The Swedish lifestyle, known as Lagom (not too much, not too little), is a philosophy that promotes balance and harmony in all aspects of life. It stems from the Viking tradition of “laget om”, which means “the whole team around”. The practice of Lagom involves finding the middle ground of “just enough” and maintaining a clean and uncluttered home. It also emphasizes the importance of having less and keeping it simple, and the concept of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”.
Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, is known for its green spaces, rich history, and countless coffee breaks. The country offers a rich history and a vibrant culture, making it an ideal place to live. Lagom promotes work-life balance, promoting a moderate diet, healthy relationships, and a slow life.
To get the most out of Lagom, it is essential to learn Swedish, relax, and practice the slow life. This approach helps to feel mentally and physically refreshed throughout the day. For those who love nature and the landscape full of green forests and lakes, Sweden offers the highest quality of life.
Singing for dinner is a common practice in Sweden, and national holidays are even celebrated for favorite foods like cinnamon buns and crayfish. By practicing Lagom, one can live life the optimal way and experience the Swedish way of living. This guide provides cultural tips on managing daily life in the Swedish way and embracing the Swedish lifestyle.
📹 5 Swedish Life Lessons – (cultural quirks)
After living outside of sweden for 9 years now, it is time to reflect on some life lessons my motherland taught me. these are some of …
What is the standard of living like in Sweden?
The Swedish society has a robust welfare system, low unemployment rates, and a strong economy. Citizens enjoy free education, affordable healthcare, and childcare. Despite high taxes, the Swedish standard of living and life expectancy are among the highest globally. The Swedish lifestyle combines nature, environmental awareness, and culture, with tolerance and openness for other societies. Nearly 20% of the population is born outside Sweden or has parents born abroad. Cultural celebrations like Midsummer and Lucia are celebrated enthusiastically.
What is Swedish lifestyle like?
Swedish families enjoy spending time outdoors, camping, hiking, sailing, skiing, skating, and taking walks. Their most common meals include fish or meat, potatoes, rice, or pasta, with the concept of “fika” (coffee/drinks with cookies) and “kanelbulle” (bun with cinnamon). Traditional Swedish food includes meatballs, herring, and Smörgåsbord (buffét). Vegetarianism is becoming more popular in Sweden, and vegetarian food is available in many restaurants. School food is often influenced by other cultures, but adjusted to suit a Swedish context.
What is the Swedish personality?
Swedish culture values directness and honesty in communication, valuing clarity and simplicity in personal and professional discussions. This approach is reflected in daily interactions. Small talk is minimal, and Swedish social interactions are characterized by Politeness and Respect. Greetings are often accompanied by a firm handshake, and personal space is valued. Understanding these customs contributes to a positive social experience, demonstrating the importance of directness and honesty in Swedish social interactions.
Is it worth it to move to Sweden?
Living in Sweden is expensive, especially in Stockholm, with high taxes leading to modest salaries. However, residents benefit from a comprehensive social welfare system for education and healthcare. Family life is a key value in Scandinavia, making Sweden an excellent choice for raising children. Newcomers may struggle with the long winter and the cold, snowy climate from November to January.
How much salary is enough to live in Sweden?
The average salary in Sweden is around 45, 000 SEK before taxes, equivalent to around 4, 500 USD, depending on current exchange rates. After taxes, the average monthly salary for most workers is between 27, 000 SEK and 29, 000 SEK. The average salary can vary significantly based on factors such as industry, location, experience, and education level. Employees in Sweden often receive benefits such as health insurance, pensions, and paid vacation. However, individual salaries can differ significantly due to factors and specific agreements between employers and employees or unions.
Sweden is known for its egalitarian principles, with a relatively small spread between lower and higher earners compared to other countries. Top executives and specialists earn more than the average monthly salary, but the difference is not as pronounced as in some other countries. Many Swedes enjoy a high quality of life, supported by their earnings, comprehensive welfare services, and a balanced work-life culture.
Should I move to Norway or Sweden?
