5 secrets to making Danes the happiest in the world

According to Meik Wiking, CEO of the Copenhagen-based Happiness Research Institute: 'The Danes are the happiest people in the world'. Their lives are based on the ancient Danish philosophy of comfort and togetherness, and indeed it has provided them with a very good quality of life over the years.

Since the 18th century, the 'hygge' lifestyle has been widespread among the Danes. They believe that feeling the simple moments in everyday life can do wonders, like relaxing on your favorite sofa in the living room or admiring the wondrous beauty of mother nature. .

It is a way to find for yourself moments of simple happiness when facing a fast-paced life with many worries and fatigue. But why did the Danes decide to create this lifestyle throughout their cultural history? Simply, because during the long, harsh winter days, they feel bored and become more and more anxious. So they often celebrate the small events in life by spending time with friends, holding family meals or tea parties by candlelight to dispel boredom. This is 'the art of creating closeness, connecting people' and is the path to simplicity and happiness in life.

Here are 5 Danish secrets to happiness that we should all refer to and practice whenever possible.

Reconnect with everyone

When the ice melts in spring and the sun brings warm rays – and people can still enjoy the cold of winter during that time. In Denmark, people are often dominated by snowfall and frost. So locals expect something better from inviting people over to eat!

We often have periods of interruptions from contact with people as we have to deal with busy lives, worries and the task of taking care of our children. One of the great ways to reconnect with people is to have a dinner party. Regardless of the region or culture you live in, connecting over meals is a great way to restore or strengthen relationships with people. Send out dinner invitations and do it as periodically as a family meal. Grow this into a new tradition.

Forgive

Another way to adopt a 'hygge' lifestyle is to forgive or 'tilgivelse' in Danish. We fall into isolation because we don't forgive others, which won't bring you happiness – it will actually lead to a life of pain and loneliness. Here, we are not only talking about forgiving those who have hurt us, but also forgiving ourselves for past mistakes. Simply, forgiveness makes a difference in our joy and in our emotional freedom. Even if the person doesn't accept your apology, do it for your own happiness. If you need to forgive yourself, do it now, let 'them' go.

Be the giver

Part of being happier in life is being a giver. Positive energy comes from helping others and this is why Denmark was voted the happiest people on Earth.

The country of Denmark achieves social equity better than most other countries because it enforces social security policies such as providing free health care, free education, etc. costs and work-life balance. In a society where we are primarily focused on how to achieve our next personal goal or climb the ladder of success, helping others often goes unnoticed. But when we share a meal or simply treat people better, it brings us a lot of joy.

Please disconnect from electronic devices

Practice a 'hygge' lifestyle by disconnecting from electronic devices at least once a week. This is not easy for most of us who are constantly checking information on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Nowadays social media has really become an obsession and even makes some people 'addicted'. So try turning off your computer, phone and starting a conversation with people instead of looking at your phone screen.

With so much time spent on social media, disconnecting from electronics for a while will give you the silence you need to rest and relax in life. This will also help you to live every moment of your life to the fullest. Create a new story beyond the confines of social media and smartphones by disconnecting.

Use the power of gratitude

We have heard about gratitude and how gratitude brings so much joy to us. And that's exactly what it is. Gratitude improves the immune system and strengthens resistance to jealousy or anger. The Danes live by the principle of 'appreciate what you get or get'. If you feel like you need help, make a list of all the things you have in your life right now, you might be surprised at how many of these things happen. Take the pressure off your life like the Danes do and live a healthier life using the power of gratitude.

According to the United Nations, Danes are the happiest people in the world. The 'hygge' lifestyle plays an important role in this and has helped them find beauty in the simple things of life. Things like sharing food with friends, drinking early morning coffee on the sofa, or pursuing giving for a happier life – by making these small changes now, we can bring lasting joy to your life.