7 Ways to ‘Live Lagom’
Lagom is a Swedish word meaning ‘just the right amount’ and comes from the proverb ‘Lagom är bäst’, meaning ‘Just the right amount is best’. Lagom can be worked into every aspect of your life, such as being more mindful of the amount of non-sustainable resources that you use or creating a work/life balance that’s right for you. In essence it’s about living and enjoying a simpler life so that you focus on what’s really important.
To celebrate the publication day of The Little Book of Lagom: How to Balance Your Life the Swedish Way by Jonny Jackson and Elias Larsen, we’ve extracted seven easy tips to get you started on the path to a simpler, more balanced and happier life.
Grow your own:
Salad leaves and herbs can be grown in the kitchen (away from direct sunlight), ensuring fresh leaves all your round. Think of how much you spend on salad throughout the year, maybe £2 per week – that’s a saving of over £100! Homegrown tastes best too and reduces your carbon footprint in terms of consumables.
A tip to help you declutter your clothes:
Here’s a great tip to find out which items are not being worn in your wardrobe. Hang your clothes with the hangers all pointing to the right. Then every time you return an item to your wardrobe after wearing it, make sure the hanger is pointing to the left. After a few months you will have a clear picture of what you do and don’t wear, which will make your decluttering task that bit easier.
Don’t add to your clutter:
Have a rule that if you buy something you must get rid of something, so you’re never adding to your amount of belongings.
A tip to help reduce food waste:
Plan your meals for the week and be aware of the amount of food you are purchasing – it might seem tedious, but planning for the week and only buying what you need for all of your meals will avoid waste. Be sure to buy products that will remain in date for when you plan to cook them.
Get organised:
Pick a quiet time at the weekend to go through your work commitments, family activities, etc. for the week ahead so you know what’s coming up. Don’t get caught out when your child has been invited to a fancy dress party and they’re the only one in plain clothes!
Reduce paper use:
We all receive a lot of post, but how much of it do we really need? There are simple ways to reduce paper post, such as paying bills online, subscribing to online bank statements and unsubscribing from catalogues. Access books and magazines at a library – the best part is it’s free!
Reduce, reuse and upcycle by making a rag rug:
Making a rag rug is a wonderful way of using up old fabric, such as towels, sheets and clothing. T-shirts and towels make the softest rag rugs, but there is something special about using old clothes worn by you and/or family members that perhaps no longer fit or are beyond repair: you’re literally weaving memories into the rug, which you can be reminded of every time you use it. It also serves as a stylish way to reduce draughts on bare floorboards.
For many more thrifty tips, delicious recipes and practical ways to achieve a balanced life, get yourself a copy of The Little Book of Lagom, out now!