Remember the craze for comfort inspired by the Danish concept of “hygge”» ? Likewise, lagom has been practiced for generations but is now gaining ground around the world. Lagom is a holistic mindset that works to balance all aspects of life, but it's ideal for travel.
Helen Russell, journalist and author of “The Atlas of Happiness: the global secrets to being happy“, says that the word “lagom” derives from the Swedish word “lag” or “team”, and that Swedish folklore suggests that “laget om” – or “around the team” – was an expression used by the Vikings to making sure everyone had their fair share when a horn full of mead was handed out.
There is no exact science or recipe for lagom; it varies depending on each person’s balance. Lola Akinmade Åkerström, travel photographer and author of the book « Lagom: the Swedish secret to living well“, says to think of lagom as an internal scale that must always remain in balance. Too much or too little of one element accentuates the balance.
“Lagom actually means the optimal (not the best) solution for maintaining balance and eliminating stress within your control,” she says. “As a personal ethic, it’s about helping you live a sustainable life that you can maintain comfortably.”
This means that lagom can be as simple as the “right” amount of salt in your soup or a holistic idea like avoiding eating bigger and better. Here are some practical ways to incorporate lagom into your travel plans.
I grew up in a Southern household devoted to maximalism, so every suitcase-packing session ended with a good sit-and-zip, because you never knew when you'd need a silk caftan and a feather fascinator. But packaging items you don't need are the antithesis of lagom. Clutter can make a person anxious. Pack light (but smart), like with a travel uniformbest suited for trips to Lagom.
My husband once told me that I had an uncanny knack for turning our hotel room into a disaster zone in seconds. But with the practice of lagom, I now spend five minutes organizing my belongings and instantly feel a sense of calm in a new environment.
Akinmade Åkerström explains that when traveling you have to think simple, practical and solid, “from the equipment you take, so that it lasts a long time, to the activities you do”.
In Sweden, “fika” is loosely defined as a practice of stopping and recharging. And although Swedes do it daily, the holidays are the perfect time to delve into the concept.
“This social act often results in pausing several times during the day to socialize with friends, relatives and colleagues over a cup of coffee and pastries like cinnamon rolls,” says Akinmade Åkerström.
“The unspoken reason we do fika is to refocus and reconnect with ourselves. »
Fika means trading your pre-ordered Starbucks latte for conversation over drinks in a real cup. For solo travelers, this is a great time to people-watch in a new environment.
In its simplest form, fika is about recharging, perhaps by sitting down for half an hour to rest your tired feet, or taking a power nap before your next tour.
Leave room for spontaneity
Confession: I relied heavily on my No-Fun-Type-A trip planning document, a spreadsheet that documented down-to-the-minute plans for each day of our vacation. A sample:
- 6am Wake up everyone!
- 6:30 Please put breakfast in your face and make it lively.
- 6:35 a.m. Departure from the hotel for an unmissable visit. (Do not be late !)
- Noon: Sold out, but that doesn't matter because we have some coveted restaurant lunch reservations!
- 3:00 p.m. Not hungry? No matter, we have a food tour available for you.
- 4:00 p.m. Do you want to take a nap? Too bad, it's museum time.
- 5 p.m. Happy hour? What is this? Nobody here is happy.
Since then, I have reduced my planning to a skeletal version that contains important details and a few plans but also a little room for relaxation or spontaneity.
My husband and I adopted a new acronym that fits lagom travel: T-WOO, for “The World is Our Oyster.” In other words, no plans!
This approach led to glorious days spent motorcycling through Laos, stumbling upon perfectly briny oysters by a peat-fired stove in Ireland, and making a last-minute decision to hike the Mississippi Blues Trail and to find live music in a smoky juke. joint.
Distribute the indulgences
I don't have enough fingers to count the number of times I ate too much (and drank too much) on vacation. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself, at 21, that “unlimited mimosas” doesn't mean you actually have to drink all the mimosas.
With lagom, the idea is to savor. Swedes eat a diet rich in whole grains, lean protein, vegetables, and berries, but they also have a penchant for sweets (like in these beloved fika cinnamon rolls).
So eat the rich dessert and drink the beautifully prepared cocktail or mocktail, but do it with a sense of balance. For me, that means putting the brakes on the breakfast buffet so I can splurge on the multi-course prix fixe dinner.
Exercise – but also rest
I've always envied a skier's vacation that includes a vigorous day hitting the slopes, then the reward of an after-ski hot toddy and a hot bath.
Lagom allows you to forgo the hotel gym and take advantage of your destination's offers. I like to see it as a way of making exercise local: jogging by the sea in San Juan, Porto Rico; a hike in a Swiss forest; a bike ride Amsterdam.
In addition to T-WOO, Russell suggests we adopt the letters WWASD: What Should a Swede Do? Bottom line: Be careful not to have your eyes glued to what you can chew.
“To vacation like a Viking, Lagom-style, think WWASD: Is your cup really half empty, or is there, in fact, just enough? » Russell said.
Anne Rodérique-Jones is a travel writer who divides her time between New York and New Orleans. You can follow her on Instagram: @anniemarie_.
