5 Slovenian Techniques to Improve Mental Health
By Leroy Adams
1. Get in Nature
A remarkable 53.6% of Slovenia is protected land, second only to Venezuela worldwide. This deep relationship with the environment is woven into daily life. Every Slovenian will tell you how much they love nature and how essential it is to their wellbeing. From childhood, they are taught to love, respect, and nurture the natural world. Nearly every home has a garden—sometimes even a vineyard. Nature is not something they visit on weekends; it is something they live with, protect, and bring into their homes as a safeguard for their mental health.
2. Take a Day for Family
Lunch with a family in Slovenia
In 2003, Slovenians voted in a referendum to close supermarkets on Sundays, with more than 57% supporting the idea. While not everyone agreed on which day should be prioritized, the collective decision was grounded in a shared value: family time matters more than shopping. Beyond cultural preference, this amendment was rooted in workers’ rights—ensuring that employees have the space to rest and connect with their families on weekends. The policy is a living example of how Slovenia codified mental health and family balance into law.
3. Read, Constantly
National and University Library in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenians are avid readers, and their infrastructure reflects it. Ljubljana, the nation’s capital, is home to more than 35 public libraries—remarkable when you consider the city is six times smaller than New York and a fraction of the size of the average American city. Reading provides Slovenians with both escape and perspective, offering a way to inhabit other worlds while sharpening their understanding of their own. Ask any local, and they will gladly share their love for books as a form of nourishment for the mind.
4. Travel, Even Locally
Ljubljana may be one of Europe’s most aesthetically unmatched cities, but Slovenians know not to limit themselves to the capital. They take advantage of their geography—just two hours from Venice, Croatia, or Austria—to road trip, backpack, and hike. For Slovenians, travel does not require an international flight. It is about shifting perspective, finding rest, and reconnecting with beauty, whether on a nearby trail or across a border.
5. Protect Alone Time
As much as Slovenians enjoy community, they place equal value on solitude. One story often told is of a famous architect whose dining room had two lights: one on the ceiling and another above the desk near the window. When it was time for company to leave, he would turn off the overhead light and flick on the smaller one, casting his guests in a harsh glow—an unmistakable cue that the evening was over. While humorous, the story reflects a cultural truth. Alone time is not considered selfish; it is recognized as vital space for reflection, quiet, and self-discovery.
Takeaway
Slovenia’s approach to mental health is both cultural and practical: a balance of nature, family, reading, travel, and solitude. Each practice reveals a deeper truth—that wellbeing is not a trend, but a way of life protected by community values and national policy.
