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The Scandinavian World View We All Need Now
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The Scandinavian way of life, which takes a slower, more moderate approach, holds great lessons for all of us, especially these days.
April 08 2020 11:05 PM EST
November 17 2022 8:42 PM EST
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The Scandinavian way of life, which takes a slower, more moderate approach, holds great lessons for all of us, especially these days.
Scandinavian countries like Denmark and Sweden have long cultural traditions that value the little things in life or help you simplify, downsize, or fight FOMO. Since so many of us are feeling forced into a pared down version of life right now, we need these ideas more than ever.
Danes are fiercely proud of hygge, a philosophy which loosely translates as taking comfort and intrinsic rejuvenation from the simple things around us. Sweden’s relaxing national mind-set, lagom, is, for lack of a better analogy, Goldilocks’s mantra of not too much, not too little, but just right.
The differences between the hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”) and lagom (“law-gum”) may seem subtle but are fairly significant. The Danish hygge is appreciating the world around us to experience a more personally rewarding life, but Swedish lagom seeks the same goal through moderation in everything from meal preparation to social planning.
There are, of course, misconceptions about both. Hygge does not mean settling for what one has but instead designing our homes, physical environments, and lives so they can be sources of comfort and validation. Lagom is often confused with base minimalism rather than the elimination of unnecessary clutter to better appreciate the act of living itself. Both philosophies have escaped their original countries and are impacting everything from fashion and home decor to cooking and cocktail parties. These books will help you understand and embrace these and similar concepts in your own life:
The Hygge Life by Gunnar Karl Gìslason and Jody Eddy is a food and lifestyle book extolling the benefits of Danish comfort food and practices. With chapters such as “Caring for Yourself” and “Easy Gatherings and Holidays,” it provides brief explanations of various hygge concepts followed by recipes (spicy baked cod) and other helpful tips (packing for a flight). Hygge Life has slower-paced solutions sure to help you better appreciate the little things. (Ten Speed Press)
The Little Book of Fika: The Uplifting Daily Ritual of the Swedish Coffee Break by Lynda Balslev touches on a subject near and dear to the hearts of most Americans: coffee. The Swedes also love their coffee, and perhaps the easiest entry into a slower lagom lifestyle is to take a fika, the Swedish version of the coffee break. The Swedes have taken the simple coffee break and transformed it into an art form to unwind from the stresses of life, where the true value is found within the social experience rather than in the coffee itself. Fika provides recipes, facts, and insightful trivia to transform your quick “cuppa joe” into a more relaxing and fulfilling experience. (Andrews McMeel Publishing)
Things Are What You Make of Them: Life Advice for Creatives by Adam J. Kurtz is a guidebook that focuses on finding the motivation and balance to maintain a healthy and creative mind-set. Most people are creative, Kurtz argues, even if they don’t realize it. This life-affirming book has the feel of a personal diary, with hand-lettered text and heartfelt but practical advice. The perfect handbook for the creative soul in need of a gentle kick-start. (Penguin Random House)
Falling into Joy: Eight Simple Steps to Allow Your Body to Become Your Best Friend by Conni Ponturo provides steps to stay connected to your natural state of joy, and better support and appreciate your body. Very few people are completely satisfied with their bodies, and we often focus on our flaws, which Ponturo argues can hinder our ability to find joy. From dealing with pain to learning to face your fears, she offers small but significant steps you can take to better care for yourself, revealing insights from her own struggles. (Balboa Press)
Managing Editor at OutTraveler. Also write for Out, The Advocate, and Plus magazines.
Managing Editor at OutTraveler. Also write for Out, The Advocate, and Plus magazines.