Norway and Sweden share strong historical ties, resulting in a shared cuisine that focuses on hearty dishes made with root vegetables, oily fish, and meat. They share a tradition of preserving food using smoking, pickling, and fermenting techniques to ensure families had enough food for harsh winters. Norwegian cuisine is heavily influenced by the country’s abundant fjords and coastlines, making it more fish-focused.
Must-try dishes include gravlax (cured salmon), sursild (pickled herring), torrfisk (dried cod), and Norwegian fish gratin. Other famous dishes include farikal (mutton and cabbage), sour cream porridge with cured meat or cinnamon, and brunonst (brown cheese) eaten with bread or waffles and jam.
Do and don’ts in Sweden?
Swedish culture values personal space and respects it, avoiding close contact unless invited. It is important to remove shoes, be punctual, embrace fika, and be environmentally conscious. The saying “Lagom är bäst” translates to “moderation is best” or “enough is as good as a feast” and is deeply rooted in Swedish values. The official language of Sweden is Swedish, a North Germanic language, which shares similarities with Norwegian, Danish, and Icelandic but also has pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary differences. The saying is deeply rooted in Swedish values and reflects the importance of balance and fairness in daily life.
Is Sweden a good place to live for foreigners?
Sweden offers excellent working conditions and a stable economy, with high living costs but high incomes. Expats in IT, construction, engineering, science, and business management have an advantage. Most Swedish speak English, but learning the language is expected for better jobs. To move from the US to Sweden, applicants must apply for a residence permit, which must be submitted to a Swedish Consulate in the USA, except for Boston, Philadelphia, and the Swedish Consulate General in New York. The application form includes two copies of the following documents.
What is life like in Sweden for the average person?
Sweden outperforms other countries in various aspects of well-being, including income, jobs, education, health, environmental quality, social connections, civic engagement, safety, and life satisfaction in the Better Life Index. The average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita is USD 33 730 a year, higher than the OECD average of USD 30 490 a year. About 75 of people aged 15 to 64 in Sweden have a paid job, above the OECD employment average of 66. However, only 1 of employees work very long hours in paid work.
What is Swedish dating like?
Swedish people are known for their strong independence and prefer to maintain their independence in relationships. They are not expecting chivalry or special attention from their partners, and they are not expecting a strong connection from their future partners. When dating in Sweden, it is important to be on time and pretend to be not interested in the relationship. This can be achieved by going for a walk, doing something sporty, or having a coffee without mentioning the word “date”. The best way to date in Sweden is to pretend you are not interested in the relationship, and to be prepared to learn more about the person you are dating.
What is the Swedish way of living?
Lagom, a Swedish philosophy that emphasizes balance in everyday life, is a key concept in the United Nations’ World Happiness Report. The concept, which translates to “not too much, not too little, the right amount”, is a lifestyle centered on social awareness, moderation, and sustainability. The Scandinavian nations have been ranked highly in the report, with the Lagom lifestyle being a response to the Danish trend of Hygge, which emphasizes moments of warmth, harmony, and conviviality.
Lagom emphasizes balance, showcasing the positive side in every situation, living in harmony with the world, being sustainable, and engaging in exercise. The Swedish language’s Lagom philosophy is a powerful tool for achieving happiness and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
📹 19 WEIRD THINGS Swedish people do ( that YOU SHOULD do too ) 🇸🇪
Sweden #culturefacts #swedishculture #scandinavia Hi friends Growing up in Sweden was fun, weird and culturally amazing.
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American here. We pay taxes into a system that doesn’t seem to support us in any way. Few labor protections, expensive healthcare, expensive education, crumbling infrastructure…y’all know how it is. I love your articles about culture. I found your website from the collab with Justine about French & Scandi style. I think it would be cool to do a fashion & culture comparison between Sweden, London, and Berlin, and maybe how you’ve adapted to different aspects of the fashion and culture in each location. Thank you!
Italian minimalist here! Difficult thing to do in Italy… personally I often look at Scandinavian culture for this reason, and to be honest I try to apply these very principles to my life. Sometimes is more difficult (vegan cuisine si super frowned upon)… sometimes I find similarities (we also cook a lot!)… but yeah ultimately I would love to live in Sweden or at least visit… love your articles!
