WHAT IS LAGOM?
Lagom is the Swedish concept of "Not too little, not too much: just the right amount" that invites us to embrace a lifestyle based on moderation, sustainability and aiming to achieve balance in our daily life. I think it ties in beautifully with the idea of soft living where we engage in healthy routines, hobbies, and personal interests.So much of my retired life now centres around finding ways to feel balanced, rested, and unhurried, and I find I've been unintentionally adding Lagom into my choices. Today I'm sharing a few ideas on how that's come about...
HOW TO INCLUDE LAGOM INTO YOUR LIFE
Lagom slides into so many aspects of our life if we pause for a moment and intentionally look at how we calibrate our days. Here's some of the ways I've been slowly cultivating Lagom (with a few links to posts I've written previously if you're interested in diving a bit deeper).
BALANCE
Keeping my body, mind and spirit in balance by focusing my time and energy on what matters, while managing the essential aspects such as food, sleep, basic exercise, and a manageable social life. Finding that sweet spot where there's time for all that's needed and being able to end the day feeling unstressed and content.REST
Listening to my body and taking breaks when they're needed. The Swedes also have a word "Fika" that's about taking time during the day to slow down and appreciate all that we have, to pause because it refreshes the brain and strengthens our capacity for when we need to do more.
SLOW LIVING
Choosing to approach my day with an unhurried and calm focus. Managing my calendar to include space for breathing and not rushing through, and leaving space for creativity and mindfulness. I'm a big fan of a regular Do Nothing Day to give my mind and spirit space to do whatever feels enjoyable in that moment - no pressure, just quiet enjoyment.
MODERATION
Being intentional in my eating and drinking that includes fresh and seasonal produce, plenty of water, and choosing to not be regularly over indulging or going hungry.
It also includes moderating my online presence by detoxing and curating my online digital diet to avoid spiralling down into unhealthy algorithms and social media traps.
HEALTHY FRIENDSHIPS
Putting my emotional energy into relationships that foster loyalty, kindness, and respecting each other's space. Choosing the people in my social circle who fill my cup and don't drain me dry. Building into my family and friends - creating deep and lasting connections that nurture all parties.
SUSTAINABILITY
Finding that sweet spot that's all about less consumption, restrained buying, less stuff - choosing minimalism in my home and wardrobe. Buying less fast fashion, creating less landfill, shopping secondhand, recycling and repurposing - so good for the environment and for my own eco footprint.
THE BENEFITS OF LAGOM IN RETIREMENT
I think contentment and mindfulness are the key outcomes from choosing Lagom and an unhurried life. It's all about finding a deep sense of peace, fulfilment, and quiet happiness by living with moderation rather than constantly striving after more. I like the idea of moderation being an awareness of our needs and limits - choosing to rest when we're tired, to eat until we're comfortably full, to shop for what we need without over-spending, and focusing on deeper connections with fewer people.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Have you unintentionally included Lagom into your life? Have the Swedes figured out the perfect balance for living life well with Lagom and Fika? Any tips on how you're keeping life balanced in retirement?
RELATED POSTS
BEFORE YOU GO:
If you'd like to know when I write a new post, please click HERE for email updates.
If you'd like to comment but not here on the blog, feel free to email me at
leanne.crestingthehill@gmail.com - I'd love to hear from you.
And please share this post by clicking on a share button before you go.
I could be really cheeky and say that Lagom is also the title of one of my (current) fave cookbooks... actually, wait, I just did say that. But yes, it's all about that concept but in a cookbook.
ReplyDeleteHi Jo - it actually sounds like the kind of cooking I could get on board with - simple, uncomplicated, and not overly fussy I'm assuming :)
DeleteHi Leanne. After 65 years, I feel like I'm figuring out what feels right to me. It's such a blessing to be able to make my own choices, and not worry about what other people think. Christina Daggett
ReplyDeleteHi Christina - I just love the idea of life not being a competition - and that we can have and do what feels right for us (not necessarily what others might choose to be doing). A little of everything I love seems to be my mantra these days. x
DeleteHi Leanne - I learned two new concept -- Lagom and Fika -- today. Thank you for introducing them through your blog post. I don't think there are equivalents in English.
