If you're the type who likes to plan things, you might find that your vacations become so planned that by the time you get back, you feel like you need a do-nothing vacation. Sound familiar? Maybe it's time to consider the Swedish tradition of “lagom.”
The word, pronounced “lagom,” means “not too much, not too little.” When applied to travel, it means striking the perfect balance between exercise, adventure, food, and relaxation.
Remember the coziness craze inspired by the Danish concept of “hygge”? Similarly, lagom has been practiced for generations but is now gaining momentum around the world. Lagom is an all-encompassing philosophy that applies to balancing all aspects of life, but it's perfect for traveling.
Helen Russell, journalist and author of The Atlas of Happiness: The World's Secrets of Happiness, says the word “lagom” comes from the Swedish word “lag,” or “team,” and that Swedish folklore suggests that “lagget om,” or “the whole team,” was a phrase used by Vikings when passing around a horn full of mead to ensure everyone got their fair share.
There's no exact science or recipe for lagom. It depends on each individual's balance. Laura Akinmade Åkerström, travel photographer and author of “Lagom: Sweden's Secrets of Healthy Living,” says to think of lagom as an internal scale that must always be kept in balance. Too much or too little of anything puts a strain on the scale.
“Lagom actually means finding the best (not the best) solutions to achieve balance and eliminate stress within your control,” she says. “As a personal philosophy, it's about helping you live a sustainable life that you can comfortably maintain.”
So lagom can range from something as simple as the “just right” amount of salt to put in your soup to holistic ideas like avoiding the bigger the better. Here are some practical ways to incorporate lagom into your travel plans.
I grew up in a maximalist Southern household, so every time I packed a suitcase, it ended with me sitting down and zipping it up because you never knew when you'd need a silk kaftan or a feather fascinator. But packing things you don't need is the antithesis of lagom. Clutter makes you anxious. Packing light (but smart), like your travel uniform, is better for lagom travel.
My husband once said I have a superhuman ability to turn a hotel room into a disaster in an instant, but by practicing Lagom, I now simply spend five minutes organizing my belongings and feel instantly at home in a new environment.
Akinmade-Åkerstrom says that when traveling, you should think about simple, practical and durable things, “from the gear you pack to last to the activities you do.”
In Sweden, “fika” is loosely defined as the practice of stopping and recharging your batteries, and while Swedes do this on a daily basis, the holidays are the perfect time to dip your toes into the concept.
“This social act often translates to taking multiple breaks throughout the day to socialize with friends, loved ones or coworkers over coffee and a pastry like a cinnamon roll,” Akinmade-Åkerström said.
“The unspoken reason we do fika is to ground ourselves and reconnect with ourselves.”
Fika is the replacement of pre-ordered Starbucks lattes with sitting and chatting over drinks in real mugs, and for solo travelers it's the perfect time for people-watching in a new environment.
In its simplest form, fika is about recharging your batteries, whether that means sitting down for 30 minutes to rest your tired feet or taking a refreshing nap before your next tour.
Leave room for spontaneity
I'll confess: I used to rely heavily on the “unfun Type A travel planner,” a spreadsheet that detailed my plans for each day of my vacation. For example:
6AM Everyone wake up! 6:30AM Hurry up and eat breakfast. Get it done quickly. 6:35AM Leave the hotel for an essential tour (don't be late!). Noon: Exhausted, but we've got restaurant reservations booked for lunch so no one cares! 3PM Hungry? No problem. We have a food tour coming up soon. 4PM Want to take a nap? Too bad it's museum time. 5PM Happy hour? What's that? No one is happy here.
Since then, I've pared my plan down to a skeleton version that includes the important details, some planning, and also some room for relaxation and spontaneity.
My husband and I have adopted a new acronym that fits perfectly with our lagom travel: “T-WOO” stands for “The world is our oyster” – in other words, no plan!
This approach has led to some amazing days, from motorbike rides around Laos to stumbling upon perfectly salted oysters next to a peat-fueled stove in Ireland to a last-minute decision to drive the Mississippi Blues Trail and discovering live music in a smoky juke joint.
Spreading Luxury
I can't count on my fingers the number of times I ate (and drank) too much during the holidays, and I wish I could go back in time and tell my 21-year-old self that “unlimited mimosas” doesn't mean you have to drink every single one.
Lagom is all about tasting: Swedes eat a diet rich in whole grains, lean proteins, vegetables and berries, but they also have a big sweet tooth (think cinnamon rolls, a popular part of fika).
It's fine to have rich desserts and sip beautifully crafted cocktails and mocktails, but do it in balance. For me, this means skipping the breakfast buffet and splurging on a multi-course dinner.
Exercise and rest
I've always envied the vacations of skiers who, after a day of smashing it down the slopes, relax with an après-ski hot toddy and a warm bath.
Lagom allows you to enjoy activities on your travels without hitting the hotel gym, which I think of as exercising locally: jogging along the ocean in San Juan, Puerto Rico, hiking in the forests of Switzerland, or biking in Amsterdam.
In addition to T-WOO, Russell suggests adopting the letters WWASD (What Would a Swede Do?), meaning make sure you don't try to do more than you can handle.
“For a Viking, Lagom-style holiday, think about WWASD – is your glass really half empty, or is it, in fact, just full,” Russell says.
Ann Roderick Jones is a travel writer who splits her time between New York and New Orleans. You can follow her on Instagram at @anniemarie_.