Actually, I would love to love paying taxes. I think it would feel amazing knowing that your hard work actually went towards your society as a whole. In America, it feels quit opposite…we pay a lot but it doesn’t actually fix or help anyone really. It feels sad. Sweden sounds amazing…calm, fair, like going outside after winter, when spring has sprung, and the warmth of the sun is kissing your skin, without making you feel like your melting. It’s the perfect feeling🌞 I’m glad you experienced that when you were younger.That would be lovely. Actually in America there’s a chain of command thing…if something needs to be addressed you get told -did you speak to “so and so”…if not follow the chain of command. Your looked at in a disrespectful way. This topic is very interesting
I am Italian and I will never forget my first year in Sweden after 5 years spent living in France during the terroristic attacks in Paris. It felt like being on holiday. Everything was calm and neutral, I did not have to defend myself, look around me suspiciously. In Italy I grew up with the mentality that if somebody can take advantage of you he will and you were not smart enough or cautious enough to protect yourself. Like if it was your fault. I love Swedish “lagominess” as I love the French charme and the Italian extravagance. There is no a prefect place, but every each place can teach us something. PLEASE MORE article ABOUT SWEDEN! 🙂
Being born in Canada (& with family from Sweden), I have always said that Sweden and Canada are so very similar in many regards! Similar sort of people, pretty lagom and relaxed, incredible healthcare and social welfare, same weather, even parts of Canada’s nature look IDENTICAL to Sweden’s! I grew up crayfishing, cross-country skiing, eating risgrynsgröt, and going to a lakefront cottage every summer, so Sweden is like home 🙂
“Hole and clean” actually is the offical dresscode at my work (swedish governmental work). Atleast pre-covid, now we work from home anyway. We had a discussion on shorts 2 summers ago, but they were ok, as long as we had back up trousers if outside people would arrive at the office. Also smiling at strangers actually exist in smaller towns 🙂 i am an advocate for it. PS enjoying the footage of Malmö!
I love learning about cultural quarks 🙂 I live in the U.S (in Florida) the most un-lagom country ever. Culturally it’s ingrained in us to be individualistic and strive to be the best. We are way too competitive and are always competing to try to live up to our neighbors and friends. The expression, keeping up with the Joneses is ever so present in American culture. Personally I think it creates a huge gap in what people can do and afford which brings a great sense of unhappiness because people always feel like they don’t have enough. There is always someone that has more so one always feels a sense of not having enough even when realistically they have plenty. Obviously this is just my opinion but I think most Americans strive for that bigger office, newer car, fancier job title, and regularly compare what they have to those around them. Culturally we also like to brag about our individual accomplishments (and our kids’ accomplishments! Lol) everyone has a kid who is advanced in school or sports. Americans in general also hate taxes because we tend to believe that each person is responsible for him or her her own self. Obviously I’m making a generalization but this is a majority. Going to university costs a fortune and puts most people in debt. Going to the doctor is also expensive and many people can’t afford insurance. We talk about equality and say we strive for it but people love their titles, especially when they hold a prominent position in a business or in society. Here it’s all about Mr.
I’ve been living in Sweden for three years now and i have to agree with everything you’ve said. Especially the lagom part. Where i love the relaxed environment here in social life or work but i do think it lacks the pursuit for creativity specifically in the art sectors. As an immigrant i keep finding myself pushing for opportunities and chances to collaborate with the locals but no luck unfortunately :/
Swedish and Indian culture is slightly similar, I mean I could connect with the ‘No Shoes’ thing, absolutely cannot wear shoes inside the house. Also the home cooked meals, every Indian household cooks fresh meals everyday, no excuses 🙂 I am so glad to know about your culture, I wish I can go to Sweden someday, it feels like such a beautiful place to live
This was such an interesting explanation of “lagom”! I am Serbian. There is a lot of fear and distrust here. It is not important how hard you’re working or how smart or talented you are: those that are unfairly advancing in this society mostly have family or political connections. It is a very limiting society even though most people wouldn’t admit it. But for a young, educated person it is much more practical to live abroad.
