International student, are you stressed about your studies, feeling restless, tired, unable to concentrate, not having time to exercise? Does your daily life feel miserable, are you feeling depressed, or suffering from noise irritation? Why not go to the forest? It’s proven to improve your well-being in many ways.
Well-being from the forest
A study (Tyrväinen, Lanki, Sipilä & Komulainen 2018) shows that even a short visit to the forest can relieve stress; just 15 minutes might be enough. Being in the forest improves your mood and self-esteem, helps you to understand your own health and escape from everyday life. In Finland, forests are the most popular environment for adults to exercise in their free time and people go to their favorite spots in nature to relax and clear their minds. In the forest people are less exposed to noise and air pollution. This might be one reason why health benefits of forest rise. Forests are a typical place for Finns to refresh themselves but attitudes towards forests vary across different cultures. (Tyrväinen, Lanki, Sipilä, Komulainen 2018.)
The sensations and stimuli provided by the forest heal the mind and body. Physical symptoms can decrease when you focus on the surroundings instead of yourself. Concentration improves, and heart rate and blood pressure might decrease. (Tyrväinen, Lanki, Sipilä, Komulainen 2018.) In the forest your stress levels decrease and your mood rises. Spending time in the forest also increases your self-esteem, a sense of competence and ability. (Tyrväinen et al. 2024, 11.)
Food for free
As a student, surely your money is tight. Forest food, for example berries and mushrooms, are widely used in Finland mostly because of their good taste and nutritional values. What is most important, they are free of charge. Especially berries are a good source of essential nutrients, for example flavonoids, and high antioxidant levels have been found in berries as well. (Karjalainen et al. 2010, 4.)
The forest is near and accessible for students in most Finnish cities like in Kuopio
Have you heard that the vision of the city of Kuopio’s resource wisdom program for 2035 aims for Kuopio’s diverse and appealing nature to be easily accessible to everyone, also to students? One of the goals is for residents to spend time in nature according to the recommendations of the program and for Kuopio to have the most attractive recreational services in Finland. (Ilmasto- ja resurssiviisas Kuopio 2035 2024, 7.2.)
In Kuopio, forests are near and free of charge. Forests provide an accessible space for everyone to enjoy physical activities. In the forest, you can also climb, cycle or ski. Some of the forest trails in Kuopio are also suitable for use with a wheelchair or a stroller. Most of them are reached by walking. Here is a link for you to get inspired: Hiking destinations and nature trails – Kuopio
Ali’s experience of Finnish forest
The number of international students has grown in recent years in Finland. Visiting forest in Finland can be an exotic experience for international students. We met Ali who studies nursing at Savonia University of Applied Sciences. He told us that he searched information on Finnish forests from the internet mainly to see if there is anything dangerous he should be aware of. Forest isn’t scary for him:
‒ I go to the forest regularly to pick berries and mushrooms and spend time camping. Forest is a relaxing environment for me and I like to go there with friends and also alone. In Iraq, where I am from, the nature is very different, and there are a lot of mountains and for example dangerous animals like scorpions, says Ali.
Did you get interested?
If you haven’t gone to the forest yet, take a friend with you and go together. You can also arrange a next student meeting in the forest in the city where you study and get to know each other. You can end the trip at a campfire site where you can enjoy good company and fresh air. Being with other students in forest promotes social wellbeing and community spirit.
You can also start by watching forest from the distance if going to the forest feels too much. It has been studied that even watching a forest landscape videos, has positive effects for your health (Ojala et al 2022, 5‒7). Put the sounds on and try it: Good Mood Forest Walk – Spring (Mieli n.d.).
Writers:
Feodoroff Piia, Kononen Sirpa, Matinen Pia, Mökkönen Niina and Saavalainen Jaana. Students of Welfare and Health Coordinator Master’s Degree Programme at Savonia University of Applied Sciences.
Pehkonen Pirjo and Savela Sanna. Lecturers in Savonia University of Applied Sciences.
Sources:
Ilmasto- ja resurssiviisas Kuopio 2035. 2024. Viksu Kuopio -ohjelma. Kaupunginvaltuusto 10.6.2024 § 48. https://www.kuopio.fi/uploads/2024/06/2024_viksu-kuopio-ohjelma_final.pdf. Accessed 23.3.2025.
Karjalainen E, Sarjala T, Raitio H. Promoting human health through forests: overview and major challenges. Environ Health Prev Med. 2010 Jan;15(1):1-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-008-0069-2. Accessed 13.2.2025.
Lindblom, T. 2017. Does sugar sweeten the pill of low income? Inequalities in the consumption of various foods between Finnish income groups from1985 to 2012. Research on Finnish Society Vol. 10 (2017), pp. 61–71. Available at: https://fjsr.journal.fi/article/view/110766/65116. Accessed 13.3.2025.
MIELI n.d. Hyvän mielen metsäkävelyt. Suomen Mielenterveys ry. Verkkojulkaisu. Updated 3.6.2022. https://mieli.fi/vahvista-mielenterveyttasi/harjoitukset/hyvan-mielen-metsakavelyt/. Accessed 23.3.2025.
Ojala, A., Neuvonen, M., Kurkilahti, M., Leinikka, M. Huotilainen, M & Tyrväinen, L. 2022. Short virtual nature breaks in the office environment can restore stress: An experimental study. Journal of Environmental Psychology. Volume 84 (101909): 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2022.101909. Accessed 20.3.2025.
Tyrväinen, L., Halonen, J.I., Pasanen, T., Ojala, A., Täubel, M., Kivelä, S., Leskelä, A.-R., Pennanen, P., Manninen, J., Sinkkonen, A., Haahtela, T., Haveri, H., Grotenfelt-Enegren, M., Lankia, T. & Neuvonen, M. 2024. Luontoympäristön terveysvaikutukset ja niiden taloudellinen merkitys. Luonnonvara- ja biotalouden tutkimus 76/2024. Luonnonvarakeskus. Helsinki. 89 s. Available at: https://www.sitra.fi/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/luke-luontoympariston-terveysvaikutukset-ja-niiden-taloudellinen-merkitys.pdf. Accessed 26.1.2025.
Tyrväinen, L., Lanki, T., Sipilä, R., Komulainen, J. 2018. Mitä tiedetään metsän terveyshyödyistä? Katsaus. Lääketieteellinen Aikakauskirja Duodecim 2018;134(13):1397–403 https://www.duodecimlehti.fi/duo14421/mitä%20tiedetään%20metsän%20terveyshyödyistä. Accessed 16.2.2025
VRN. 2024. Valtion ravitsemusneuvottelukunta ja Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos.
Kestävää terveyttä ruoasta – kansalliset ravitsemussuositukset 2024.
Helsinki: PunaMusta Oy. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-408-405-5. Accessed 22.3.2025.