Every year, a group of leading universities from around the world release the World Happiness Report. The report is an in-depth analysis of the level of happiness experienced by citizens in each country, and ranks those countries to determine which ones are the happiest.
In 2024, as in past years, the Scandinavian countries ranked at or near the top of the list. Finland led the way, with the Netherlands not too far behind in sixth position. The United States finished twenty-third.
There are two things that the Dutch (that’s what people from the Netherlands are called) do that helps to make them among the happiest people in the world. Those two things are nisken and gezellig.
Nisken
Nisken, or the Dutch art of doing nothing, is like a super weapon used by happy people throughout the Netherlands. But to call it the “art of doing nothing” is a bit of a misnomer. Nisken does not always involve doing nothing. It could involve reading a book, listening to music, or going for a walk. Or it could involve literally doing nothing, such as sitting and staring out the window.
The point of nisken is to relax, unwind, and recharge. The point is not to accomplish anything or to work toward a goal. It is not to be productive. It involves a lack of proactive behavior. It may not be doing nothing, but it isn’t about doing anything either.
Don’t confuse nisken with meditation. Unlike nisken, meditation involves rules. Often, people only practice meditation in a certain location at a certain time. Meditation is more of a practice than nisken, which is more of an eleent of a healthy, happy lifestyle. Meditation has an ultimate goal. Nisken does not.
The irony of nisken is that, while it isn’t designed to accomplish anything, by practicing nisken, people become happier and more productive. In case you didn’t know, the Dutch are among the most productive people in the world.
But being more productive is a side benefit of nisken. It’s a happy accident. Nisken tends to improve the lifestyle of people who incorporate it into their lives. And to get the most out of nisken, it should be scheduled and made a priority, not just something that happens when the time is right or the stars align.
Action Plan: Schedule Nisken into your daily life. If daily initially seems too often, start by integrating time for nisken into your life weekly. Be conscious about making time for nisken. Make it a priority.
Gezellig
Gezellig is a Dutch word that, translated into English, means “pleasant.” But that’s really not a very good translation. It doesn’t completely capture the true meaning of Gezellig.
For the Dutch, gezellig is a feeling of coziness or togetherness. It’s the joy felt when sharing time with friends or family. It’s a place or event that is inviting, pleasant, and fun.
Gezellig could involve spending time with close friends or loved ones at a comfortable, fun location. It could involve spending time at a fun, pleasant event with a significant other or family member. It could also involve sharing time with friends or family celebrating a special occasion.
Notice the common thread running through these experiences? They all involve spending time with others, most often people who are special to us. But the thing that the Dutch do differently than those of us in the United States is, when they practice gezellig, they do so as a common or frequent occurrence.
Getting together with friends or family, especially for Americans as they grow older, becomes a less and less frequent occurrence. By contrast, the Dutch make gezellig a routine practice, meeting up with friends and family daily or every few days. For the Dutch, it’s less of a special occasion than it it is a common occurrence.
But Gezellig isn’t just getting together with friends or family. It also involves making any moment more pleasant or comforting. It is unusual for the Dutch to do almost anything without a cup of tea and a snack, like a cookie. And to be gezellig, the Dutch don’t rush through the experience. In fact, there is a Dutch saying that “Gezellig knows no time.” They slow down and savor the time together, making the gezelig experience a priority.
At it’s core, gezellig involves taking something ordinary and making it more special. It involves consciously making an act or event more cozy or pleasant. It’s all about the daily pursuit of happiness. And when you can turn something ordinary into something special and cozy, and can connect it with another person, especially a friend or loved one, you have gezellig.
Action Plan: Make getting together with friends or loved ones a priority. Make it a routine occurrence. And make it happen in a special location and/or a special way that is less ordinary.
Conclusion
Unlike most of us here in the United States, the Dutch (and other Scandinavian countries) prioritize happiness in their lives. They are among the most productive people on Earth, but they are productive because they are happy, not the other way around.
For many of us in the United States, we prioritize material possessions over simple routine experiences as a way of achieving happiness. For instance, it would not be unusual to hear someone in the United States say something to the effect of, “When I have enough money in the bank, or a big enough house, or a fancy enough car, then I’ll be happy.” By contrast, the Dutch prioritize happiness by taking time to “do nothing” as well as routinely spend time with friends and loved ones. Their happiness is a result of how they live their lives. They are not waiting to live a happy, meaningful lifestyle until (fill in the blank).
You could be living a happier lifestyle right now by emulating the Dutch. Don’t wait. Incorporate nisken and gezellig into your life and start reaping the benefits.