While there are great things about the US. There are many negatives. There is a point where, whatever system of government your country operates under, goes too far and becomes ineffective. This has happened in the US. Private monetary interest are allowed to buy votes by bribing and giving kickbacks and perks to officials who will vote the way they want. We believe every one should be able to be a sovereign individual, but this now has gone too far. Our society is very anti lagom. We have no balance. The rich get richer, and the poor get poorer. The wage and class gap becomes more extreme. Racism, sexism, and ageism, are rampant. Our tax dollars do nothing to help society and we never see any benefits from the taxes we pay, and taxes steadily rise to benefit the rich. We are not safe, even from police. Crime steadily rises, mainly due to societal failure. We create situations in which crime is likely to occur and then we punish the criminals. Our prisons are revolving doors. We are failing.
In Bulgaria braging is a form of survival. Everyone “has contats”, claims their children are the best of their class and thinks that it is ok for them to benefit, even if that implies sabotaging other’s interests . At the same time it is common to assume that a complete stranger is incompetent at their work or has bad intentions. This sums up to a hopelessly dysfunctional society built on mistrust and selfishness. I am extremely grateful to my parents for emigrating when I was a kid and thus allowing me to grow up elsewhere.
When I knew uni was free in Sweden, that blew my mind. My last online master’s degree cost me 5,000 euros! If you want it cheaper, it’s very difficult to be admitted. And it was necessary for me to apply for public examinations. Spain is crazy. I wish I could live in Spain during the winter and in Sweden during the summer, I wouldn’t mind paying high taxes if everyone’s quality of life is so good <3
Hello from Norway! Very similar to Sweden in a sense, but despite this I feel like here in Norway we are a anti-lagom, or at least becoming more so. It might be a new money thing, but so many people in Norway are so flashy and are not afraid to boast about how much they have. Though perhaps I’m not being fair as Norwegians also find joy in the smaller things in life, but I feel like the balance has been lost over the years. Also, definitely more vids like this please! 🙂
Hello from Australia! The things you describe – eating at home, not being braggy, having a sense of a flat society without heirarchy and especially ‘lagom’ – this is what life was like here too as I grew up. It is in my bones to always balance the things I say between positive and negative, I am suspicious if people are too demonstrative, too positive, or too extreme about anything!! Haha! But as elsewhere things have changed. I may have just been lucky to grow up in a rural community, and at a time when university was free. We do still have great free education and health care but things have become more profit driven and privatised. I can never understand people’s aversion to paying tax for a better kinder society!
As an American, I hate paying taxes…but not for the reasons people usually assume. Our taxes pay for militarism, racist police, corporate subsides, and hardly any social programs. Worst of all, the people and companies on top find loopholes and don’t even have to pay theirs! It is ludicrous. America is so backwards and corrupt. The younger generation knows it, but the political infrastructure is completely insulated against real change. The only way to fight it would be civil war. I hope Sweden does not become like us; hearing about privatization happening there made my heart break. 💔
I’m from the USA, and it’s horrible. Even with insurance my health & dental care are causing me a lot of financial turmoil. My taxes mostly go to the military & the wealthy, but the communities I have lived in my whole life are crime ridden with litter everywhere. Pretty anti-lagom as well (as is my opinions of the USA 😂)
YOU LOOK AMAZING…THANKS FOR THE article..THIS IS SO GOOD TO KNOW, COMPARED TO LOS ANGELES behavior. Here people still over spend and the US gov doesn’t care about its citizens. Here in LA everybody eats out and buys starbucks coffee a lot. They are scared to home cook. Most Not all, and they still believe in bragging and titles and fake friendships, for the most part ) Oh well..not me. Money and attention seekers here in Hollywood. But on the upside, quarantine has helped some reevaluate this silly behavior…..taxes? Are thrown away wasted on nonsense. America needs a make over… racism? Don’t get me started…hahah
I love this comment section! I’m from Belgium and I can relate to lagom, especially when it comes to bragging and job interviews. People often say in job interviews how ‘flexible’ they are. We often talk about why we love the company instead of why the company should love us 🙂 I just realized that this is a major characteristic of our culture. Being someone who fits in and how well you can adjust yourself.
