Let me start by saying how much I love Friluftsliv, the Nordic concept of outdoor living. Spending time outdoors is fundamental to our health and wellbeing, and I've made it a cornerstone of both my life and my business.
But this fall, I've discovered the harsh reality of my own expectations. The miles I thought I'd cover, the outdoor experiences I'd planned, the transformative moments I'd imagined - they've all been eclipsed by the chaotic reality of daily life. Between work, viruses, and the relentless pace of everyday life, my grand Friluftsliv dreams have shrunk to stolen moments and brief encounters. And you know what? I'm learning that might be perfectly okay by embracing the Friluftsblah.
The Myth of Perfect Outdoor Experiences
The idea behind Friluftsliv is to encourage people to spend more time outdoors, be more active, find connection and destress. It is a lifestyle and philosophy that at its core is very democratic, making outdoor life available and accessible to everyone.
But let's be real: Sometimes, Friluftsliv sounds like something only perfectly put-together humans accomplish. The ones who look like they just stepped out of an outdoor catalog, fresh faced and frolicking through snow covered hiking trails.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are over here experiencing what I'm calling "Friluftsblah" - that gloriously imperfect version of outdoor living where sometimes, just stepping outside and breathing outside air, not even fresh air, is an accomplishment.
Social media has a lot to answer for when it comes to outdoor expectations. Every scroll through Instagram reveals seemingly endless photos of happy people in pristine, and often hard to get to places, with no traces of sweat, messes, unhappy kids, blisters or bugs.
But here's the truth: Most of us don't live like that. Most of us live in the beautiful, messy middle - the Friluftsblah zone.
Why Friluftsblah Actually Rocks
Contrary to what those picture-perfect outdoor shots suggest, your imperfect nature interactions are not just okay - they're valuable. Science backs this up. Researchers have found that even brief exposure to natural environments can:
Reduce stress
Improve mood
Boost cognitive function
Increase overall sense of well-being
So that 10-minute walk where you're bundled up like a human burrito, slightly grumpy and just trying to get some fresh air? That totally counts.
My Friluftsblah Hall of Fame
Let me share some of my most gloriously average outdoor moments from the last few weeks:
Standing on the street corner, in the rain, waiting for my 15-year-old dog and counting that as "outdoor time"
Walking an extra block whilst running errands and noticing a beautifully painted electrical box
Looking up at the sky over the grocery store parking lot, realizing that the sky over those parking lots are always strangely glorious somehow
Stopping to talk to the pigeons (they rock)
Stepping outside in my pjs just to breathe a few deep breaths before running back inside and back to every day life (hoping the neighbors don't see me)
These aren't epic adventures. They're every day life. They're connection. They're Friluftsblah.
Practical Friluftsblah Strategies
For those wanting to embrace their inner Friluftsblah practitioner, here are some low-pressure tactics:
The 5 Minute Coffee (Fika) Break. Go outside. Breathe. That's it. No expectations, no performance required. Do it like the Scandinavians and bring your blanket and your coffee and just sit or stand for a few moments.
Urban Nature Appreciation. Cities have nature too! Look for:
Interesting street art
Surprisingly resilient plants growing through concrete
Pigeons living their best chaotic lives
Random trees breaking up the urban landscape
Lower Your Expectations. Not every outdoor moment needs to be transformative. Sometimes, it just needs to exist.
The Real Magic of Friluftsblah
Short moments, taking the time to be present, to notice, to see and to feel; the beauty of Friluftsblah is that it gives us permission. It allows us to be imperfect. To just show up exactly as we are. Permission to connect with the outside world on our own terms.
Your outdoor time doesn't need to look like anyone else's. It just needs to be yours.
A Final Friluftsblah Manifesto - Embracing Friluftsliv
To all my fellow imperfect outdoor enthusiasts: Your short walks count. Your quick breaths of fresh air matter. Your moments of connection - however brief - are valid.
Perhaps it's time we reclaim Friluftsliv from its Instagram-filtered, perfectly curated image. At its heart, this Nordic philosophy was never about creating a flawless outdoor aesthetic or collecting likes. It was always about something far more fundamental: simply being outside, finding joy in movement, connecting with the world around you, and creating moments of peace. Friluftsblah isn't a compromise or an insult - it's actually the purest expression of Friluftsliv. It's about listening to your body, respecting your energy, and understanding that some days, connection means a ten-minute walk, a glance out the window, or noticing how light changes on a painted electrical box. True Friluftsliv isn't performative; it's personal. It's not about the miles you cover or the gear you own, but about the moments that help you breathe, reset, and remember you're part of something larger than your to-do list.
So I say, raise your cup of coffee to the beautifully average outdoor moments. We see you. We celebrate you.
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