Book Summary: The Year Of Living Danishly
Helen Russell’s The Year Of Living Danishly looks at what makes Denmark such a popular place to live. Denmark consistently ranks at the top of both the UN World Happiness Report and The well-being and happiness index from the EU Commission.
Related Book Summaries:
Happier At Home – Gretchen Rubin
Hardwiring Happiness – Rick Hanson
Quotes:
In the US and the UK we’d fought for more money at work, Scandinavians had fought for more time – for family leave, leisure and a decent work-life balance.
You’re more likely to be able to get on in life, get educated, and get a good job, regardless of who your parents are and what they do in Denmark than anywhere else. It turns out that it’s easier to live ‘The American Dream’ here than it’s ever likely to be in the US.
The Year Of Living Danishly Book Summary Notes:
Happier At Home
Happiness begins at home. A cozy and nice home environment, or hygge in Danish, is thought to be one of the main reasons that the Danes are so happy.
A large part of the culture during the winter is spending time at home with friends and family while avoiding the chill outside. Having a comfortable and attractive home has other important effects as well.
A study from 2011 conducted by the University College Of London found that even just looking at something beautiful is enough to release dopamine in your brain, making you happier.
Work Life Balance
Another strength for the Danish is their work life balance. The European Commission found that the Danes are some of the most satisfied employees in the whole of the European Union.
The Danish also put far more weight behind doing something you love rather than just trying to make as much money as possible. In line with this, University level study is also free in Denmark. This way students don’t have to worry about paying off crippling debt straight out of school, considerably increasing the comparative happiness of Danish students against the rest of the world.
Sports, Clubs and Community
Leisure activities have a strong impact on happiness, increasing both the quality of life and productivity of the participants. This was found in a study conducted by The Australian Happiness Institute.
Most of the Danish participate in at least one social or sporting club, all of which are well organised, supported and funded by the government. Statistically 90% of all Danes participate in clubs and the average is actually nearly 2.8 clubs per person. The most popular of all these extracurricular activities in Denmark is cycling.
Paid Parental Leave
Danish parents are also given 52 weeks of parental leave for each child they have, the time is split between the 2 parents in whatever split they want.
Studies on maternity leave show that it has a positive effect on the health of the child and on the mental health of the mother. Fathers on average are spending more time at home with their children than in previous generations which is also a positive.
The Danish government also heavily subsidises daycare for children up to 6 years old, making it a great affordable option for all families.