Great article and could not agree more about the second nature of lagom:) I am def lagom to the bone and I could not think about any better place to grow up than sweden. I live very far up in the north so to say and the best thing about sweden is probably the nature and that everyone is free to roam (allemansrätten), and that we (at least here in north) have 4 distinct seasons and not 7 months each year of greyness and rain! I will never leave this country and I am soooo grateful for everything it has given to me. Soon I will have my medical degree and spend my whole life helping people. Plus, I also did military serivce, so I will frikkin defend my country when needed. But, what makes me sad is the growing racism and also that centralization seems so important for the government, people are almost forced to move from the countryside to bigger cities because it is so expensive to fuel your car these days for example. They have closed several small schools where I live and the small towns die – so not everything is good here, but maybe sweden is lagom good at least…
Do not listen to this confused and ignorant woman. Swedes are one of the World’s most innovative and inventive people in the World. It is rather that we export knowledgeable people to the successful places, such as universities and research labs that make a difference for all of us. Why does this person want to lie about this? She is bought by politicians who want to undermine Sweden as a country.
Lagom…the U.S. obviously the furthest thing from. I spent many summers on the southwest coast of Sweden on my grandparents’ farm, and remain close to all my cousins today. In 1983, my cousin Anders came to Chicago to stay with us for a month and after a few days pronounced: “You always say things are ‘great!’ *Why*?” Yes, why, indeed. Shoes in the house: it has taken me literally YEARS to get my completely American (of Italian extraction) husband to leave his f*cking shoes at the door (and sometimes he still cheats!). My father (American with strong ties to Germany) used to comply when my brothers and I were growing up, but when he and my mother moved to a home out in the suburbs, he began walking in the house sometimes with his shoes again. Argh! Don’t get me started on the global shift to the right. A surge in selfishness and self-righteousness. sigh Fun articles! Thanks for sharing!
Here is a very unlagom perspective from a foreigner coming from unlagom country and lives in Stockholm: – Sweden is beautiful country. Period! When I describe this to my friends I say “Wherever you turn, there is a postcard picture to be taken” – Sweden is expensive. Not for goods so much but for services. Expect to purchase newest mobile phone or TV. Don’t expect to visit for example hair dresser every week or two. That goes for any services. And also, services are performed generally on lover level than in some other countries. – Pay is good. Not great not terrible considering prices. It is more so for lower paying or trade jobs. – Nobody likes taxes! Not even Jenny. But … people here understand why they are necessary and feel benefits. This is not true in most countries. – Housing situation is awful. This is something that Swedes will tell you. Basically the strategy for foreigners is to try to buy whatever you can. Otherwise you will financially bleed dry by rents. There are chances to get cheaper rents if you are willing to wait 15-20 years. – Public services are awesome. Sport, museum, transport … you name it, they have it and it works perfectly. – Swedes tend not to use window curtains. I have no idea why, they just don’t – Everybody in Sweden is dressed up in latest fashion. If you see someone who is not, chances are it is a foreigner or elderly person – No lockdowns! I am not sure how or why, but they managed to go lockdown free Now, Swedish people are strange bunch and here is why: – They are the nicest people you have ever met (and I met a lot of people).
Great and very interesting article! I can’t say I love paying taxes, but I definitely see the benefit and the sense behind it. In Switzerland, the social institutions are not quite as comprehensive as in Sweden, but certainly better and more far-reaching than in other countries. That’s what I like to pay taxes for. Unfortunately, there is also a tendency here to privatise public institutions and to reduce free services more and more. I feel similarly about some of the things you say about Sweden. Especially about your childhood and that it is not appropriate to brag about wealth or status
France is for SURE no lagom. French people are always going from an extreme to another: through their mood, beliefs, behaviours, clothing, … the streets are the cleanest and most beautiful in the rich areas but very dirty and ugly in the poor ones. I don’t have any judgment to formulate about that, I just noticed that as long as you were explaining lagom. However, France is a great country for redistribution too. High taxes for the best opportunities for all (in theory of course). Very interesting to discover new countries and the mindset/ habits of their people 🥰
Hej! Jag lär mig svenska och tänker flytta till Sverige. Det vore trevligt om du skulle publicera flera articlen om Sveriges kultur och liv, då skulle jag kunna titta på dem och lära mitt favorita språk samtidigt. Eller kanske har du en pod där du pratar svenska? Tack tack! Ha en trevlig dag och förlåt om jag gjorde fel 🙂
Thank you for this interesting insightful article! I’ve been perusal your articles (and used to listen to your podcast when I had more time, before having kids…) for many years and I really enjoy them. I don’t usually comment, but I just wanted to tell you that I am happy to be subscribed to your website and I find your view on society spot on.
