Happiness is one of the two critical essentials to living a positively balanced life. Although we all have our own take on what brings us joy there are some common factors most of us share that can add to it. Let’s take a look at those commonalities through the perspective of the people who live in the world’s happiest countries to see if they might add to our joy in living.
(Average reading time 170 seconds)
Last month we opened quoting Aristotle on the good life. “It is the very activity of living a good life that is an end in itself.” It is the way we live, the way we conduct our lives every day, that creates our fulfillment, meaning and purpose.
In that article we recognized the two realities for living Aristotle’s good life; the two most powerful drivers of good in the world: daily Achievement and Enjoyment. Each of us must achieve in order to live and we must enjoy to make the living and achieving worthwhile. To “live” a good life is to do both of these things on a daily basis. Today we want to focus on expanding the daily enjoyment side of that equation and in doing so potentially improve your overall happiness for a lifetime.
Remember Enjoyment is also not a point on your journey. Happiness should not be reserved for special events, or the weekends or vacation or when you retire. Enjoyment should be a way-of-life goal that you live every single day. Let’s look at how the happiest people on earth do that.
Daily Habits of the World’s Happiest People
The World Happiness Report is a landmark survey of the state of global happiness. It is based on data that comes from the Gallup World Poll and ranks 156 countries by their happiness levels. One of the key questions is “Taken all together, how would you say things are these days—would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?”
For those of us who live in the US the report gives us reason for concern. As a country we have had our worst ranking ever dropping to No. 19 from No. 14 in 2017. In addition, for the first time we have had back to back years of falling life expectancy. These negative stats are true despite a low violent crime rate, a very low unemployment rate and a steadily growing per capita income over the last few decades.
Conversely, the Nordic countries like Finland, Denmark and Iceland dominate the top of the happiness rankings giving them reason to be even happier. Let’s look at some of the daily way of life differentiators that are linked to their higher levels of happiness and life enjoyment.
They Exercise Twice As Much
It is well established that exercise reduces anxiety and depression, increasing our positive endorphins. Yet only about 23 percent of all US adults get the recommended amount of exercise per week; that’s 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise, plus two sessions of muscle-strengthening exercise. Contrast that with the happiest countries, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden where 51% to 64% of their adult population hit that 2.5 hours per week. These countries top both the exercise charts and the happiness charts. You can help boost your country’s ratings and more importantly your own every day happiness by getting in more cardio time.
They Take Their Vacations
We know that achievement is a key to a good life, so work is important. But so is time off work to recharge yourself and strengthen your connections to those important to you. The happiest countries tend to require substantially more vacation time then US companies give. But in the US’s workaholic culture over 50% of Americans don’t take all the vacation they do have. Instead we often engage in self-imposed work-life imbalance and take pride in the unused time off days at year’s end. In the happiest countries though, they take their time off. So should you! You’ll be a better and happier achiever long term and live a more balanced life by doing so.
They Follow a Nordic Diet
The countries ranking highest in happiness tend to eat lots of whole grains and legumes, an important source of fiber for nourishing digestion. This Nordic/Mediterranean diet includes nuts, olive oil, fish and plant based proteins, with other meats consumed weekly, not daily. When we put the right food in our body we are physically healthier and psychologically more content. Try eating happier. It’s delicious.
They Spend Time Face-to-Face With Family and Friends
As Americans our connection with family and friends has shifted more to social media and device communication. In tandem our sleep and general happiness has declined. Numerous studies have shown that cutting back on excessive time spent on devices and social media result in more happiness and less depression. It is face-to-face bonding that enriches our shared lives and memories the most. In the happier countries such visiting over a meal or drinks is more common.
Do your own enjoyment experiments. One easy and dramatic place to start is no phones in sight or in use while having a meal together. Overall, intentionally spend less time tethered to your devices and more time shaking hands, conversing, smiling, laughing and hugging in person.
They Trust and Rely on Each Other
Strong relationship bonding builds more resilient social ties and individual trust. In Iceland and Switzerland for example 96 percent of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in time of need. Do you have someone like that? Are you someone like that?
They Take Time for Themselves
Individuals in the happiest countries are better at making time for themselves, their personal hobbies, interest and joys. Don’t leave yourself out of your good life achievement and enjoyment equation.
Get some exercise, take your vacations, eat tasty healthy food, spend more face-to-face time in your relationships, build deserved trust with those you are closest to and take time for yourself.
Each and all of these things will add to your positive work-life balance and to living the good life of achievement and enjoyment every day.
Here’s to more happiness for you…and our world.
Smiles,
Jim Bird
Publisher
Quotes
“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
“Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world.”
“We have no more right to consume happiness without producing it than to consume wealth without producing it.”
George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950) was an Irish playwright, essayist, novelist, short story writer and a co-founder of the London School of Economics. His main talent was for drama and he wrote more than 60 plays.
Spend More Time Outdoors
Studies show that spending time closer to nature lessens anxiety, improves sleep, increases focus and boosts creativity.