If, like us, you were absorbed in the cosy hygge trend of 2016, you’re going to love the latest Scandinavian living concept. Lagom (pronounced lar-gohm) is, in our opinion, the much better cousin to hygge. This new trend revolves around the concept of moderation and having just the right amount leading us to live more balanced lifestyles which, apparently, is the key to happiness. Sounds good, right?
Want to embrace this new ideal living style? Here are five top tips to get you well on your way to embracing a thriftier, more sustainable, life.
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1 Reduce your environmental impact An important part of lagom is leading an eco-lifestyle and living in moderation. That means always turning off your lights and recycling shopping bags – simple changes which when multiplied by the entire population have a big impact.
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2 Stress less Following a lifestyle that is centered around balance and moderation is one of the best ways to keep your stress levels in check. If you start to feel a little bit overwhelmed, remember that it’s okay to pair back your commitments. Dr Marilyn Glenville, the UK’s leading nutritionist and author of Natural Alternatives to Sugar (£7.17, Amazon), says: “If you feel the symptoms of stress coming on, learn to get your priorities right. There is nothing in your life right now more important than your health. Learn to say no if you feel that you have taken on too much.”
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3 Eat seasonally Making meals with seasonal produce is not only good for your health but also for the environment and not to mention your purse strings! Shona Wilkinson, nutritionist at superfooduk.com, explains: “Eating foods when in season means that you’ll be eating the way nature intended. Summer fruits and vegetables tend to contain higher amounts of water, which dilutes their nutrient content. Compare this to winter fruits and veggies and you’ll find they’re richer in nutrients such as vitamin C and contain more valuable fibre.” Plus, any food that’s in season tastes delicious!
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4 Understand portion control If you’re looking to bring lagom into your kitchen, one of the easiest ways to achieve moderation is through correct portion sizes. “Having just the right amount of food for each meal instantly eliminates any possibility of over eating,” explains nutritionist and weight loss expert Lily Soutter. “‘Seconds’ can be hard to resist when serving pots of food are left on the dining table. Minimise temptation by placing the serving pot back on the stove, or clearing the kitchen space immediately after cooking.”
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5 Declutter We know, we know, having a clear out can be daunting and really difficult. But if you feel sentimental over a radio your nan bought you which hasn’t worked since the 1980s, it’s time to get rid. For us, emptying our wardrobe is always our biggest challenge. With a chorus of ‘what if this comes back into fashion’ followed by ‘this might come in useful one day’, we’ve become self-confessed clothes hoarders. Want to know a simple hack to help you eliminate the clothes you don’t wear? Turn all your hangers around so that they are facing the opposite way to how you naturally hang your clothes. Then, in six-months time, any clothes on hangers facing the ‘wrong’ way should be donated to charity – after all, they haven’t seen the light of day in at least half a year!
