‘Pantsdrunk’ and the Finnish art of relaxing

It seems like you can always count on the Nordic people for coming up with the most novel of lifestyle trends. Päntsdrunk is the anglicized term for the Finnish word Kalsarikänn, and it’s a philosophy and way of life that many Finns swear by. The concept is something most young adults can get behind, no matter where they are in the world.

Päntsdrunk consists mostly of being alone, drinking alcohol and doing whatever you please in the comfort of your home. That might mean binging on Netflix, staring mindlessly at the wall or your phone, or just getting some well-needed rest and recuperation.

It’s no surprise the Finns have come up with something like this. After all, they are also one of the most relaxed nations with the least stressful educational systems.

Finland Via Getty Images

Previous notable trends from Scandinavia 

A long line of trends have continually trickled down from the Nordic countries. They’ve all been based around one simple mantra – to concentrate on yourself, loved ones, and make life a little less stressful or at least more tolerable.

It’s a simple and humble enough goal that all of Scandinavia has been able to put in practice in one way or another. Take Sweden and Norway for example, they put this into practice by the concept of lagom: a saying and precept that means “in moderation,” or “in perfect balance.”

Lagom is a state where everything is in balance and proportion is maintained. This crosses over to all areas of life. But whereas lagom can start to feel like a bit like a puritan aphorism – where all things must be in moderation, the Danish are well known for their less stringent hygge.

Hygge is the quintessential and picturesque feeling where you’ll find yourself sitting beside a ornate fireplace, sipping a warm mug of cocoa and basking in the glow of luxuriant sense of repose.

Author Miska Rantanen finds all of these modes of relaxation all well and good, but feels that pantsdrunk is the most suitable for people all over the world. He states:

“Hygge is the glossy image we’ve all seen on the pages of interior design magazines and lifestyle blogs. And this is its failing: not all of us have the means to lie by a brick fireplace burning birch logs on stormy autumn evenings. In the Nordic palette of survival strategies, the Finn relies not on lagom or hygge but on kalsarikänni: the primeval yet surprisingly cosmopolitan concept of “pantsdrunk.” It can be adapted to every corner of the world, regardless of circumstance, milieu, or mood.”

The rest of the world got wise to this phenomenon a few years ago when Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs designed a round of emojis and pictures to describe a number of Finnish words and concepts, like Nokia phones, saunas, and heavy metal (there are more heavy metal bands per capita in Finland than anywhere else in the world). You can download the full emoji set here.

Nokia phone and alcohol in Finland

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Päntsdrunk is part philosophy and part national pastime 

As a lifestyle choice, pantsdrunk stands out as one of the most straightforward ways of recuperating. It should be noted that it doesn’t encourage binge drinking or alcoholism of any sort. Some research has shown that having a drink once in a while might be an excellent way to reduce stress.

There is no stigma attached to some good alone time, drinking and ultimately trying to reach states of mind that encourages comfort and peace. Pantsdrunk doesn’t worry about artificiality or superficial premises. It is an authentic mode of relaxing that doesn’t require you share it to the world. Rantanen says that:

“Pantsdrunk is the antithesis of posing, performing, or pretense: one does not post atmospheric images on Instagram while pantsdrunk.”

Kalsarikännit isn’t as demanding as other supposed relaxation techniques. It doesn’t require you to spend a fortune on photogenic furniture or parade your lifestyle around online to show everyone just how “relaxed” you are. It’s the closest thing the Finns have to their own personal zen.

Grab your drink of choice. Slip on those baggy clothes and do whatever. It’s that simple.