10.06.20

What is Friluftsliv?

Sonia Thompson

According to a new article in Real Simple magazine, this is the time and season to embrace Friluftsliving.

The moon rises over Splinter Creek's North Lake on a crisp fall evening. Even with the days getting shorter and colder, there are still ways to embrace the outdoors (photo by Ellen Leake).

What is that exactly? Pronounced free-loofts-liv, friluftsliv translates to “free air life,” and it’s a concept that is part of Norwegian culture. In winters past, we've come to look forward to the Scandinavian concept of hygge, a lifestyle focused on coziness. Now, with quarantine life and the coronavirus still ever-looming, it's time to break out from our warm blankets and Netflix and stay active, even in the cold.

The idea behind friluftsliving is to be out in the fresh air to commune with nature, even when the weather’s not great (photo by Elizabeth Keckler).

The magazine article, "Instead of Going Full Hygge This Fall and Winter, You Might Want to Try Friluftsliving," states, "The idea behind friluftsliving is to be out in the fresh air to commune with nature, even when the weather’s not great. And it’s probably a good concept for everyone to embrace right now, as the days grow colder and shorter but our activity options stay the same."

"Spending a couple of hours outdoors per week has been shown to improve stress levels and give your physical and mental health a boost (who doesn’t need to improve their stress levels and health?), and if you’re deciding between taking a walk or adding another hour to your daily screen time, the outdoors walk—even if the weather isn’t ideal—is probably the better choice for your mental health."

Steam rises from a Splinter Creek lake. Find Instagram posts tagged with #friluftsliv full of forests, gorgeous landscapes, and people hiking, canoeing, camping, and otherwise exploring the great outdoors (photo by Erin Austen Abbott).

The article outlines several ways to achieve this, from seeking out beauty, to layering up and even dining outdoors. Of course, at Splinter Creek, this is not a new concept to our residents and guests. Our 650 acres of rolling pine forest, connected hiking trails, and 3 three pristine lakes make our property the perfect place to explore the outdoors -- in any season.

Dressing in layers to dine outdoors is another way to embrace the friluftsliv life (photo by Erin Austen Abbott).

To schedule a tour, email info@splintercreekms.com or call 601-946-0143. We can't wait to show you all Splinter Creek has to offer this winter.

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