Get out of your comfort zone and start living - with Frida Augustsson

Hi there Frida! When we have a look at your Instagram feed, the first thing we encounter is nature and adventure. Can you give us an introduction about who you are and what your life looks like?

Hi, I'm a creative and restless soul with many dreams and a passion for creation. Adventuring with my camera is what I love the most. Right now, I'm nearing the end of a one-year education focusing on outdoor life and crafts, a combination that suits me perfectly. It's been magical to spend the winter months going on expeditions once a month, cooking over an open fire, learning more about outdoor life, and exploring new crafts like felting and carving. But now, as the light and spring start to arrive, I'm longing for new adventures. I'm excited to take my new van and head to Norway, hike in the mountains, and swim in turquoise lakes.

Frida is wearing the green Minna Fleece jacket in size S

You mention that you like mountains, forests, and silence. What makes these so appealing to you?

I grew up in the middle of nowhere in the forests of Dalsland. The silence and stillness there gives me a peace that I love. The more silence and stillness I have around me, the more silence and stillness I find in my mind. Big mountains, on the other hand, give me a tingling, bubbly feeling that makes me want to scream with excitement! They are incredibly beautiful and powerful, and I love that sense of awe.

It's clear that you're creative, tell us a bit about your hobbies!

Oh, I love tinkering and fixing things! There are so many fun creative activities to do. My biggest interest is in photography and content creation, and that's where I focus most of my attention, as I'm also in the early stages of starting my own business in that field. I love baking and have worked as a pastry chef for six years. Tattooing is something I want to do more of and improve at. I have a tattoo machine that mostly sits waiting to be used, but every now and then, someone gets marked for life. A while ago, I bought watercolor paints, mostly to have a stress-free activity that's also enjoyable, relaxing, and pressure-free. Over the past year, I've developed a new love for woodworking and building. I'd love to take a course in furniture making. Right now, as a school project, I'm building my own home on wheels, a mini camper that will be my only home during the summer months.

What prompted you to challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone?

I wasn't doing well in the life I had; I had recurring depressions and felt like I didn't have the energy or self-esteem to dare to be myself and do what I actually dreamed of. I let my fears control my life. I didn't believe in myself at all and constantly had negative thoughts about myself. There was a longing for a different kind of life and a better well-being. Eventually, in 2019, I came across a personal development course, a subject that was fairly new to me, and I felt like I had nothing to lose. That course was the starting point for the past five years of development. For example, I've gone from extreme fear of the dark and constant "worst-case scenario" thoughts and the belief that I would never be able to live alone in a house in the countryside or camp alone, to now doing it without any problems. I've gone from disliking and putting myself down to liking myself and being kind and curious about getting to know myself and continuing to develop. Being able to do what once seemed impossible (but often something you wish was possible) is the result of repeatedly doing what you're afraid of, preferably in combination with courses and talk therapy. Life happens outside the comfort zone, and that's where I want to be.

What are your best tips for a successful camping trip in a tent or van?

Make a list of what you need to bring and check it off as you pack, so you don't risk standing there without a lighter when you start cooking on the gas stove. Bring food for at least an extra day, because you won't want to go home ;)

Tell us about your dreams!

To have the time and energy to do everything I love. To continue to develop and become more and more emotionally free, free from my own fears and limitations, free to feel all emotions, free to express my needs. I dream of having a small house on the countryside with my own workshop where I can tinker and create freely. But most of all, I want to have a Bernese Mountain Dog that I can go on adventures with.

How do you like your Minna fleece? And how did you come up with the idea of cold bathing in it?

I love it and use it probably six out of seven days a week, if not every day. I thought it would bring more focus to the garment and be a clear way to highlight the properties of wool, that it keeps you warm even when wet.

Thank you so much Frida for sharing your life and thoughts with us! Don't forget to visit her instagram to see when she renovates her new van, and to get inspired by her beautiful photos! If you are interested in reading about another wild woman who loves the van life we recommend the story about Hannah Mayer.