After living in Europe for some time, I have realized that Europeans generally are more relaxed and happier than Americans. So, I’ve decided to figure out why so many Europeans can maintain lasting happiness.
- Coziness is an important part of the European value system.
Hygge is a word in Norwegian and Danish that describes a happy and cozy mood evoked by comfort. Its equivalent in English is coziness.
Please note that hygge is a huge part of the modern culture in many European countries. It’s very common to see Europeans read books while drinking hot chocolate in cafes. In contrast, a lot of Americans work in cafes – they are busy working on their laptops instead of enjoying themselves.
Another difference that I’ve noticed is more Europeans prefer traditional books rather than eBooks. Indeed, Kindle’s biggest market is in the United States as more Americans read eBooks.
My European friends told me that they like traditional books because reading a traditional book is a more tactile experience. In other words, more senses are engaged while reading a traditional book.
Living in Europe means I’ve also bought many traditional books. As I use digital devices less frequently now, my eyes and my mind feel significantly better and calmer.
- Freewriting is good for mental health.
Apart from reading traditional books, most of my European friends also write journal entries every day because they love freewriting.
Basically, freewriting is a technique in which the writer writes their thoughts fast and continuously, without worrying about style or form. Interestingly, when I asked my European friends why they have this habit, they told me that while doing freewriting, they often come up with creative ideas that can improve their lives or solutions to some problems that they need to address.
Since the beginning of this year, I’ve been doing freewriting almost every day, and I can confirm that I feel a bit happier each day because of this new habit. Yes, now freewriting has become a part of my daily routine.
“Living in Europe has given me great opportunities to cultivate good habits and foster a positive mindset which has helped me tremendously.”
