AROUND THE WORLD

Your life, your rules. Here are some worldly wellness philosophies to improve the way you live.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

As we’re nearing the second quarter of the year, we hope 2020 has been good so far. If the new decade started a little rocky for you, it isn’t too late to hit pause, do a little ‘spring clean’ and keep your wellbeing in check in all aspects of life. Your body and mind need the TLC they deserve, so #TeamCLEO breaks down the “what” and “how” of trending wellness philosophies from around the world to help you lead a fulfilling and mindful life.

FULFILMENT AND PURPOSE

While Zen is one of the best known Japanese philosophies, Kanso which means ‘simplicity’ is one of the aesthetic principles under its umbrella. The concept of Kanso is mainly applied to the interiors of a home whereby furniture and decorations are kept plain and minimal. So take a good look at your space and remove any unnecessary items that you actually don’t need — even the souvenir magnets you’ve been drowning your fridge with. Kanso isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s also an attitude. Be Kanso with your choices and possessions, and you’ll learn to truly appreciate the simplest things in life.

In the South of Japan, researchers of the Okinawa Centenarian Study found that Okinawan islanders tend to live longer and have 80% less chances of breast and prostate cancers compared to North Americans. Their secret? Finding their ikigai — reason for being or purpose in life. Achieving ikigai is commonly interpreted with a Venn diagram with overlapping qualities of ‘what you love’, ‘what you are good at’, ‘what the world needs’, and ‘what you can be paid for’. Find meaning and value not just from your work, but also in the small joys of building supportive friendships or taking an active role in local communities.

HAPPINESS AND CONTENTMENT

Living the Danish way may bring you the happiness in life that you’ve longed for. As defined by VisitDenmark, hygge is essentially the act of “creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people”, especially during the colder months. Happiness for the Danes is the “cosiness” that comes from doing simple communal activities like snuggling up with blankets and watching TV together with loved ones. So stop chasing after the luxe life, instead be content with the simple things and get hygge with it.

Just like hygge-loving Denmark, Sweden also sits in the Top 10 Happiest Countries of 2019, and the reason for it could be the lagom philosophy, a Swedish approach to everything in moderation. A lagom lifestyle surrounds the idea of “not too much and not too little — just right”, so keep everything you do in balance, particularly for your mental wellbeing. Keep your work-life balance in check, spend enough time with family and friends, and take breaks to recharge. Use this approach for your diet too! 

 
My Reading Room
POWER ON

Feed yourself with more info from these books.

IKIGAI: THE JAPANESE SECRET TO A LONG AND HAPPY LIFE
BY HECTOR GARCIA AND FRANCESC MIRALLES
The art of simple living and the longevity secrets of Okinawan centenarians.
 
My Reading Room
LAGOM: THE SWEDISH ART OF LIVING A BALANCED, HAPPY LIFE

BY NIKI BRANTMARK

Lead a rewarding but responsible life with a healthy balance without making drastic changes or sacrificing what you love.

“Be Kanso with your choices and possessions, and you’ll learn to truly appreciate the simplest things in life.” 

TEXT YEONG HUI MIN ILLUSTRATION DEPOSIT PHOTOS