"From a longtime fascination with the Blue Zones to earning a master’s degree in positive psychology, learning about what makes people happy has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. After finding out about the World Happiness Report and its ranking of the world’s happiest countries and reading The Little Book of Hygge (a Danish concept of spending cozy times with friends and family), I became obsessed with Denmark—not only because of their consistent ranking as one of the top three happiest countries in the world but also their attention on the subject of happiness in general.
Last spring, I finally went to Denmark to see IRL what it means to be “known for happiness” and conduct some research for my master’s program. My week in Denmark included visiting Copenhagen, the island of Møn, Aarhus (the second largest city), and even the northern tip of the country, the coastal town of Skagen. Fueled by my research and a long visit to The Happiness Research Institute’s Happiness Museum, here are five important lessons I learned about happiness.
Catarina Lachmund, Senior Analyst at the Happiness Research Institute
Catarina Lachmund contributes to qualitative research projects, with a specific focus on community wellbeing assessments and life satisfaction.
5 Lessons I Learned After Visiting One of the Happiest Country in the World
1. Your environment is essential for your mood
One of the first things I noticed about Copenhagen was how easy it was to get around. The pedestrian-centered streets made it feel not only safe to get from our Airbnb to local spots on foot but also enjoyable. Strolling through the city gave me a taste of the famous architecture and design and helped me see how impactful walking-friendly towns can be on well-being.
After visiting Copenhagen, I fully believe that happiness can be built into a place: walking and biking-friendly streets that easily allow its citizens to commute to work or get to their friend’s place for a dinner party, public leisure areas like lush green parks that allow citizens to be in nature, and urban beaches and harbor baths (public swimming pools built into the harbor) that enable them to enjoy the clean harbor water. When urban design considers the experiences of people and their well-being, it’s easy to have a good time, incorporate movement into your daily routine, and enjoy nature and the fresh air, no matter the weather or season. You can see how people’s well-being and joy are prioritized in urban planning when you visit Copenhagen and other Danish cities.
Experts agree that Denmark’s urban design is one-of-a-kind. “Denmark—and especially Copenhagen—are famous for their urban design and built happy environments,” said Catarina Lachmund, senior analyst at the Happiness Research Institute. “Designing bigger cities in a way you can experience them without a car increases the air quality (thus health) and detaches experiences from income and age.”
Apply this lesson to your life:
If you’re moving anytime in the future—whether it’s to a new apartment or moving to a different city—consider the physical setup of the neighborhood or city (if you have the option) and how it will impact your well-being, and when possible, opt for walkable areas. Would you have access to a park? Are there sidewalks that encourage walking? Is there a coffee shop or grocery store within walking distance?
But it isn’t just when you’re moving to a new place that this information matters; knowing your physical environment can help you understand what you need to advocate for in your community. Could it use more local parks, walking trails, and other public leisure areas? If you already have all of those things in your neighborhood, take advantage of them and express to your local government just how important those simple things are to the community’s health and well-being.
2. Happiness is found in small pleasures—not big ones
We often think happiness is a destination we get to once something big happens to us—a promotion, a relationship, losing 10 pounds. That’s actually not true. Happiness is found when we appreciate the everyday, minor pleasures instead of waiting on the big ones. My time in Denmark was filled with small pleasures: sharing bites of vegan pastries with my boyfriend, walking instead of sitting in traffic, contributing to a puzzle the Airbnb owners left behind. In Denmark, this is a way of life. “The high level of daily joy is deeply rooted in hygge,” Lachmund explained. You may equate hygge to coziness, but according to Denmark’s official website, it means “taking time away from the daily rush to enjoy the good things in life.” Hygge is also about being intentional and purposefully slowing down to enjoy the present moment and appreciate the small pleasures.
Apply this lesson to your life:
Danes usually hygge with family and friends (having a board game night with friends on a weeknight or reconnecting with family over your mom’s famous lasagna), but you can also do it alone. Be intentional about slowing down every single day. Identify your simple joys and prioritize them. Whether it’s a nightly ritual of a cup of tea and book by candlelight or a Friday night supper club with close friends, small (daily) pleasures are important to your happiness and well-being—even more than the big ones.
