5 Happiness Tips From the Danish l Tips From the Danish l Denmark Happiest Country in the World

"The Danes are the happiest people in the world," according to Meik Wiking, CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. They base their lives on a Danish philosophy of comfort and togetherness and it has helped them for years. Since the 18th-century, hygge (pronounced hue-gah) has been a guide to many of the Danish. They believe that observing the ordinary in everyday moments can be magical like sitting in your preferred chair in the living room or admiring nature. It is a way to create beautiful moments when faced with the mundane. But why did the Danish decide to create this movement throughout their culture? Simply, they were getting bored and were becoming increasingly restless during the harsh dark months of winter. They made it a point to celebrate the small things in life by spending time with friends, creating home-cooked meals or cozening with a cup of tea by candlelight to combat the doldrums. This is the “art of creating intimacy” and the road to simplicity equates to happiness. Here are 5 happiness cues from the Danish that we all should consider anytime of the year.

Reconnect with People

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When the thaw comes in the spring and we embrace the warmth of the sun--we can still enjoy the chill of winter in the meantime. In Denmark, people are often ruled by heavy snow and icy winds. The locals found something to look forward to and what else could be better than inviting people over to eat! We loose touch with people since we are always busy with life and with kids. One way to reconnect is to host a dinner party that has a theme (Danish cuisine, hint, hint). No matter where you live, connecting over food is a great way to rekindle relationships with people. Send invites for dinner and do this periodically as a family. Make it a new tradition.