Fika Time!
I recently read a book about hygge and one of its chapters talks about the importance of fika. How both hygge and fika are about making the most of moments of downtime during the day.
While working in NY, my office had a custom to go for a cookie walk at around 3pm every day. It started as a coffee walk but very few in the office wanted to consume caffeine so late in the day. The cafe around the corner had very good chocolate chip cookies and so this ritual was renamed. But sometimes, people didn’t care about a hot drink or the cookies. They just cherished the opportunity to go for a walk around the block, stretch their legs, give their eyes and minds a fresh break from work, and reconnect with their teammates.
Our team in Sweden had a similar ritual called fika. Fika is a Swedish tradition that is more than just a coffee break. It is an integral part of everyday life. It is a designated time during the day to sit down and do fika. In its essence, it is about connecting with colleagues, friends, or loved ones over a coffee (or tea) and a slice of something sweet. Two Swedish authors wrote: “Fika is the time when everything else is put on hold”.
In the workplace, fika is a great way to exchange knowledge and opinions. It can be a time to discuss what's going on in the company. But mainly, it is a time to bond with your colleagues. Practicing fika results in better productivity for the company and better team morale. In Ted Lasso, Ted starts a daily routine he calls biscuits with the boss. We already wrote about why belonging is crucial in team culture and organisational performance. Fika is one thing that can help you consciously grow a better culture. Will you try it?