The Art of Doing Nothing

The summer cottage is an institution in Finland. In the holiday season, Finns flock to the countryside for quietness and relaxation at cosy hideouts. Often situated by water, Finnish summer havens provide a physical and mental getaway from the daily grind.

Cottage life in Finland is about appreciating the art of doing nothing – sitting on a jetty dipping your toes in the water beats staring at a computer screen any day of the week.

Good food, a lot of it barbecued, is a central element when residing at the summer retreat. Relaxed parties with friends and family remind what life really is about – having a good time with the most important people in your life.

Silence is a rare treat

We often don’t realise the amount of noise we’re subjected to in our everyday lives. The feeling of hearing nothing makes you wonder what is going on, as the sound of silence is non-existent in modern life.

Hearing yourself think in a serene summer night is relaxation in its truest form and the places for experiencing it are getting fewer and fewer. Sitting on a cottage porch just “being there” is quite the spiritual experience.

Doesn’t it get boring?

Well, to each his own – some like action and some like the lack of it. Kids never seem to get tired of swimming and playing games. Adults spend entire days in hammocks and sun chairs, appreciating the time off work.

Common activities at cottages include boating, canoeing, yard games, fishing and the inevitable sauna. Staying up late admiring the nightless night is an essential experience in the Finnish summer. For a bit of sightseeing, maybe an inland waterway cruise on a comfy little steamboat?