this site 15 minutes ago. I love it. This is the first winter in New England where I have not felt trapped and crazy. The biggest factor is my warm gloves and hat. Every single day, the children and I go out. Even when it was -45F with the windchill, we went out and felt the wind take our breath away. If the blue jays, chickadees, and crows can sing, we should go and listen.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      February 6, 2018 at 8:07 am

      Oh good! So glad you found me:) And the clothing really makes all the difference – I rarely venture outside without snow pants if it’s below 32F!

      Reply
  8. Kayla says

    March 8, 2018 at 4:34 pm

    I really love this. When we were young and camping with my dad, he would tell us that when he was growing up, a camp fire was his cartoon. People literally are drawn to the natural light of a fire. I’ve never heard of friluftsliv and think it a wonderful philosophy! Thanks for the post.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 11, 2018 at 11:37 am

      Thank you, Kayla! It’s interesting that you mention the campfire because a friluftsliv researcher whose work I’ve read talks about how an electric light never captures our attention like a campfire does and it’s so true:)

      Reply
  9. Lois Betts says

    March 28, 2018 at 5:21 pm

    I think that the focus on direct experience of nature for children while they are young is crucial in our modern education system. It is no good teaching a child about cycles of nature in science if they have never seen new buds growing in spring, or autumn leaves going soggy in late autumn and winter. I’ve discovered the world of Forest School both as a business and for my own three children. It is wonderful to have repeat visits to the same woodland and see the changes that happens in nature, without being specifically taught about it. I couldn’t agree more that we need to give children (and adults!) an antidote to the modern world, and coping strategies that they can use over their lives. If getting outdoors for unstructured time daily becomes their coping strategy then how valuable that will be for happiness, self confidence and well-being? Thanks for a great article.
    Lois x

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      April 10, 2018 at 4:25 pm

      Yes, direct experiences in nature are definitely crucial! Forest school is such a wonderful model for this and I’m glad that it’s become so popular in the UK. Keep up the good work, both at home and your business:)

      Reply
  10. Heather says

    January 2, 2019 at 9:09 am

    I love your site. We live in Indiana between Bloomington and Indianapolis in the suburbs, and began homeschooling. I am learning more and more about Charlotte Mason style and wanting that for my children. Nature is a huge component, and letting children just enjoy, observe and explore on their own. However, I’ve never been much of an outdoors girl (always in suburbs 🙁 ) but praying we can change that for my 5 girls. We already started out our new year by heading into nature yesterday in the cold, gray gloom. My girls said, yay we haven’t hiked in a while, I can’t wait (we have new baby this year) as we pulled into the park and it was so encouraging. Making plans for more outside time now-though bought some new outdoor gear on the way home. Need to be better prepared in future! Thanks for all you share

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      January 3, 2019 at 1:34 pm

      Hello Heather! It makes me so happy to hear that you’ve committed to getting outside with your girls:) There are a lot of opportunities for outdoor recreation in the Bloomington area, but I’m sure you know that already! And I’ve heard a lot of good things about Charlotte Mason education but I have to admit I’m not super familiar with it. It sounds like it’s a good fit for your family and that’s what counts. Best wishes for a Happy New Outdoor Year:)

      Reply
  11. Karen says

    November 14, 2019 at 12:33 pm

    I love your website and articles. This has made me want to go camping and sit round a real fire in the woods!! Need to convince my camp phonic husband now. The kids are up for it though. Thanks so much. Karen Shah.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      November 15, 2019 at 11:47 pm

      Thank you for your kind words:) I hope you can convince your husband to go camping with you – it’s such a great thing to do as a family!

      Reply

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I’m not going to lie - there are times when my c I’m not going to lie - there are times when my children’s dawdling drives me nuts. Like when they take 45 minutes to finish breakfast even though we’re running late . But I also envy their ability to be completely unhurried and present in the moment, and I realize that it’s a quality that I need to protect🐌

As parents, we need to make space for our children to play, get bored, dawdle, wander, wonder, create, sleep in, be wild and free and watch the clouds go by. Let them be where they are and not push them to achieve arbitrary milestones or condition them to think that a packed calendar is the key to success and happiness.

