When we tend to think of self-care we tend to think of retail therapy pedicures and

massages and don't get me wrong, these things are lovely, but spending money on

pricey products and services is only one of many ways to invest in our

wellness. Welcome back to savvy psychologist. I I'm your host Dr. Jade Wu.

Every week I'll help you meet life's challenges with evidence-based research,

a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

Today I'll share six wellness ideas from different

cultures. They're fascinating, they're supported by science, and better yet,

they won't cost you a thing.

So stay with me and find out how you can boost your wellness

by borrowing ideas from around the world.

So anyone who knows me well knows that I used to hate the cold. I dreaded the coming of every winter when I lived in New York and Boston, and I would complain through gritted teeth every single day of the coldest months.

It wasn't just the drop in temperature, it was the boredom of being holed up inside with

less and less daylight. And when I made some Scandinavian friends in 2016, I

interrogated them. How do you do it? How do you stay sane during your long winters and short days?

Imagine my surprise when I learned from them that actually in 2016,

Denmark had ranked as the happiest nation in the world in the World happiness report. Then the next year Finland became

number one for the next three years with Norway and Sweden never far behind. In fact,

the five happiest countries in the world are almost always cold Nordic nations.

So how do they do it?

Of course there are probably many factors involved. These countries often have less income

inequality, greater wealth, and breathtaking natural landscapes. Those things certainly

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