ReplyDeleteI think I have already incorporated them in my life, if not fully. But in good measure. They have their benefits and they are important for our overall well-being.
Hi Pradeep - it's interesting how different cultures have different words for things that we use full sentences for. I loved the idea of giving ourselves the grace to figure out what "enough" looks like to us and to go ahead and live that out, balanced with healthy rest and relationships - it sounds pretty perfect to me :)
DeleteLike Goldilocks, finding that which is just right. I often say I'm a one-trick pony which translates into doing at least one thing that needs doing each day & one thing that wants doing. Time is not overscheduled leaving space for whatever comes up. The Swedes come up with some of the best words - hygge, lagom, fika - all resonate with me.
ReplyDeleteHi Mona - I wonder if the people in really cold countries need to figure out ways to work around the seasons and to not get frustrated when things slow down? I feel like life is seasonal and as it slows a little for me, there are ways to do it well without feeling like it's passing me by. I like your one-trick idea too. :)
DeleteHi Leanne,
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous word! (I’d not heard of it beforeI). I also hadn’t heard of Fika, another fabulous word. I really like them both and I love the way you've described how you’ve incorporated Lagom into your life. You’ve given me a lot to think about. I especially like the idea of noticing where I am already including Lagom in my life and considering areas where I could be more intentional about it.
Hi Sue - I really liked that it's a positive approach to taking the second half of life a little more slowly and gently, that it doesn't have to be go, go, go and a race to beat everyone else. I'm very focused on living well - but at a more gentle pace these days, and discovering that there's actual words for this makes me really happy. :)
DeleteHi Leanne - I agree wholeheartedly with everything you wrote but I am a far cry from achieving Lagom and Fika as I received distressing news about my health. My life is turn upside down at the moment. Earlier I was able to carve some time for going out for coffee and walks but now I am overwhelmed with things that can no longer wait. The gray and dreary days of Fall and Winter fast approaching are not helping. I was able to cope better in the Summer. One avenue where I have made a lot of progress is shopping for clothes. I have reduce my shopping immensely and it's so freeing. Thanks for your post. A small pleasant break in the morning.
ReplyDeleteYvonne I'm so sorry to hear that you've had such a big setback. I hope the doctors can get you back on track once they have things nailed down. It must be so frustrating to be making forward progress and then be hit by another setback. Good on you for taking steps to declutter and to be more intentional in your purchasing (something I feel very invested in - I really hate the waste we generate from impulse buying). Try to look at Autumn as a time to snuggle down and wrap yourself up warmly - choose to be cosy and maybe wear something colourful each day to be a bright spot in the grey.xx
DeleteI forgot to mention that I also did let go of some people who drained me (takers) as they were not invested in my well-being. All my life, I gave with nothing in return and now I am paying the price. I wish I learned about boundaries early in life as my religious upbringing taught me to give to others and forget about yourself as that was seen as selfish.
ReplyDeleteHi again - and yes, I think a lot of us were taught to give and give and never expect anything back. I have many "friendships" from my younger days that I've quietly drifted away from when I realized I was the one putting in the effort and doing the chasing. If its not reciprocated these days, I'm just not interested. The energy we put out needs to be topped back up again - a back and forward flow - not a one way stream.
DeleteLook after yourself and I hope you still have a small community to invest into and to be supported by (something that's floating around in my head for a future blog post...)
Leanne - New word to me. It reminds me of Goldilocks. Not too hard, not too soft; not too hot, not too cold. I like the idea of leaving space in the calendar for not rushing through, for creativity. It reminded me of a friend (one I don't connect often with) who will always say after an hour of time connecting - whether over wine or on the phone - "our time is up." Not that we've talked all we needed to talk, but the time allotted for this was over. I like conversations that go on for hours, ones that we look at our watches and go, oh gosh, I really do need to get going. I'm going to continue to leave space as often as I can - and now I have a word for it!