As always, Ginny of @1000hoursoutside is on point🙌🏻
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Did you know that camping for as little as two nig Did you know that camping for as little as two nights straight can help you reset your circadian rhythms and improve your sleep for several weeks afterwards? That's because the natural light helps the body regulate melatonin, a hormone that tells the body when it's time to get up and go, and when it's time to rest and recuperate🌗 

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This is exactly how I feel when I spend time in na This is exactly how I feel when I spend time in nature and why I find it so relaxing. When I’m outside with my kids I’m really present in the moment and there’s no place I’d rather be❤️ Hope you feel the same🌿

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I’ve always loved traveling and have been to my I’ve always loved traveling and have been to my fair share of exotic places, the farther the better🌎 Sometimes, I’d stay for a week, sometimes for months, or even a year. But in the past few years, my horizon has narrowed, and not only because of the pandemic. 

The effects of global climate change are real and it’s becoming harder and harder for me to justify flying for recreation. I’m not here to say that I’m swearing off flying altogether (we have a lot of family abroad that we can only get to by air) but I’m mostly trying to satisfy my craving for adventure at local destinations these days. And it’s been an eye opener🤩

There’s so much more to discover locally than I’d ever thought and going on these micro adventures makes me feel more rooted in my community and the history of this place. Hopefully, my girls will feel it too🌳

What are your thoughts on exploring more locally?
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When I became a parent, one of the first books I r When I became a parent, one of the first books I read was Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy and I felt like I’d finally found somebody who “got it.”🙌🏻 Somebody who stood up and said enough is enough with the helicopter parenting trend, questioned the need for baby knee pads and reminded everyone that it’s okay for kids to be bored, drink out of the garden hose, climb trees and play without intervention by adults who are trying to make the activity more “educational.” Somebody who understood that free play is learning. And for that, we thank her🙏🏻🙌🏻
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@lskenazy
A follower recently asked me when she could start A follower recently asked me when she could start hiking with her kids, to which I responded that I’ve always hiked with mine, ever since they were babies👶🏻 I kept going after they graduated from the carrier, but obviously “hiking” with a toddler is a lot different than hiking by yourself and I think it’s important to be prepared for and accepting of that, or nobody is going to have a good time.

If you’d like to know more about hiking with toddlers, I share some tips in this post: https://rainorshinemamma.com/hiking-with-toddlers/. 

What are your thoughts on hiking with little kids? Do you have any tips that you’d like to share?💡
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Yes, it looks cozy around the fire and it was🔥 Yes, it looks cozy around the fire and it was🔥 What the picture doesn’t show is us making a wrong turn and losing the trail, resulting in a 1.5-mile detour with heavy packs and sunset closing in on us before we finally reached our campsite🙈

One of the reasons why I love hiking and backpacking is that even though it’s about “living simply”, it also involves a great deal of problem-solving. I actually like it when things don’t go exactly according to plan, because you learn more that way. Not just practical things, like figuring out your location and getting on the right track, but also about yourself and your reaction to challenges🙌🏻

In this case, the wrong turn was just a minor misstep that we were able to correct by backtracking, but it was a good way to test our reasoning skills and resilience at a point when we were both starting to get a little tired.

This was our fourth time of sleeping outside at least once a month for a year, a challenge I jumped on thanks to my friend @jeanetteosterman. I’m not normally one to do challenges but this has been a fantastic way to push my boundaries and learn new skills. Who knows, maybe sleeping under the open skies once a month will become my new normal?😜🤩
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I think it’s safe to say that if more of us trie I think it’s safe to say that if more of us tried to see the world through a child’s eye, this Earth would be a much more loving and compassionate place❤️

Thanks @awilderchild for your amazing nature poetry🙏🏻
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