If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by the Hygge hype, get ready for the next big Scandi trend… Lagom! This new trend revolves around the concept of moderation, pronounced ‘lar-gohm’, the Scandinavian term that means ‘just the right amount’.
Rather than trying to fit some Hygge into your day, Lagom is a more general approach to achieving a thriftier and balanced lifestyle.
As it’s still January, the Lagom trend fits perfectly with people who are still trying to maintain their resolutions. Keeping spending habits in check, being less stressed out and pursuing healthier and more satisfying hobbies all fit into the Lagom lifestyle. We’ve asked our experts for their top 5 tips to achieve Lagom in 2017:
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’ (Amazon, £7.17) 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.”
Reduce Your Environmental Impact
An important part of Lagom is leading a lifestyle that you are doing your bit for the environment and living in moderation.
Make sure you’re always turning off your lights and that you’re using reusable shopping bags. If you want to also save on your heating bills while you’re helping the environment, you can invest in a thicker duvet or double-glazing.
Eat With The Seasons
Making meals with seasonal produce is not only good for your health but also for the environment and your purse strings!
Shona Wilkinson, nutritionist at SupefoodUK.com, explains: “Eating foods when in season means that you’ll be eating the way nature intended it. 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.”
Moderate Your Portions
If you’re looking to bring Lagom into your kitchen, one of the easiest ways to achieve moderation is through correct portion sizes.
Nutritionist and weight loss expert, Lily Soutter (lilysoutternutrition.com) recommends cooking just the right amount or putting away the leftovers straight away: “Having just the right amount of food for each meal instantly eliminates any possibility of over eating. ‘Seconds’ can be hard to resist when serving pots of food are left on dining table. Minimise temptation by placing the serving pot back on the stove, or clearing the kitchen space immediately after cooking.”
Give Your Skin What It Needs
Nourish your skin with products that it needs by getting back to natural skincare products. Make sure you always read the labels before buying products and look for organic ingredients that will clean not clog your skin! Look for ingredients like Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil and Plantolin for balms and gels that can naturally soothe your skin, such as What Skin Needs Soothing Skin Gel (£14.99, whatskinneeds.co.uk).
Dr Roger Henderson, GP with a special interest in dermatology, explains:
“With so many skin products on the market, it pays to know exactly what you are putting on your skin. A natural skincare solution has many advantages over products containing potential toxins such as parabens, PEG compounds, Coal Tar Dyes, DEA and formaldehyde to name but a few. What Skin Needs products are based on the natural plant ingredient Plantolin that provides an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, benefitting conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.”
