Beat Blue monday with fika

Monday January 20th is Blue Monday. That day must be the Monday of the year when most people feel gloomy. The good news is that it is actually just something that was once invented by a psychologist. No hard evidence has ever been found for it. But... with gray weather it is time to cheer yourself and someone else up a bit. Fika can help you with that, read on quickly.

More of these happy things can be found in the Happlify your life book . Fika can be found on page 88.

Fika, a beautiful new/old habit

What is it? Fika has been around for a long time and is a social custom in Sweden (and Finland) where you interrupt your work or other daily chores at least once or twice. You drink tea or coffee with something tasty – like a fresh cinnamon roll , preferably together with others. It happens at scheduled times and is consciously used to take a break and maintain social contacts. By introducing fika yourself, you work nicely on maintaining your wolfpack and therefore the relationship with friends and family.

👉 Here you will find a delicious cinnamon bun recipe

Fun Fika Facts

• In many Swedish companies, fika is a mandatory break.
• The average Swede spends a whopping 268 hours or 33 working days per year on fika (considering that the average Dutch person looks at their mobile phone 34 days a year , you have to wonder what is more meaningful - and more satisfying...).
• It is an activity that occurs in all levels of the Swedish population.
• Fika can be loosely translated as 'coffee', but that doesn't really cover it and there is no real translation for it in Dutch, English or any other language. Just like our word 'gezellig'.

Fika is fun, but also functional. Because such a break really gives you a break from your work, so that you can start fresh again! If you do it right, you escape the hustle and bustle for a while. And that's not a strange idea at all, right?! Even if you just take a short walk with your thermos cup of coffee. That's more than nothing

What do you need for fika?

• A break at ±10:00 and at ±15:00.
• Coffee, tea or another (non-alcoholic) drink.
• Something tasty like a cinnamon roll or other nice fresh cookie.
• A place away from work, and if the weather permits, enjoy the outdoors.
• Someone to chat with.

What's holding you back? Don't have anyone (live) to chat with? Call your grandma or mother over a cup of coffee, or that old aunt. Do you think twice a day is a lot? Then plan fika once a week at first and build it up slowly. Nothing is a must, everything is possible with fika, as long as you relax.

How do you become happier?

"How do I become happier?", thousands of people type into Google every day. Look no further... because this happiness book is a happy guide to finding small happiness and uncomplicating a fast-paced existence. Order now and make yourself happy(er) .

💬 Tell me, do you suffer from blue monday?