5 Ridiculously Easy Ways To Be Happy At Work

By Alexander Kjerulf


The words we use to talk about work can be revealing. In Denmark, we say: arbejdsglaede. Which means literally happiness (glaede) at work (arbejde). This word exists in other Nordic cultures -- but nowhere else on the planet. (The Japanese instead have the word Karoshi which means "Death from overwork.")

Why is this? Simple: To Danes, a job isn't just a way to get paid -- we fully expect to enjoy ourselves at work. I speak abut this topic all over the world, and outside of Scandinavia the attitude is often the exact opposite: "Well, of course I hate my job. That's why I get paid to do it, right?"