In the second article of my " Better Living in Scandinavia" – Series (or: "This is how happiness works in Scandinavian") 🙂 we go to the land of Bullerby and Lönneberga – to Sweden. There is another "secret" for a relaxed and happy life to discover: Lagom and the Swedish "Lagom Lifestyle", as I would just like to call it.
Lagom, like Danish hygge, has become a true lifestyle trend in recent years and contributes to the fact that the Swedes are among the happiest people in the world.
What is Lagom?
Most of us live in a hectic world where demands continue to increase and things are changing and evolving rapidly.
And that brings a lot of stress.
The order of the day is therefore to find a balance, find the right balance and not lose sight of your own well-being in all the hustle and bustle.
This is exactly where the Swedish Lagom comes into play: Lagom embodies the ability to live a balanced life full of contentment in harmony with oneself and the nature around us, promoting a balanced and relaxed attitude to life.
In this article you will learn what exactly Lagom is, what makes up the "Lagom Lifestyle", where Lagom actually comes from and got its name, what Lagom has to do with nature and above all: How to bring more Lagom into your own life.
Ready? Then let's get started on this journey of discovery to more health, more mindfulness, more joy and more relaxation in life through the Swedish happiness formula of the "Lagom Lifestyle"!
The origin of Lagom
Lagom (pronounced something like " looagumm ") is the short form of the old Swedish saying "Lagom är bäst", which means something like "The right amount is the best". The actual origin of the word, however, has its roots similar to the Danish hygge probably in the time of the Vikings.
At that time, the term "laget om" (roughly translated as "once for the whole round") was used when passing around the drinking horns. The amount in the drinking horn should be such that everyone could get a portion of the drink. The drinking horn should be filled just right.
Or the other way around: Everyone should only drink enough to get enough in the drinking horn for everyone. He should drink enough, but not too much.
Similar to Danish hygge, the origin of the Lagom lifestyle also lies in the time of the Vikings: Everyone should only drink enough mead for everyone.
"Laget om" was then shortened to Lagom and means "just right" or "just right", not too much and not too little.
Or also: Appropriate.
Over the course of many years, this philosophy was then applied to different areas of life and thus helped to lead a balanced life.
However, lagom does not only refer to having exactly the right amount of something (neither too much, nor too little), but it also means showing respect for other people and nature – not to take oneself more seriously than the others in the "team of the Viking Round".
For many centuries, the Swedes took the principle of Lagom to heart and integrated it into daily life - up to today's Lagom lifestyle.
The principle of the "golden mean" is evident today in many aspects of modern Swedish society: food can be "lagom salten" – not too little salted and not too much salted. The apartment can be lagom large – not too big and not too small. And the weather can also be lagomous. Not too warm, not too cold, not too dry and not too wet. "Lagom" is also the famous "fika" – the Swedish coffee break in the afternoon.
What exactly "lagom" is, however, is different for each person. It's about finding out where the "golden mean" lies for you personally.
Lagom is also the basis for the Swedish welfare system – the second aspect of lagom. People are there for each other, treat others politely and don't play each other into the foreground.
Team spirit instead of lone wolves. The Vikings send their regards!
Basic principles of a Lagom lifestyle
Lagom is the path of the golden mean – middle, not mediocrity. Lagom is not about being mediocre at everything. Rather, it is about finding the right measure for oneself in everything.
Then we are balanced and lead a balanced life. Because that is the meaning of balanced: not too much and not too little.
Find your personal Lagom lifestyle
What feels right to you? What feels right to you?
This is your very own Lagom and with it you can create your own personal Lagom lifestyle.
You will quickly realize that less can sometimes be more.
Instead of always waiting for the next big thing, Lagom focuses on being mindful and realistic about your own wishes. So not always running after the mainstream and instead finding what feels right for you.
To do this, of course, you have to feel inside yourself and be mindful of your own inner self. So you can find out what you really want.
Work-life balance can also be lagom
And of course, this also applies to the relationship between work and leisure time – the work-life balance.
The Swedes attach great importance to having enough time for family and friends, as well as to being able to pursue their hobbies and spend a lot of time in nature.
Lagom therefore also plays an important role in Swedish working life.
That's why flexible working time models have long been the norm in Sweden – this is also part of a Lagom lifestyle. This leaves enough room for personal development and relaxation in a fulfilling private life.
