I embraced Hygge, well I do that every winter anyway and let’s face it, most of the summer. I’m often found on my sofa in slippers with a blanket. There is, however, a new Swedish philosophy we can get behind – Lagom. Plus, I still get to wear my slippers, so it’s a win-win all round, and I may even learn to relax a little. I’ll explain all. I’m taking part in a campaign with Contact Numbers UK, called #LagomLifestyle, which encourages people to examine their life to make those small changes to redress the balance.
What is Lagom?
Lagom (pronounced La like far and gom like Tom) means ‘just the right amount’. It’s an idea that we can strike a healthy balance with the world around us without having to make extreme changes, and without denying ourselves anything. It’s a simpler, more relaxed way of living, making small changes. It’s also about things being sufficient, being happy with what we have and our world around us, living in moderation. This is something many people struggle with, as we’re by nature as humans always aspiring to the next level, always wanting more. I personally feel like this a lot, but more recently I’ve been trying to accept my lot, which is not bad at all by any standards, and really appreciate my home for what it is, making small changes if necessary. Make changes that are small, achievable and sustainable. Whilst Hygge is more of a moment in time, Lagom is more a way of living, a lifestyle of balance, frugality and sustainability. I’m not suggesting we go live in a log cabin and self sustain ourselves, like any trend you can take what works for you. Even Swedish furniture giant IKEA is in on the action, they are embracing Lagom with their Live Lagom campaign.
How to incorporate Lagom into your life
Yes, it may be the new buzzword, but there are ways you can realistically incorporate it into your life, and here are some of the ideas of how I’m going to use it to benefit me and my family.
Health and Fitness
- Be more active and join a fitness class or activity that will suit you
- Eat until full and then stop
- Use mindfulness when eating to appreciate each mouthful
- Reduce refined sugar
- Don’t deny your favourite food and drinks, but have them in moderation
Home
- Attempt achievable projects that will really make a difference, like improving storage or repainting
- Do small decorative and craft projects that give you pleasure to do and can be used around the home
- Use space wisely
- Change the layout of a room
- Encourage the children to look after their own spaces and toys, as they won’t be replaced so easily
- Look at the furniture you have and decide what’s really necessary
- When buying new furniture, look at sustainability and provenance
- Use food in the cupboards and freezer before going shopping
- Meal plan
Self Care
- Take real time off, even if it’s just a couple of hours in the day
- Treat yourself once a month to something just for you, be it a meal, an item of clothing, a film, or just some time out
- Don’t force yourself to do anything, just because it’s expected of you
- Don’t feel like you have to agree with the majority
- Prioritise rest
Waste and Eco Living
- Offer less food to the children to reduce food waste
- Save and freeze leftovers
- Grow and use your own food, be that herbs or full on vegetable patch
- Replace bulbs that aren’t LED
- Turn off appliances at night
- Consider food miles when buying food
- Look at labels from clothes to check sustainability – It’s better to have some key basics than lots of fast fashion
Work/Life Balance
- Stay off the phone and devices when possible
- Set realistic goals
- Be present with the children more doing simple activities
- Do activities that cost less and are more enriching
- Make some time for your hobbies or things that give you pleasure
- Make time to reconnect with your partner and friends
- Be as productive as possible whilst working so that you feel you’ve achieved something
None of these ideas and concepts are new, and I know I won’t be able to do them all, nor will I put pressure on myself to do that (see I’m getting it already). As a whole, Lagom is meant to make you think about addressing the balance in your life and being more content. If you’re constantly thinking that you won’t be happy until, for example; I get a good night’s sleep, I have more money, a bigger house, a different job, more time to myself, a child; whatever it is, you might be denying yourself happiness. Contentment and happiness are more of a fleeting emotion experienced in bursts anyway, it’s often not a continuous feeling, that’s just not achievable. If you can examine different areas of your life and look at the amount of contentment in each part, you can adjust what’s in imbalance. Find the happiness and balance in your everyday and enhance it where possible. C’est la vie.
What do you do to live the #LagomLifestyle? Tweet me on Twitter or mention me on Facebook using the hashtag #LagomLifestyle to tell me how you’re living a simpler, fuss free life.
Disclosure: this post is a collaboration with Contact Numbers UK. All opinions are my own.
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