Lagom and Fika — the life style of “Just enough”

Being the children of great Viking, the Swedish show their outstanding living style in which keeping the balance among all the aspects of life, but not necessarily perfect, becomes the guideline for the whole society. And Lagom which has no synonym in English, is the way we call this life style. “Right enough”, “Just enough”, or “Adequate” are all the right understanding about “lagom”.

The Lagom concept or mentality exists in Swedish business as well. Employees, and many manager, often focus on doing exactly what’s needed and doing it well, rather than doing unnecessary things. Working at a Lagom level is about keeping a good balance between work and life outside of work — not working too much, but not working to little either. Working at just the right level so as to be a productive employee but also able to enjoy other aspects of life as well.

If Lagom is what helps Swedish to free and enjoy their life, Fika will be the most specific example for this lifestyle.

In Swedish, Fika understands “drink coffee”. However, the enjoyment of the people in northern Europe is not just a cup of coffee, just go and drink it. The word Fika also implies a style, an old tradition, and a distinctive culture of Sweden.

The Swedish do not work more or much longer than necessary, but take breaks for coffee and chat with friends and colleagues. Fika for the Swedes can be considered as the pub for the English and the aperitif to the Italians, is a time to relax without work. This helps creating a strong relationship among colleagues, friends.

Take a closer look to Fika, in a culture of balanced meals and healthy eating of Sweden, fika is a hope. On a regular day, fika with just a cookie is enough.

But if it’s part of the date, fika can come up with a slice of sandwiches and fruit before the waffles come out, but usually a regular weekend’s fika is all junk: a table full of pastries and biscuits, lovely cups of coffee and, of course, indispensable candles.

That’s the way the Swedish enjoy their life and their work! No more job and no less jobs too; just enough. No sooner, but also, no later, just punctual.

Why don’t we apply such a good life like that to our life to fully live our life, especially when we work in customers services, marketing or sale field where keeping a positive towards bad customers is a need for career path. That’s also the purpose of new technologies which helps us to automate our work.

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