The Swedes attach great importance to a good work-life balance: Don't work too much, but also not too little – just lagom!
We now also have ways to reconcile work, family and leisure time better than before. Maybe this is a way for you to further advance your own personal Lagom Lifestlye?
Of course, those who work less also earn less money. But if you focus more on quality of life and the quality of your relationships instead of car, house and yacht (I'm exaggerating...), you don't need so much money.
Lagom also means that less can be more and therefore focuses more on quality instead of quantity.
And that brings me to another aspect of the Lagom lifestyle: sustainability
Lagom is sustainable
Nowadays, everything is somehow sustainable. Tourism is sustainable, relationships are also sustainable when they go well, food is sustainable and road construction is also sustainable when the roads last longer than 20 years.
The term from the forestry of the 18th century (actually the term originally comes from agriculture, as I recently explained by Peter Wohlleben (from 50:50)) ustainability ) originally did something else: to cut down and remove only so many trees that the forest can recover and that later generations still have enough forest left over to be able to use the wood from it as well.
That sounds a lot like the drinking cups from the Viking campfire, doesn't it? Drink only enough to leave some mead for the others.
Lagom is closely linked to sustainability and the Lagom Lifetyle is virtually predestined for today!
Why Lagom and sustainability go hand in hand
Lagom means putting quality before quantity. For those who bring more lagom into their lives, less is often more. The Lagom Lifestlye therefore means preferring old, high-quality crafts to cheap mass-produced products.
Minimalism in a positive sense!
This saves resources and, in the long run, also the wallet. Because if you buy cheap, you buy twice. There is some truth to that.
More lagom also means not throwing away everything that is not brand new and "top notch". The mobile phone is already 2 years old, time for a new one?
Not with Lagom, because that says: You shouldn't buy a new phone too early and not too late. As long as the old one still works well, regular updates are available and you don't really need one of the new features of the current model, the old one is still good enough.
And old cell phones are really a problem:
Worldwide, it is estimated that approx. 5 billion mobile phones in the waste. If you put all these mobile phones on top of each other, you get a 50,000 km high tower of old mobile phones. Every year, mind you!
So if you want to advance your Lagom lifestyle, then when buying new things, think about: Do I really need this item? Does the item really help improve my quality of life? Or am I just running after the commercials?
And also: Can I really use this item for a long time? Is it durable or does it break after half a year and does it have to be replaced? Again, the following applies: quality over quantity!
Lagom is not only sustainable, but also healthy
But bringing more Lagom into your life can also simply mean cycling more often instead of constantly driving. Because you know, lagom means not too much and not too little in everything. So also not to drive too much (too many short distances) by car.
This not only protects the environment, but is also healthy!
When shopping, lagom means being more aware of where the products actually come from and under what conditions they were produced. Lagom prefers regional and seasonal products because Lagom is fundamentally skeptical of extremes and strawberries are somehow extreme in winter.
Lagom avoids the extremes
However, the Lagom lifestyle's mistrust of the extreme also includes the other side: Lagom also means not becoming an extreme climate protector or a radical environmentalist.
Because when things get extreme, feelings such as fear and anger often play a role. But if you want to save the earth, you can't do it from such a basic attitude.
In Huna they say the world is what you think it is. Actions that arise from fear or anger therefore rarely (or never) lead to a good ending.
Lagom also encourages us to act from an attitude of inner balance – for example, by inspiring others to do the same through our example.
This creates a "ripple effect" that is much more effective in the long run than enforcing one's position with all one's might – even if climate change and earth destruction seem to provide all the justifications for it.
Trust instead of fear and anger
And what we should not forget: The earth itself is an ancient creature that has enormous self-healing powers. At least that is the statement of the Gaia hypothesis , which has fascinated me since my youth and which also fits well with the Huna philosophy just mentioned.
And the best way to support the earth's self-healing powers is to contribute good energy – "Good Vibrations" – and not by adding (as understandable as it may be!) Bringing anger, hatred and despair into the world.
That doesn't mean smiling everything away and carrying on as before. This means looking for positive ways to improve the situation and looking optimistically into the future – this is also part of the Lagom lifestyle.
Conclusion: Lagom is closely associated with the term sustainability and a Lagom lifestyle is therefore always a very sustainable way of shaping one's own life.
Lagom and nature
Of course, nature is also closely linked to the topic of sustainability. If only because the term comes from nature (you remember, forestry from the 18th century).
