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The truth about bliss is this: You can always use more. And with the recent boom in happiness research, we now have a better understanding of how to boost joy in our everyday lives. “The happiest people all have habits that can be learned,” says Dan Baker, Ph.D., author of What Happy Women Know (Rodale, 2007) and director of the Life Enhancement Program at Canyon Ranch in Tucson, AZ. with that in mind, VIVmag set forth to find out why the citizens in the world’s five happiest countries (as identified by research from the University of Leicester in England) consistently wake up on the sunny side. Read on to find out what keeps people smiling in countries as disparate as Denmark, Switzerland, Iceland, Austria and the Bahamas — then make their tips work for you!

THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH
#1 Denmark

The happiest people in the world didn’t earn their No. 1 status by chowing down on breakfast pastries. The Danes’ secret to the good life? A culture of tempered expectations, according to a recent study from the University of Southern Denmark in Odense. “Year after year, [Danes] are pleasantly surprised to find that not everything is getting more rotten in the state of Denmark,” observe the researchers. Adds Baker, “The key is to be realistic. You have to calibrate your expectations based on your own real-life experience.” So if you’re in a new relationship and things are going smoothly, realize that at some point, you and your partner are going to disagree — and that’s to be expected.

CULTURE CLUB
#2 Switzerland

Whether you’re taking up tango or simply choosing a new syrup to flavor your latte, variety really is the spice of life. “The Swiss thrive on diversity,” says Maja Gartmann, a spokesperson for Switzerland Tourism. “We have four national languages and live side by side with French, Italian and German culture.” Channel the Swiss spirit by broadening your knowledge of food, literature and art from different countries or, better yet, take up an activity that’ll flex your creative muscles, such as painting or writing. In the Arts and Quality of Life Survey conducted by researchers from Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, Canada, three-quarters of participants agreed that artistic activities provide them with the opportunity to try new things, and 89 percent said the endeavors contribute to their emotional well-being.

NATURAL HIGH
#3 Austria

With more than half of the country dominated by the Alps, the third European nation on this list features no fewer than six national parks. “Nature is very accessible in Austria and there are lots of parks, even in the bigger cities,” says Sigrid Pichler, a spokesperson for the Austrian National Tourist Office. And all that exposure to the mountain scenery really does have some serious mental-health benefits: A study from Oberlin College in Ohio found spending just 15 minutes in nature increased positive emotions and the ability to reflect on life problems. To change your perspective for the better, try gardening on the weekend or go running in the park.

VACATION PARADISE
#4 Iceland

Icelanders who work full time are guaranteed a minimum of 24 vacation days along with 11 paid holidays — who wouldn’t be happy about that? “Some people even take off six to eight weeks in the summer,” says Sharon Prince, president of 66°North, an outdoor clothing company based in Iceland. Indeed, emulating the Icelandic attitude toward R&R makes sense, especially in light of new statistics from the Conference Board research network in New York City, which show that less than half of Americans are satisfied with their jobs. As the saying goes, no one ever wishes on their deathbed that they’d spent more time at the office.

SOCIAL SECURITY
#5 The Bahamas

The teens who frequent MySpace and Facebook are on to something. According to data from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Aging, having a strong network of friends is critical to living longer — more so than keeping close ties with family. Back in the Bahamas, “you feel like a celebrity in your hometown because our nation is made up of dozens of very small communities, so everyone knows you,” says Mikala Moss, a spokesperson for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. Re-create that feeling in your own life by getting onto a first-name basis with your mailman, pharmacist or barista, or try joining local social groups, such as a book club or sports team, on www.meetup.com.