3. Play is for all ages
Copenhagen is a playful city in many ways (see: Nyhavn’s colorful buildings and trampolines built into the sidewalks), but one of my favorite parts of the city is its amusement park, Tivoli. Tivoli is one of the oldest amusement parks in the world (it inspired Walt Disney to build Disney World). They sell cotton candy burritos next to organic cocktails, and their gardens are perfectly landscaped, making Tivoli a must-see, even if you don’t go on any of their wacky rides. It’s weird and wonderful, charming and whimsical, and equally for the young and old.
I brought a Tivoli poster home from Denmark because of how much I loved the unadulterated joy of it and as a reminder to not take life so seriously. When I’m overwhelmed by a deadline or disappointed that my boyfriend didn’t do what I asked, I remind myself that I can choose to be stressed or upset, or I can choose to lean into joy and dance around my apartment to get me out of my funk. The poster reminds me that life is fun, weird, and wonderful all at once; we just have to remind ourselves to see it.
Apply this lesson to your life:
Playfulness in adults is associated with less stress, better coping strategies, and more creativity. So, go on the swings, play a board game, or do arts and crafts to tap into your inner child. It’s easy to become overwhelmed by to-do lists and responsibilities, but when you sprinkle in play and be a kid again, you’ll build resilience and improve your overall well-being.
4. Happiness is actually more like contentment than joy
So, how do researchers even measure happiness anyway? One of the first tasks in happiness research has been defining what happiness really is. There’s the bubbly, smiley, momentary joy that you feel when you’re eating a slice of your favorite cake on your birthday or falling in love; this is hedonic happiness. But there’s also the contentment and long-term happiness you feel when you know you have a loving family and that you are pursuing a career that matches your values and passions; this is eudaimonic happiness (and the type that flourishes in Denmark).
I somewhat expected Danes to be super happy and smiley given they live in one of the happiest countries in the world. While they were happier and nicer than my fellow New Yorkers, I didn’t see people with random huge smiles on their faces or constantly laughing. But according to information at the Happiness Museum, Denmark gets its reputation as a happy country not because of outward joy, but because the people are generally satisfied with their lives, jobs, and support systems. That contentment—where you’re taking care of yourself by following your values and passions as well as your community by being a trustworthy and supportive member—speaks louder.
Apply this lesson to your life:
Consider how you can invest in your long-term well-being. For example, if you dread your job, think about how you can find purpose and meaning in your work (i.e., explore other roles, try a side hustle that you’re passionate about, or reset your work-life boundaries). Also, invest in your community by spending quality time together to deepen your relationships: support local businesses, take up a collective hobby like pickleball with your BFF, or host a book club.
“Happiness doesn’t become smaller by being shared—it’s happiness, not pie.”
5. Happiness grows the more you share it
According to The Happiness Museum, one of the main reasons Denmark has consistently been named one of the happiest countries is their commitment to the common good. “Together, we can achieve nearly everything (which is why everyone should be included),” Lachmund said. “Sticking out and being egoistic won’t bring you as far as the collective effort.” According to one of the exhibits in The Happiness Museum, “What works well in the Nordic countries is arguably an understanding of the link between the good life and the common good,” it stated. “Knowing that everybody you know and love will be supported in their time of need is of greater importance than individual wealth.”
Almost 90 percent of people in Denmark are happy to pay their high taxes because they see how it supports their community and promotes a high-quality life for all of its people. The country provides work-life balance, family-friendly policies, social safety net programs, and a commitment to sustainability and access to clean water and air, proving that the country prioritizes the well-being and greater good of its people.
Apply this lesson to your life:
One of my favorite takeaways from The Happiness Museum was this quote: “Remember, the cool thing about happiness is that it doesn’t become smaller by being shared. It’s happiness, not pie.” Happiness isn’t a limited resource. In fact, happiness can grow the more you share it.
Even if you don’t live in a country that invests in the well-being of its people the way Denmark does, you can do your part in supporting the happiness and connectedness of your community and, in turn, contribute to your own happiness. Consider how you can make your apartment building or neighborhood block more community-oriented by starting a book exchange in the lobby or simply introducing yourself to a neighbor you’ve never met. On a smaller scale, remember that happiness grows when you share it. Go out of your way to compliment a stranger or make a friend feel included, or when you see someone you think is “happy” (the social media influencer with the relationship you want or the friend who has a career she loves), don’t view it as a reminder that they have something you don’t; look at it as proof that you can be happy, too.
Josey Murray, Contributing Wellness Writer
Josey Murray is a writer and editor passionate about well-being. She holds a Master’s degree in positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing from Wellesley College. She has written for Women’s Health, mindbodygreen, Well+Good, and more.