No wonder that spending time in nature and appreciating nature are important components of a Lagom Lifetyle. In this respect, Lagom does not differ much from the Danish hygge .
In nature, everything is lagom. Everything is just right the way it is. Nothing is wasted and everything is reused – from the smallest leaf that falls from the tree to the ground in autumn and decomposes into humus, to the largest whale, which serves as food for many fish and other marine life after its death.
We can live a lot from nature about what it means to lead a balanced life in balance. And spending time in nature brings us back to our centre like hardly anything else.
More nature means less stress
For example, only recently a study found that even a 20-minute stay in nature leads to a significantly reduced stress level.
The Swedes know this and spend a lot of time in the wonderful nature that Sweden is so famous for.
"Ut i naturen!", as the Swedes say. Get out into nature.
Whether canoeing on the lake, hiking through Sweden's many extensive forests or picking berries – nature always plays an important role for the Swedes.
Sweden is known for its beautiful natural landscapes
And it's really beautiful in Sweden. On the Visit Sweden website you can find many of the Natural wonders of Sweden – maybe you would like to see them with your own eyes?!
But of course, you don't have to go to Sweden to bring more Lagom into your life and practice a Lagom lifestyle. This is also possible with us.
For example, you could go for a walk in the park more often or take a trip to the city forest. You could consciously listen to the birds chirping in the morning or consciously soak up the smell of a freshly mowed meadow.
Or you often walk barefoot and with bare feet over grass or put your feet in the water of a lake or just a fountain in your city.
These are all activities that advance your Lagom lifestyle and do not require much effort. This is how your thoughts come to rest and you come back to your inner center!
Other: Here you can find a whole article on how to reconnect more with the nature around you when you live in the city.
Lagom Lifestyle, Family & Friends
Lagom refers to balance and equilibrium in all areas of life and of course this includes our relationships - whether it is our own family, circle of friends or relationships with our partners.
Lagom and the Lagom lifestyle encourage us to seek a healthy balance between work and leisure. And if you don't just think about your career and job from morning to night, you can take enough time for your partner, your own children or friends – not too much, but not too little either.
Lagom always plays an essential role in shaping our relationships in such a way that they contribute to a fulfilled life.
Fulfilling Relationships with the Lagom Lifestyle
Lagom in relationships means meeting up with your friends regularly without neglecting the partnership. It means taking time for your children, playing with them and sharing in their world, without becoming a helicopter mother or father.
Lagom in family life can mean not parking the children in front of the TV on weekends, but taking them to a private pool, for example. Nearby zoo or zoo – which also benefits you because you can get back in touch with nature.
But it can also simply mean having lunch or dinner together – something that was taken for granted in my childhood, but is becoming more and more rare today.
But Lagom also means giving your children enough space so that they can make their own experiences and become aware of what they can and cannot do.
Because that means Self-confidence : To be aware of one's own resources.
Lagom in relationships also means giving your partner time for yourself – pursuing your own hobbies or interests, having your own circle of friends and doing your own activities.
Lagom and friendships
In general, friendships are an important part of the Lagom lifestyle. However, it is not about the number of friends, but rather about the quality of relationships.
Better 10 friends less, but the few then as real friends – that's Lagom.
Look for friends who support you and who also tell you their opinion honestly – we can build real connections with such people.
In relationships and friendships, it is equally important to find a healthy balance between the demands and wishes of others and one's own needs. Lagom and the Lagom Lifestyle support us in not losing sight of this.
Balanced living with Lagom
We've talked a lot about what Lagom is, and I've already mentioned a number of ways you can take your Lagom lifestyle to the next level.
Let's summarize what has been said so far and then stay a little further with the question of how you can bring lagom into your life in a practical way.
Lagom means finding the right measure in everything. To do what appropriate is. Lagom avoids the extremes and strives to find a balance in everything.
Lagom means not having too much and not too little. Just right. It puts quality before quantity and is oriented towards a mindful approach to oneself and one's own resources.
Lagom is mindfulness in practice
In order to live Lagom, it is therefore important to consciously and actively deal with one's own needs. After all, how do you know what is appropriate (lagom) for you if you don't know your needs, values, and desires?
Therefore, living more lagom always means striving for a mindful and conscious lifestyle. And with that you win twice, because mindfulness (engl. Mindfulness ) enriches life on many levels and at the same time helps to remain more relaxed in stress and challenges.
