The word Lagom (lah-gom) is Swedish and doesn’t translate appropriately to English but can be summed up as “not too little, not too much, just right.” It can take on several meanings depending on the context with both positive and negative connotations.
Like Goldilocks and the Three Little Bears taught us you want things to be just right. Not too hot, not too cold. Not swinging the pendulum one way or another but staying centred and grounded.
Maybe you overindulge too often or live with a scarcity mindset and feel there’s never enough to go around. When did you last feel content? When was the last time you felt you had everything you needed and were satisfied at the moment?
Our hustle and capitalistic culture has seared into our minds that we need more and more and it’s never enough. Once you finally get that higher-paying job your lifestyle and expenses soar to keep up with your new expectations. People are often more concerned with “appearing” well-off than actually being well-off.
Perhaps North America and other parts of the world were sold a lie that the Swedes never bought into. Sweden consistently ranks in the top 10 for the world’s happiest countries. Could lagom be the factor that created more unity, harmony, and happiness amongst its people?
How can you incorporate Lagom into your life and review your version of what is “just right” for you? Today we’ll go over 7 ways you can find more balance to achieve lagom in your life.
Origins-
In Sweden, Lagom is that in-between stage of just enough. lagom är bäst means ‘enough is as good as a feast’. The concept is believed to have been coined during the Viking era when the people would take just enough food and drink so that everyone had their fair share.
Lagom also takes on the interpretation of holding restraint in one’s interactions. Let your good work speak for itself instead of boasting about your accomplishments. Don’t be too loud or boisterous or take up more space than others.
This might be an uncomfortable experience for someone naturally expressive or flamboyant.
Lagom walks a fine line with its cynical Swedish cousin Jante. Jante reminds the Swedes that they aren’t any more special than anyone else, nor should they strive for accomplishments to overshine their counterparts. This blending can be negative for those looking for a little extra out of life and wanting to reach the top.
Wealth Disparity-
Interestingly enough from 2008 until 2024, pluto in Capricorn saw a surge in curiosity and interest in the lives of the rich and famous. Boss babes and businessmen and women becoming billionaires was looked at as an accomplishment and something to be celebrated.
Extravagant displays of wealth displayed by celebrities and the 1% had private plane usage as casual as hailing a taxi cab.
What was once looked at with fascination and awe has now transformed into disgust. Showing off your riches can be viewed as tone-def during a time when many struggle to pay rent and put food on the table. With an extreme and insane widening of the gap between the extremely wealthy and everybody else, maybe our world could use a more Lagom approach to how we split pieces of the pie.
1. Declutter-
Swedes and Nordic cultures have a scaled-back approach when it comes to their living quarters. Everything is functional and minimal. The people of Sweden know that over-consumption and filling your space with unnecessary clutter take up not only your physical space but also your mental space.
If something doesn’t serve a purpose or bring you a spark of joy it would be best served elsewhere. Do a deep purging of your belongings from clothes, books, shoes, beauty products, etc.
Make a keep, donate/sell, and garbage pile. There are no maybe piles allowed in this process. If something is a maybe it’s not important enough to keep. This is a good practice in detaching from material items that sometimes hold more power over us than they should.
2. Conscious Consumption-
Brands and marketers do a great job of digging into your psyche and making you want whatever they’re selling. We’ve been trained to always want more. Our appetite for consumer goods is never satisfied.
Maybe there are some brands that you love supporting or certain products you enjoy purchasing. There’s nothing wrong with buying things that make you happy, the key is to become more conscious.
Before logging in your credit card info online when things are sitting in your shopping cart, wait on it for a week or two. If it’s still on your mind after then, you’ll probably use it and enjoy it. If you forget about it then that’s a sign it wouldn’t have made much of an impact in your life.
When purchasing clothing aim to create a capsule wardrobe. Ditch the fast fashion and the ever-revolving trends and focus on stocking the bulk of your wardrobe with higher quality pieces that will last and be stylish for years.
3. Money & Happiness-
We were told a lie that the more money and success you acquire in life the happier you’ll be. While your basic needs such as shelter, food, maybe a yearly vacation, and a little extra disposable income will make you happier than someone struggling to survive, once you reach that comfort level, your happiness levels no longer correlate.
Surrounding yourself with loving and supportive people, having a purpose, and enjoying the little things in life are far more likely to bring you happiness than a certain dollar amount in your bank account.
4. Listen More Talk Less-
At least in North America, most of us listen to others not to really listen but to think of what we’re going to say next. We interrupt, we talk over others, and don’t absorb much of what the other person is saying.
Sure, a passionate and fiery debate can be fun and necessary in certain situations but how can we become better active listeners? Swedes have a reputation for being cold, quiet, and distant but to Swedish locals, this is a way of showing respect. They have a higher level of self-awareness. They might not be over the top in their interactions but they let everyone have their chance to speak without interruption.
5. Work/Life Balance-
A positive aspect of Lagom is striving for a healthy work/life balance. Hustle culture in many parts of the world makes us feel like if we’re not working 24/7 then we’re lazy and useless and should be making better use of our time.
While there are some periods of life and certain circumstances where working a lot is necessary; like building a business from the ground up or providing for your family, the high taxes of Sweden allow for its citizens’ basic needs on average to be met more than other developed countries. This allows Swedes to have a healthier work/life balance that permits spare time to enjoy life and foster personal relationships.
6. Fika-
Fika is a Swedish ritual of taking a coffee break accompanied by some sort of sweet treat. This doesn’t necessarily mean a $9 fancy latte from the coffee shop around the corner but a simple coffee in your favourite mug. Fika is a time to chat with friends or coworkers and take a moment of pause to recharge and regroup. While simple, a culture that allows and reveres taking frequent breaks helps to foster that work/life balance.
7. Tech Detox-
Social media apps like Instagram can cause unhealthy comparisons especially if you’re not in the best place mentally. Feeds show luxury cars, designer goods, McMansions, and extravagant vacations.
Unfortunately, seeing this more than we ever have before leads to a keeping-up-with-the-Joneses mentality that spans way past your local neighbourhood and extends throughout the globe.
Aim to do social media detoxes from time to time so you don’t get too caught up in what other people are doing and can focus on yourself. The principles of lagom would view this as tasteless to be flashy and overly extravagant online.
Conclusion-
While complete balance might be impossible how can you bring more balance into your life? Having enough belongings like clothes and furniture without having too many. Spending money on the things you love while saving in other areas you don’t care much for. Working enough to get things done but not working too much to the point of burnout. Review the areas in your life to find out where things are too much or too little.
The Swedish concept of lagom aims to find that delicate balance where many countries have it completely tipped on one side of the scale or the other. To incorporate lagom into your life declutter your space so that you only have what you need and love. Consume consciously and remember that more money and material items don’t generate more happiness.
Practice active listening to absorb what the people you are speaking with are saying. Strive to have a better work/life balance, take breaks aka fika more often, and ditch your phone from time to time to lessen the time you spend comparing yourself to others.
Hopefully, these ideas will help you to incorporate lagom into your life.
