In Sweden, lagom is the word for “just the right amount,” and it’s a mindset that became wildly popular in recent years. Their culture embraces a way of living that aligns our emotions with our thoughts to create a feeling of true presence, one that’s not very common in the fast-paced lives of our modern society.
Living lagom is about avoiding unnecessary excesses without falling too deeply into minimalism. It is also not about perfection, as it is a synonym of something big and unachievable, but rather a modest balance of things that will give us focus, freedom and fulfillment. Already interested? Here are 3 easy ways to fit the lagom lifestyle into your own life.
Lagom for your home
We possess the privilege of a place that provides us physical and emotional shelter, that we can adapt to our needs and likings. It’s so much more than a house, really, and this can help us live in a more charming space. The problem is that we sometimes add in more than we can handle. More space, more stuff… all of these take apart the charm and leaves a busy home, where we can feel overwhelmed and trapped.
Various studies have shown that keeping just the essential can do wonders for our mood. Next time you clean the house, ask yourself what items really have both a functional and sentimental value for you. Are your wardrobes crowded with clothes that you don’t use? Your shelves full of books that you don’t read? Or maybe, have you bought furniture that’s only taking space in your living room? Be honest, and choose what you would like to keep, donate, or throw away. Think of it as a way to have more territory to dance around. Go for quality instead of quantity, and you’ll soon find that your home feels bigger and brighter.
Lagom for nature
Swedish people have an incredible amount of respect for nature. Maybe this is because they have a lot of it, and it’s downright gorgeous. You are probably not far away from a nice environment too, so slow down a bit and go for a trip to a forest, a beach, even a walk through a national park. Appreciate its natural beauty, and you’ll be motivated to fight for it.
It’s also important to remember to live a sustainable life. Recycling, looking at your energy use, and not buying more food than you can eat, are all simple steps that’ll create a positive impact in the world. When you enjoy nature, while also protecting it, you’re helping to ensure that future generations will be able to live lagom as well.
Lagom for yourself
Finally, be kind with yourself. We are used to multitasking and working extra hours, but in reality, this just makes ourselves exhausted and sad. Swedish people work less, take more breaks and vacations, but guess what? They’re also far more efficient! Why is that? It turns out that taking a walk around the block, or quietly sipping your coffee every so often, puts us in a healthy state of mind where it’s easier to be productive. Rest is pretty much needed to not burn yourself out.
This doesn’t just apply to work. If you’re doing too much exercise, or nothing at all, try to do just what you can tolerate. If you started a new diet, don’t feel bad about eating a portion of cake once a week (if it makes you happy!). The idea is to avoid restricting yourself from the little pleasures of life while also being conscious so you don’t abuse.
If you’re able to maintain balance between all the aspects of your life, you’ll notice that your daily routine suddenly stops being tiring and stressful… and you will finally achieve lagom yourself!