Lagom Lifestlye means practiced mindfulness
By the way: If you are interested in the topic of values, then maybe this article interesting for you, which is about how you determine your values and live in your life. There is also a practical exercise on this!
Those who have learned to deal consciously and mindfully with their needs automatically make sure not to suppress them permanently.
Respect for oneself, others and nature
But this does not mean that you should now go out selfishly to fulfill all your needs regardless of losses and at the expense of others.
That wouldn't be lagom either.
Lagom attaches great importance to respectful interaction not only with oneself, but also with others – as well as with the entire environment and nature that surrounds us.
It is about finding an appropriate balance between one's own wishes and needs and the equally justified wishes and needs of others.
In the next section, I have put together some ideas for you about what Lagom can mean and how you can further advance your Lagom lifestyle.
Lagom Lifetyle: 10 Tips for More Lagom in Everyday Life
Have you acquired a taste for it and want to bring more Lagom into your life? Then here are 10 tips that you can use to bring your Lagom lifestyle forward and thus bring more balance into your life.
Of course, there are infinitely more ways to bring more lagom into your life. You know, what matters is what feels right and coherent to you – that's "your" lagom.
Therefore, simply use the tips and ideas as a suggestion and find your own Lagom lifestyle.
My Lagom tips for you:
- Lagom starts waking up
Make sure you get enough sleep – not too much and not too little. For most people, about 7-8 hours is a sleep duration that makes them feel good. - Start the day lagom
Take enough time in the morning before you drive to work. It's better to get up half an hour earlier, go to bed half an hour earlier in the evening and start the day relaxed instead of with stress and hectic. Lagom stands for relaxation and balance. A hectic start to the day just doesn't fit the Swedish lifestyle of the Lagom. - Keep your home clean – but not too clean
Bring more lagom into your own four walls: Not everything has to be perfect and a little dirt and grime is part of a life lived (dog owners know what I'm talking about...). - Set priorities
Think carefully about which tasks really matter and do them first – this way you avoid unnecessary pressure. - Say no sometimes!
You don't have to please everyone. Pay attention to your own wishes and set boundaries where necessary. Don't overdo it here either, sometimes you can say yes
. Here, too, happiness lies in the middle. - Breaks are part of it
Treat yourself to a little breather every now and then during the day - preferably outside in the fresh air! - Me-Time and We-Time
Enjoy time together with your friends, family and partner. But also make sure you have enough time for yourself. - Find a hobby
Find a hobby that you enjoy and that allows you to switch off. Take enough time for your hobby, but don't overdo it here either. - Make sure to live sustainably
Be mindful of the environment and try, for example, to reduce your plastic consumption, buy regional products and use foods that really deserve the name "food = means of life". - Go out into nature regularly
If you could only implement one of all the tips, then this tip would be my recommendation. "Not only trees grow in the forest, but also people," says nature coach Sandra Knümann. In the forest and in nature in general, we come back to our center and that's exactly what Lagom is all about – a life from the center. And if you live in the city, you can furnish your apartment lagom: Just bring more natural materials into your apartment. This is another way you can bring more balance into your life and "live lagom".
Result
Lagom means striving for a healthy balance in everything and not getting lost in the extremes. Lagom and the Lagom lifestyle play an important role in Sweden and have a great influence on almost all areas of life. Thus, the lagom – the Swedish formula for happiness – contributes to a balanced and relaxed life.
And you can feel that when you're out and about in Sweden:
When I was on vacation in Sweden a few years ago, I noticed how relaxed driving was there. Not only does a speed limit of 70 or 90 km/h apply on most country roads anyway, the Swedes are also very relaxed drivers overall.
I noticed this because Swedish drivers often didn't overtake me even when I chugged along the country road 20 km/h slower than allowed and there would have been more than enough space to overtake.
The fact that the Swedes are such relaxed drivers is perhaps also due to the Lagom lifestyle, which the Swedes have internalized so much that they simply do not let themselves be disturbed so quickly.
A little more lagom in life might also be a way for us to live more relaxed and stress-free.
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P.S: You think Sweden is a fascinating country and want to learn more about the country and the Swedes? On Visit Sweden – the official tourism site of Sweden – you can find a lot of information. Among other things, this very Worth reading article about Lagom and the Danish hygge, which is called "Mysig" in Sweden.