Getting Drunk In Your Underwear Like The Scandinavians Do Is The Newest Wellness Trend

You may have had your fill of detox teas, artisanal flavored Kombucha, or heaven forbid, that Master Cleanse regimen. But now, the newest wellness trend–if you can actually call it ‘wellness’–is warmly welcomed by those who like to kick back a few right at home.

Aptly called päntsdrunk, this Finnish activity involves getting drunk. In your underwear. At home. Alone.

That’s it.

No wonder the Finns are so happy most of the time.

This Eurocentric pursuit of mental wellbeing started with the Danish hygge, which is the act of consciously creating and enjoying a feeling of warmth, coziness, and contentment wherever you are. Soon after, it was followed by the Swedish lagom (practicing moderation), the Norwegian koselig (more coziness to enjoy), famntag natur (going outside to enjoy nature), and the rather foreboding Swedish death cleaning, which is the idea of decluttering your belongings so your surviving next of kin doesn’t have to deal with your rubbish. We call it basic consideration.

Going back, this finnish philosophy of getting drunk in your underwear (also known as kalsarikänni) is simply rooted in being comfortably tipsy in the safety of your own home. Meaning, you get to enjoy the perks of not quite being yourself in a place where you can absolutely be yourself.

It’s such a simple concept that surprisingly, a lot of people take for granted. If you can’t feel safe enough to let yourself go where you should feel safe, how can you relax?

On a practical level, it’s also been practiced by the Finns to help them cope with the long and harsh winters in their region. You can find this and other explorations of the activity being discussed in the new wellness manual Päntsdrunk: The Finnish Path to Relaxation, by Finnish author Miska Rantanen.

“It is no coincidence Finland consistently rates in the top five in happiness ranking,” the book’s publisher says. “In Finland, Päntsdrunk is considered a path to recovery and self-empowerment to help you face your future challenges, much like the lagom or hygge of their other Scandi neighbours.”

Although getting päntsdrunk may sound just like another fleeting, silly trend like beer yoga, it’s actually highly endorsed by Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, who also created an emoji pack to help explain the practice.

 

Thank you @harpercollinsus #HarperDesign for this free copy of PÄNTSDRUNK by Miska Rantanen. If I’m not taking part in pantsdrunk right now then I don’t know what I’m doing. . This was a very interesting little book, and not something I would normally read. I think you would consider this satirical nonfiction? Pantsdrunk is a real thing, apparently coined in Finland, but to us in the US you would consider a pantsdrunk session to be hanging out in your comfy clothes (or underwear), having a couple drinks while listening to music, reading, or just hanging out. Pantsdrunk is usually done alone, but it can also be done with a friend or two. The point of Pantsdrunk is not to get drunk either! You aren’t supposed to wake up with a hangover. . I love the cover of this book and while I thought it was a rather weird little book, it was pretty interesting and at times fairly entertaining. . I think I would recommend this book to anyone looking for something on the lighter side and is interested in finding out what all the facets of pantsdrunk are. ???? . My Rating: ???????? Pantsdrunk in 3-ish words: Curious, Playful, Creative — Full review will be up on Goodreads and my blog within a couple days. ????‍?? Somewhat of a synopsis is in the comments as well. ••••• Hope everyone is having a happy Sunday! This is my first time trying the @unionwinecompany Riesling Radler and it is DELICIOUS. Highly recommend! It tastes like summer in a can and not super sweet. ???? ••••• #pantsdrunk #miskarantanen #newrelease #newbook #bookreview #minireview #bookaholic #booksandnature #booksandwine #bookphotography #bookish #bookworm #mybookfeatures #readmore #readingbetweenwines #bookstagram #bookcommunity #bookstagramfeature #bookblogger #sundayfunday #sundayvibes #bibliophile

A post shared by Mary (@reading.between.wines) on Jun 10, 2018 at 5:01pm PDT

So if you’re sick of counting your liquid calories, tracking your macros, or taking expensive and exotic teas harvested from the Himalayan mountain range by 7 virgins, maybe it’s time you lock the door, strip to your skivvies, and pour yourself a crisp flute of Chardonnay or champagne.

Also, the päntsdrunk method strongly recommends binge-watching your favorite shows, surfing on your phone, blocking all work communications, and feasting on salty and sweet snacks. In this age where you’re expected to be on top of your real and digital life at an inhuman pace, you might find that this is THE ultimate wellness regimen that every adult needs.