I Tried a Swedish Wellness Tradition Every Day For 1 Week, and It Stressed Me the F*ck Out

Updated on 6/26/2018 at 5:45 PM

POPSUGAR Photography | Victor Verdugo

When I'm at work, I'm busy all day long. Like, really busy. So when I heard about the Swedish tradition of fika, I was enticed by the practice. What the hell is fika, you may ask? It's an afternoon coffee break, but not just any regular coffee break.

Yes, you have your hot beverage and often a baked good, but the meaning behind this break is more than what it appears to be. It's about unplugging from your electronics and taking a moment to unwind. It doesn't matter where you do it or if you're alone or with friends — what matters is that you make time to decompress. Maybe that's why it seems like so many people over in Sweden are chill and pleasant.

So I decided to have fika every single day for one workweek. I was curious to see if the extra break would make me feel more productive and refreshed. If we're being real, it didn't go how I expected at all. Read on to see what I ate and drank and how I felt during each of my fika breaks. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll hate America — it's going to be a journey.

Monday: This Is Uncomfortable

To be honest, I didn't really think the first day through. When 2 p.m. rolled around, I walked down the street to a local cafe, bought myself a latte, and sat down in the outdoor area. Then I realized I didn't bring anything to do. As soon as I snapped this picture I put my phone away and awkwardly stared at the people around me while I sipped on my drink.

All I really wanted to do was check my email or scroll through Instagram and it was so hard to refrain. I was antsy and bored. I was supposed to be relaxing and giving my mind a break, so I tried to clear my head. After about 15 minutes, I power walked back to the office and never felt happier to sit down at my desk.

Tuesday: OK, I Can Do This

Tuesday, I'm here to kick your ass. As I headed out of the office, I told our receptionist about the experiment I was doing and she replied with, "Oh God, that sounds stressful!" I agreed with her. What's supposed to be a soothing practice was actually just getting in the way of my usual schedule. But on this try, I came armed with a light read.

It was easier this time for sure. Having a book was much more entertaining and it took my mind off work. I chose a ginger latte and finished it off without feeling the need to get up and rush through this fika business. Maybe I just needed to become used to getting in the habit of taking this coffee break.

Wednesday: I Am the Fika Queen

Hump day was definitely a peak. This time I brought a book with me that I had been dying to read. I went to my favorite cafe, ordered a mint mojito iced coffee, and, wait for it . . . I bought a doughnut too! It's customary to snack on a pastry during fika in Sweden. I've got to give this experiment 100 percent and eat a pastry too. It was a sacrifice, but I did it for you all.

This was my best fika day so far. I was treating myself to an excellent snack and getting really into my book. To be honest, I didn't want to leave. I was feeling it. And I was more productive when I got back to work. I was heavily caffeinated and ready to pump out some more articles.

Thursday: Too Busy to Function

Thursday was just a busy day, so I combined my fika with lunch. I grabbed a bagel from a cafe below my building, sat in our kitchen office, and people watched out the window. It was definitely a less glamorous fika than previous ones, but it served its purpose. I got to chill out for a bit and eat bread; there's really not much more I could ask for.

Friday: I Am So Over This

By Friday, the thought of fika honestly sounded annoying. It takes so much effort. I have consumed so much coffee over the past week that I opted for hot chocolate. It's Friday, why not? While hanging out with my book on my last day of this experiment, all I can think about is how much the whole thing stressed me out. The anticipation and planning of taking an additional break after lunch doesn't even feel worth it.

I don't think fika will catch on in the United States. We're all way too uptight and short-term-goal-oriented. Sweden definitely puts more focus on self-care and general well-being, which is why taking fika comes so easily to people who live there. Should we as Americans prioritize those principals too? Of course we should. But we should probably work on ourselves before we dive into a fika movement. I think I like happy hour much better.