Lagom, a Swedish word meaning just the right amount. It is also a life concept and descriptive of the Swedish psyche. The word has several similar meanings; enough, sufficient, adequate, just right, suitable. The Swedish proverb “Lagom är bäst” meaning “The right amount is best”, is a snapshot of the Swedish culture.
This concept embraces the “Less is more” approach and is counter to the hyper-consumerism that is prevalent in our culture today. A small but growing movement is embracing Lagom and reinventing their future. In Just Enough – Living Fuller by Living Simply, followers of minimalism and early retirement through financial independence are challenging the status quo and spear heading a paradigm shift in the American work model. Lagom is central to their theme.
Lagom is here. It is chronicled in books and Netflix. Social media is documenting this movement. They may not use the Swedish term for “just the right amount” but their personal journey is every bit lagom.
Books
In Present Over Perfect, Shauna Niequist chronicles her own journey from frantic and tired to a more simple and meaningful way of living.
“By using the Swedish lifestyle as an example, Niki Brantmark offers insightful suggestions and bite-sized actions to help you make subtle changes to your life, so you too can make time for the things that matter most and find greater happiness.”
Although mostly thought of as a personal finance concept, Total Money Makeover invites you to see your own over consumption of ‘stuff’ and ultimately your downward spiral into debt. The solution leads you to ‘Just enough’ and explains how you ‘Live like no one else so that later you can live like no one else’. This is the financial aspect of lagom for Americans.
Netflix
Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
Marie helps families let go of clutter and changes the way they feel about stuff along the journey.
Minimalism
A documentary about the important things.
How to Live Mortgage Free with Sarah Beeny
Sarah follows Brits on a mission to live unconventionally in order to escape the dreaded mortgage.
Tiny Shiny Home
Family of six living full time in a 1972 airstream.
Lagom Today
A snapshot of living a lagom lifestyle.
Farmhouse on Boone
Lisa and her family embrace the slow-ness of everyday living while re-storing an old farmhouse in Missouri.
Lagom is not a destination as much as it is a journey. Every path to lagom is different. Do you want to live a lagom lifestyle? What does that look like for you?
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