Published · June 18, 2024, 07:50 a.m.
We all want to be happy and if there is someone in this world who achieves it,
those are the scandinavians. That is why it is not surprising that we look at them to discover how they achieve it, thus analyzing different philosophies such as the Koselig method or the Lykke.
Is not easy.
Happiness is a subjective and intermittent state. What makes you happy may not be enough for your neighbor and you are never going to be happy 24/7. Being happy is made up of moments of joy, satisfaction and well-being that are greater than those of frustration or sadness.
On the other hand, according to certain studies, half of happiness is determined by genes, 10% can be attributed to different life circumstances and
the remaining 40% depends on us. And that is where we can put the Swedish philosophy of Lagom into practice.
What is Lagom and how can it help you find well-being
According to Lola Akinmade Åkerström, a writer and photographer based in Stockholm, «
Lagom actually means the best solution, not the perfect one, in any context to create balance. I would dare say that it is the root of the Swedish mentality.
It is a difficult concept to translate. It can mean appropriate in the social sphere, moderation in food, less is more in decoration, mindfulness in well-being, logic in business…
This philosophy allows people to enjoy themselves, but stay healthy and happy.
«Think of lagom as
an imaginary scale that always needs to be balanced. Too little stresses the scale, too much stresses the scale, so a lagom mentality tries to eliminate stress to always keep that scale balanced. “Sustainable habits that can be maintained daily are the key to maintaining that balance,” explains Akinmade Åkerström in his article for the BBC.
Lagom removes stress and brings you closer to happiness. /
Photo by Sebastian Voortman on Pexels.
In short, a Lagom mentality means
be moderate both in your personality and in the way you express your opinions. Swedes, as a general rule, hate arguments but that does not mean they do not express their opinions, but rather they do so in a calm and moderate manner.
According to expert Akinmade Åkerström,
It involves making at all times the decision that is best for you or for the group in which you are., as well as being moderate in personality, opinions and avoiding disagreement. It tries to de-stress us, and any activity or situation that causes stress is considered its antithesis, so it involves facing it with small circumstances that help us relieve ourselves.
How Lagom is applied on a daily basis
The Lagom maxim is to do everything appropriately so it can be applied to different everyday situations. For example, instead of working too hard, you should
take regular breaks in your work day. In Sweden, fika is very common, which is taking a break with a coffee and a sweet with your colleagues and is usually done twice a day.
Lagom can also be applied at home
getting rid of everything that is not functional or has a strong emotional value. In this way, a cozy home is created with objects that only bring you well-being or happiness by getting rid of unnecessary things.
Similarly, Lagom can be applied to our way of eating. This is how they encourage
sustainable, ethical and local consumption, with fresh and seasonal products but also worrying about not throwing away food, reusing leftovers to create new recipes, like pyttipanna.
And this philosophy can also be used in the use of money,
avoiding incurring useless expenses. Thus, it encourages you to invest more money in something good and durable than in something cheaper but of poorer quality that will mean that you will have to spend money again immediately to replace it.
«I think the beautiful thing about this lifestyle is that we can
choose the best parts to apply and mix them with our own cultures. For example, in my own life, I have become a better listener by talking less and sharing only relevant information,” Åkerström tells the BBC.
