Balance Your Travels with the Swedish Art of Lagom
A vacation is a time to enjoy and relax — but we can often get caught up in the stress of planning, and worry too much about making the most of our time away.
But what if we took some travel advice from Sweden, one of the happiest countries in the world?
In Sweden, lagom ("LAAH-gohm") is a term that translates to "just the right amount," or "not too much, not too little." It's not just a word, but a way of living.
Lola Akinmade Akerstrom, writer of the book Lagom: The Swedish Secret of Living Well, says lagom can help you find a "happier, more balanced way of living." It can be used to think about the food you eat, the work you do — even the way you travel.
There's no right or wrong way to practice the art of lagom, and it can be different based on an individual's needs.
So practicing lagom in travel might mean being careful not to pack too much, or trying to eat a little less at your hotel's breakfast buffet so you can enjoy a nice big dinner later.
It can also mean worrying less about seeing everything your friends said you should see and doing everything the travel guide says you should do, and just taking the time to enjoy where you are.
It could even mean taking time out of your travels for a traditional Swedish fika — a coffee and snack break with friends, which you can do anywhere, with friends old and new!
But you should also think about balancing time spent with others with alone time for yourself, whether on vacation or at home.
Basically, there's nothing lagom can't be applied to. As people in Sweden say, "Lagom ar bast" — "Lagom is best"!
