Move over hygge: it’s time for Lagom

So it seems like we have just managed to embrace Hygge, and then another Scandinavian concept comes along: Lagom. Lagom is a Swedish word which roughly translates as ‘just enough, sufficient, in moderation’.

It’s no wonder it has become yet another wellness and life concept people are keen to embrace, when it’s all about a state of balance, sustainability and frugality. Whereas Hygge is more about moments in your day, Lagom is described as an overarching way of living your life. So rather than adding Lagom into your day like a Hygge cup of coffee, Lagom is a whole life approach and philosophy.

So how can you start practicing Lagom in your life for greater balance and wellbeing? Here are a few tips.

1. Balanced eating

At its very essence, Lagom is an anti all-or-nothing mindset. Rather eat in moderation: not too much, not too little. Even just thinking about Lagom as a prompt when you’re eating or planning your meals could help create more balance there. To us however, balanced eating totally includes eating lots of cake every now and then.

2. Reduce food and energy waste

Sustainability is, as it is to us, a big theme of Lagom. Planning your meals, storing food correctly, boiling just the right amount of water in the kettle, turning off lights, etc, can all help. So do that to lagom the shit out of your life.

3. Cut out the crap

We love the element of minimalism that comes across as part of Lagom. We’re not saying you should go totally minimalist in your own home, but it’s a reminder how you can get rid of unneeded clutter, declutter on a bigger scale, and keep your home tidier.

4. Look at your work/life balance

Whether you work a 9-5 in an office or do night shifts, it’s important to think about how many hours you’re working. Also, whether or not you feel you have your work/life balance right, is definitely a Lagom concept worth considering.

Apparently in Sweden some people think Lagom is rather boring – and we can see why. Sometimes moderation is just not going to cut it! However, we feel if we take the right elements of the meaning behind it, just like Hygge, we can become more intentional around creating that balance and sustainability in our life when it serves us. And that’s a wonderful thing.

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