You will have very little interest in interior design or decor if you have never heard the word ‘hygge’. It is a Scandinavian way of life that is all about coziness and warmth in your home and your general living space. Hygge is all the rage particularly around winter time. However, there are other Scandinavian traditions that you might find appealing. The lagom lifestyle is one of them. Lagom living might be right up your street.
What is a lagom lifestyle?
In loose terms, ‘lagom’ means not too much and not too little. It means just the right amount or balanced. It is a word that is used to describe the Swedish way of living. It may be viewed as a cultural construct that is used to maintain a sense of equality in society.
The idea originates from Viking times. One drink would be shared around a group of people at a table and there was some confusion as to exactly how much each person could sip. Each person had to sip just enough to ensure that others had some too and also not too little as they themselves had to enjoy the drink too.
There are some who might not view lagom living as so positive of a concept because it does try to prevent people from doing too much of what they might believe to be economically beneficial to them as well. It means that there is less competition to be successful and some people crave that drive.
For example, it is not lagom living to be too wealthy or to shop too much. Lagom allows for you to be your individual self but not for you to think you are more special than others.
Some people believe that this is exactly how society should be in order for everyone to thrive.
How exactly do you achieve this perfect balance of a lifestyle?
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10 Simplest Ways to live a lagom lifestyle
- Save energy. Become conscious of how much energy you use in your home and just how much of that energy is being wasted.
- Save water. There are simple measures you can take at home. For example, do not keep the water running while you brush your teeth. You can also use a timer in the shower to make sure you are not running the water for too long.
- Reduce screen time. Practicing lagom living means you cannot have too much time in front of the tv, phone or computer. Deliberately organize activities outside the home to force yourselves to spend less time at home and in front of a screen. You can also allocate screen time specific times of the day or week only.
- Recycle. Even if there is not much attention paid to recycling in your community, city or country at the government level, you can do your part for the planet by making the effort to re-use items when you can. You can also speak to others about re-using items and how they can best reduce their waste by reusing things.
- No unnecessary purchases. Do not buy things you do not need or are not sure that you want.
- Quality over quantity. Always shop with quality in mind rather than quantity. This will ensure that you acquire useful items that will serve you.
- Refuse gifts. If you know you cannot use or do not need a gift you are being offered, and are also sure you will not be offending the giver, do not take it.
- Re-gift. To the giver or to anyone else as long as you are certain that it will be useful to them.
- Utilize natural resources. Drying your clothes in the sun (if you have any!) rather than in a clothes dryer. Growing your own tomatoes instead of buying them. Using our God-given resources feels amazing.
- Purge frequently. Get rid of things that you do not need by passing them on to others who need them. Go through your things often so that you do not end up stockpiling unwanted and unused things.
Those are some of the practical steps you can take to live a lagom lifestyle.
Of course, while lagom living is the Swedish way of life, it does not mean that every single Swede lives this way. Some might do away with the concept altogether and live their most extravagant and extreme lives. Lagom living is not everyone’s cup of tea.
However, people who decide to take on the lagom concept can very easily start by applying it to their home set up.
What is a lagom home?
Lagum encourages putting things in your home that are functional and do not take up too much space.
READ: 5 Amazing Home Designs to Prepare for a New Baby
A home designed and decorated with lagum in mind is great for a family because it encourages creativity. There is not too much clutter and this frees up the brain space for us to think more clearly.
Aim to utilise the space you have in your home without overcrowding it. For example, you could use hanging or floating shelves instead of installing an entire cabinet.
Are you familiar with the lagom concept? Are you using it as a family?
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1 Comment
I did not know that my lifestyle was called lagom. Thanks!