There is always something to learn from different countries, their systems, their history, and the way they build well-being. These lessons can inspire us and motivate us to bring new ideas into our own organizations. Here are the key lessons from the happiest country in the world, designed for organizations that want to boost engagement, strengthen well-being, and build healthier, more productive workplaces.
1. Trust Is the Quiet Superpower
In Finland, trust runs deep, in institutions, in communities, and among colleagues. A report by the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD) found trust in Finnish public institutions to be among the highest of all member states.
When people trust their government, their neighbours, and their workplaces, mental load goes down. You don’t need to spend energy second-guessing motives, you don’t need to micro-monitor, you don’t need to waste bandwidth on uncertainty. That kind of clarity frees psychological space for creativity, collaboration and well-being.
For a global company: when you invest in building trust (transparent leadership, empowerment, fairness), you free up your teams’ mental resources for performance and well-being.
2. Work and life stay in real balance.
In Finland the day ends, and the weekend begins, with real boundaries. Paid summertime holidays, guaranteed weekends, strong parental leave, and a culture that understands: after work is time for self, family, nature. Work in Finland
That rhythm matters. It signals that the individual is not only a “worker” but a whole human being. When corpo-culture allows “me-time”, walks in the forest, saunas, fun time, mental health initiatives, relaxation, productivity within an organization increases.
For international corporates: creating clear boundaries, encouraging offline time, and protecting real breaks supports mental health, reduces burnout, and improves performance across the organisation.
3. Resilience & Gratitude: The Finnish Secret of Sisu
Finland’s story begins with hardship. Only a few generations ago, it was a poor country fighting for its independence, rebuilding itself after wars, and learning to survive with very limited resources. And from that history grew one of the world’s most stable, educated, and successful societies. That transformation didn’t happen because life was easy, it happened because Finns learned to stay steady in difficulty.
Living in Finland means living with long, dark winters, frozen lakes, icy roads, and months with almost no sunlight. The lack of light affects the body and the mind; mood dips, energy drops, and vitamin D becomes a national supplement. But then spring comes. Light returns. People gather outside, smile more, move their bodies again, and feel a natural sense of gratitude. And this cycle repeats every year:
darkness → endurance → light → appreciation.
This is where the idea of sisu becomes real. Sisu is Finland’s cultural word for deep resilience, not loud strength, but the quiet ability to keep going through difficult seasons, both literally and emotionally.
In positive psychology, Martin Seligman’s work shows that resilience is not taught like a school subject. It grows when people understand their strengths, practise reflection, and recognise what helps them get through their own “winters.”
And this is exactly how Nordaurai approaches resilience. We don’t lecture people on “how to be resilient.” Instead, through our board games and digital games, people experience reflection. They notice their patterns. They see their strengths. They connect with gratitude. And slowly, they discover their own version of sisu.
This is why our work is rooted in the Finnish well-being approach: resilience is not memorised; it is felt, reflected, and activated through experience.
4-The Power of Quiet Moments in Finnish Life
In Finland, nature is part of daily life, even in big cities, a forest or a quiet park is usually just a few minutes away.
The stillness of snow, the quiet of winter evenings, and the heat of the sauna all create natural pauses. And in those pauses, people reflect. You hear your own thoughts. You see your strengths and your limits. That’s how self-awareness grows here, not in a classroom, but in silence, nature, and everyday routines.
For corporates: creating “non-work” moments, encouraging nature-based breaks, playful team activities, or simple quiet spaces, all of these help the mind recover, deepen self-awareness, and boost workplace productivity across the organization.
Finnish happiness is real, and it’s built
According to the World Happiness Report, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for the seventh consecutive year (2018-2024).
But this top ranking did not happen by chance. It is built on decades of work: robust social policies, a generous welfare system, strong work–life balance, and a culture of trust and reflection.
Yes, there are still real challenges, mental health issues due to darkness, very dark winters, cold weather, etc., but the Finnish way doesn’t pretend there is no darkness. Instead it builds systems, habits and a culture that enable flourishing despite the darkness.
And to top it off: in Finland, board games aren’t just for family evenings, they’re part of life’s rhythm. That simple practice of gathering around a board game, laughing, interacting and reflecting, that too is part of the ecosystem of well-being.
What Global Companies Can Learn & Apply
- Build trust: be clear, fair, and open in communication.
- Respect off-time: let people disconnect after work, on weekends, and during holidays.
- Support mental health: use games, reflection, and strength-based activities to help teams grow.
- Use nature and quiet moments: small pauses, fresh air, and calm spaces help people think better.
- Make well-being part of your system: not just perks, but a full company culture that helps people feel good and work well.
How Nordaurai Brings It All Together?
We use the science of positive psychology (founded by Martin Seligman), which focuses on building strengths instead of only focusing on problems.
Our trainings are gamified and inspired by Finnish well-being values: trust, balance, resilience (sisu), and reflection. Through board games and digital games, people pause, notice their strengths, understand their patterns, and then move into action with guidance.
Curious how mental-health games inspired by Finnish well-being actually work?
Through gamified mental-health training, organisations see higher engagement, stronger team dynamics, and healthier productivity, all of which support better organisational performance.
Get in touch with us, and our team will show you how Nordaurai brings these results to life inside your organisation.