ReplyDeleteHi Pat - I like your kind of conversations too. I find some catch-ups are shorter, but when I look at my watch and realize 2 hours have slipped by, I count that as a really good friendship. And yes, allowing positive space in amongst the stress and striving brings back a little balance and some refreshment. We can't run on an empty tank - pushing through and never pausing is a recipe for burnout so look after yourself and keep lagom in mine over the weeks ahead. x
DeleteAs a Swede, I've always seen the word Lagom as something negative - as in not standing out, being bland, boring, uninteresting etc, but I can totally see how it can be used in a more positive context to create a balance and a slower lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteHi Susanne - I wondered if it was a word that was actually used by the Swedes, or one that was dragged out of antiquity. I'm glad I could give it a fresh perspective, because I'm a big fan of finding balance - not boring or bland, just quiet calm and centeredness. :)
DeleteI love this concept, Leanne. I believe it is something we adopt more with the wisdom of aging. I recently heard an actress (I think it was Jennifer Aniston) say how she is much more gentle, softer on her body with fitness/exercising (I am paraphrasing). I love your succinct and relatable descriptions. I had a lightbulb moment this morning, I try to describe and share my life and priorities to my husband (I still have a roller coaster of a todo list and emotions re recent events) He is wonderful yet not aware about many priorities. He only sees the tip of the iceberg - ‘I am engaging in a triage process at the moment’ - I always enjoy reading your gems, Leanne. xx Erica
ReplyDeleteHi Erica - I hope things are okay with you as you navigate this phase of life - it can be so hard when the family dynamic shifts and we have to find our new normal. I too am finding that I'm being kinder to myself and expecting less from myself than I did in my younger days. Life is short and I don't want it to be about "stuff" - I want it to be about living well and leaving a legacy of kindness and love - and that takes all my energy!
DeleteHi Leanne, I have heard of Lagom but I confess that after a year of being happily retired I don’t really feel I have worked out a balanced lifestyle yet. There always seems to be something to do that takes me away from having time to work out that balance. I’m hoping it’s not just me and it takes time to adjust schedules. We have had a lot of house updates going on this year, so hopefully now things can calm down. We also have a holiday to look forward to next month, can’t wait! Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteHi Chrissie - I think it took me a few years to adjust to the rhythm of retirement without feeling like I was too busy or too unbusy. We also did some home reno since we retired and that was quite wearying for me - I don't like strangers in my space! Once you get used to the slower pace and allow yourself to be okay with that, life becomes very pleasant indeed. I can't imagine having to go to work now - nothing would tempt me away from this lovely life I get to lead now I'm retired. It's 'enough' - it's 'lagom'. :)
DeleteI had not heard of Lagom or Fika, but I like the concepts. It seems the Swedes have the good life pretty well figured out. I am loving retirement for the freedom it gives me to experiment with different levels of activity, consumption, introspection, social life...all the things. I will say it would have been nice if I had tried some of these things earlier in my career and child-rearing phase. The earlier the better for these types of lessons.
ReplyDeleteHi Christie - I think I was so busy juggling all the responsibilities of career and child-rearing to even imagine what balance would look like - or that it was even possible! I love that retirement has been the gift that keeps on giving in that area - and I'm grateful for it every single day. Lagom suits me to a tee - maybe I was Swedish in another life :D
DeleteHi Leanne, bit late to your post! If there's anything I'm learning in this time of my life recovering from burnout Is that I'm now in control of what I do. I am far more intentional these days about where to spend my time & energy. Both B & I are now finding in our mid 70s that we need rest times & doing times and far less external pressures. We are finding too that we are enjoying each other's company & a more easeful lifestyle. Thanks for sharing your research too! Denyse x
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse - it all comes back to balance - and that balance shifts with each new decade, and also with our personality types and our general resilience. I love that this season of life allows me to set the tone and to prioritise my time and energy into areas that are more nourishing for my soul. Rest, less pressure, and being kind to ourselves ticks a lot of boxes for me too. x
Delete