Everytime I see one of your articles about Swedish/Scandi life and culture, it always makes me want to get in touch with and embrace my Norwegian roots! My great-great grandparents immigrated to America, and my personality is very much more aligned with how you describe the Scandinavian way of life! The vast individualism here, where it’s a sort of “everyone for themselves, trust no one, you’ve got to move out at 18 and forge your own way in this world” mentality is exhausting. I really crave a community, where everyone supports the greater good. However I don’t think I could vibe with no small talk– I always want to get to know my neighbors and give compliments to random people I pass on the street!
Sweden has some lovely principles for life. I wish England was more like Sweden in many ways. For example the hierarchy thing. England has had a strict social hierarchy since the Normans invaded over 1000 yeas ago. English hierarchy sucks. It means that there are lots of systems in place to keep the poor, poor and that keep making the rich richer. And the, “This is mine property/ my land keep off” attitude. 😞 I feel a lot about my country’s ideals don’t represent my values and that really sucks too. I am curious to know what makes you love living in England? Is it just London? Will you visit more of England when you’re able to?
Great article! Please do more like this if anything as a public service for those of us in the US who are suffering from a desperate lack of all the services you described. Many Americans are deluded into thinking that social democracies are either unattainable ideals, impossible, or at worst evil. With the advent of the internet more and more are realizing we don’t have to live under such stressful conditions but there is still a LOT of ground to cover in terms of educating the masses about the reality of such higher standards of living that exist in many other developed countries. Many people here have internalized the notion that life must be filled with endless stress, anxiety, and competition. The majority of us are absolutely not comfortable. We are miserable. Our society is hierarchy in the extreme. Our taxes largely go to the military to support a vast global corporate empire while domestically poverty escalates, infrastructure literally falls apart, and suicides are rising sharply. I can only dream that we too will one day be happy to pay taxes.
I would feel right at home in Sweden, I think. I live everything about it, lagom included☺️ Slovenia used to be a lot like what you describe but it’s not anymore, I think it’s turning more and more American (read: unequal). I firmly believe the only way to a good society is free healthcare and free education.
I am from Germany and I feel we do logom gone wrong x’D we like to always put something into perspective like searching for the grey are – good and bad. But we tend to focus on the negative. I feel there is nothing that can be just good, there always needs to be something bad about it and when we find it we dwell on it.
Hello Jenny! I am half Swedish but raised in my other half country. But i was in Sweden for most of my childhood Summer holidays so everything you say sounds extremely familiar to me. I was wondering if you could dedicate a article on how much Sweden has been changing. I am a teen and considering studying in Sweden because i know how Sweden is and works. Or should I say was and worked? Everything i am hearing about how much Sweden has been changing makes me rethink my choices. Thankss
Grew up in Canada and later moved to the USA. Canadian taxes are similar but we get screwed over with school. Our universities are very expensive for the amount of tax we pay. I’d like to see them cheaper. I paid about $25,000 for one year! The USA has a lot of disparity and it depends on where you live. I actually paid MORE in taxes there because our property taxes (in NJ, beside NYC) we’re so high $14,000/year+). Plus the healthcare, which is a massive rip off.
I appreciate the information! I am hoping to move to Sweden (Great grandpa was from Sweden before migrating to Illinois, US) and have been doing a ton of research on it. I myself am lagom in nature. I prefer to keep to myself, humble, and want to live just comfortable enough. Currently my country takes 40% taxes, and most of it goes to the military. I would love a system where my tax dollars went to helping others, rebuilding infastructure, and improving our daily lives.
