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Overview
Create a community garden and get some volunteers to help maintain it. Who doesn’t need more happiness in their lives? If you want to be happy, then go look for it in Denmark. They consistently top the list of happiest countries on earth. Author Meik Wiking has compiled all the reasons why Danes are so happy, from transportation, education, charity work and community activism – there is plenty of data and research to back this up. So if you have ever considered moving to Denmark or living like a Dane (which I don’t recommend), learn what makes them so happy instead!
In this article, you’ll learn how to be happier by biking like the Danes in Copenhagen; why seniors can help new parents be happier; and what causes air rage.
Big Idea #1: To be happy, we need to spend more time with others and less time on social media.
There are many lists that rank the happiest places in the world, and Denmark is often at the top. What makes them so happy?
The United Nations’ World Happiness Report found that one of the main factors in a country’s happiness is its sense of community and people working together. When people feel like they can rely on each other, it makes them happier, especially during hard times.
In 2014, a Gallup poll showed that nine out of ten Danes are happy to pay taxes. Even though the average tax rate is 45 percent and for those who earn over €61,500 it’s 52 percent, they’re willing to pay because they know their money will be used to provide services for everyone in society.
Denmark is the first country to have cohousing communities, which are voluntary living arrangements where residents and families establish their own self-sufficient neighborhoods. A writer named Bodil Graae wrote an influential editorial in support of communal living. It inspired a group of families who created Sætterdammen, a community in Hillerød just north of Copenhagen. Today, around 50,000 people in Denmark live in cohousing communities and hundreds more are forming similar arrangements across Europe and America. One important aspect of these communities is that they increase happiness while also allowing people to disconnect from the virtual world by limiting their access to Facebook for a week as part of an experiment conducted by the Happiness Research Institute (HRI). HRI found that those taking part reported less loneliness and higher levels of satisfaction with life overall when they were away from Facebook for a week. Of course, it’s easier said than done but you can improve your chances if you get your friends and family on board with your plan so everyone agrees not to use technology during certain days or hours each week
Big Idea #2: People are happier when they’re anticipating something good than they are when they have lots of money.
Although the wealthiest countries tend to be happier, it is not a direct correlation. For example, South Korea has gone from being one of the poorest to one of the wealthiest but still struggles with depression and suicide. Experiences are what directly influence happiness, rather than material items alone. Studies show that 57% of people need both the product and anticipation in order for them to feel happier after purchasing something.
You can use this fact to your advantage by linking your purchases to an upcoming occasion.
A good idea is to treat a new purchase as something you earn rather than something you buy. This will make the experience more satisfying because it’s an investment in your well-being, and also fulfill your motivation of finishing big tasks on your list.
Another way to have fun is to plan ahead. Schedule your fun in advance and, in the meantime, enjoy knowing that good times are just around the corner.
