lagom

[ lo-gawm ]

noun

1. the principle of living a balanced, moderately paced, low-fuss life: those who achieve lagom routinely take time to appreciate their surroundings, take several breaks during the workday, dress from a minimal and versatile wardrobe, and treat others with respect and kindness:

   After spending two fabulous months with my in-laws at their home in Stockholm, I’ve decided I need to bring some lagom into my hectic American life.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lagom¹

First recorded in 1935–40; from Swedish: literally, “just right, just the thing, in moderation,” dative plural of lag “law,” used as an adverb

Example Sentences

“These articulations happen more frequently on WhatsApp and Telegram, where there is less control,” said Marcelo Soares, director of Lagom Data, a data intelligence studio in Sao Paulo.

From Seattle Times

In addition to döstädning, or “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning,” an existentially-savvy approach to tidying up by Margareta Magnusson that gets a warm and empathetic narration by the great Juliet Stevenson, Sweden brings Niki Brantmark’s paean to Nordic moderation “Lagom” to our self-help smorgasbord.

From Seattle Times

Since then, hygge, lagom, döstädning and most recently, gezelligheid have entered our collective consciousness, going much further than deciding whether to keep your high school memorabilia.

From Seattle Times

Lagom is another Swedish idea often entwined with hygge, but with a strong minimalist lean.

From Seattle Times

Lagom is about internalizing the slackline between “more” and “enough” until you know when to stop, whether you are night-snacking or collecting snow globes.

From Seattle Times