I’m from Russia. This is ANTI-LAGOM place. Evening make up and stiletto hills in the morning. People are loud in both good and bad ways. Not safe… too corrupted… people hate taxes because the quality of everything that should be provided for this money is very low (bad roads, bad medicine, low pensions, etc…)
HI Jenny. Very interesting description. I am from Nicaragua but lived in Stockholm from age 1-5 and when I went back to Nicaragua I never felt at home. I could never quite understand society there. I live in South Florida -always wanted to go back to Sweden but I don’t know anyone there-. Interesting you talk about Logum, in Nicaragua definitely not; however, I find myself being more than not. Good day 🙂
Cubans are the opposite… My dad is Cuban and OMG since I grew up with my Mexican mom (who are reserved in comparison), he and his family are too much for me! They’re loud, obnoxious, prying, outrageous, chaotic, dramatic and passionate. They also form very close bonds and show it. They’re quite touchy and opinionated. My dad says that Cubans have hot blood running through their veins LOL unlike Mexicans and other people in general, who have ice according to him.
I’m from South Africa. South Africa is not like Sweden 😏. I have lived in the Netherlands for 18 years. The Netherlands likes to think it is like Sweden, and to some extents (for example high taxes, lots of benefits for everyone) it is, but not entirely. Dutch people LOVE to show off and brag, even though they don’t like others to do it; they are rude in the name of being direct, and they can get really, really hysterical about absolutely nothing, but consider themselves “sober”…..😅😇.
Maybe your socialdemocratic country didn’t fit you after all. Now Sweden is a much richer country than before. I don’t know about you. But when I grow up we had to get our older siblings clothes. This will never happen today. Every kid today have a cellphone. This was also not the case before. And after all there is a reason why you moved from this country. People today are earning money on social media and game production. This wasn’t possible when I grew up. I used to believe in socialdemocratic norms but I don’t know anymore. I think balance is the best thing as you mentioned. But I also hate to follow norms and to be “lagom”. It depends on the situation of course so it’s a stupid expression. It shouldn’t always be lagom.
I had the great good fortune to live in Sweden twice, and I still miss it 30 years later. My best way to describe the country to my friends is that it is simply the sanest place I’ve ever been (and I have traveled extensively). I actually have “move back to Sweden” as my game plan if I finally get fed up with the U.S. 😊
In Hungary, middle Europe, we pay taxes and we get free healthcare but only to an extent… and they are privatizing the universities just now… last autumn the University of Theatre and Film Arts were attacked and the students were fighting beautifully for months and months, until the pandemic made it impossible to hold the building. In the end, the institute was taken away… and bit by bit, each big insitute will go into business man’s hands, or even worse, politicians, who does not know anything about the matter, they are just sitting close to the fire…. i would be happy to pay 37% of my income (!!) for good education, healthcare a social security, but I honestly have no idea where it goes, and it makes me furious. Oh and we Hungarians… I think we like extremes. One our saying is that “Hungarians celebrate crying” which means when we hava a great sorrow in our hearts, even when we are happy.
Moved to Sweden from the US about 18 months ago. I think the shift right is do to a society that heavily favored the comfort of its women at the expense of their men and now its gotten to a point where the men aren’t going to take it any more. When you think Sweden you should think of the Bo Burnham song White Womans Instagram. They have been living a life of luxury and zero consequences and the boys have been basically neglected.
It’s really interesting to hear about Sweden and compare the values as an Irish person. One similarity is the disdain of excess – showing off is a major no no here, and someone who talks about lofty ambitions will be described as having “notions”. We also have an unusually high rate of “middle class” with class markers not being a massive thing (of course they exist here too but not much, particularly not outside the larger cities) with the society having historically largely formed it’s identifying as “normal” Irish, in opposition to the colonial British, as opposed to being primarily internally divisive. I’m sure another Irish person would have a very different perspective on the similarities and differences than I would, particularly if they were a traveller, from one of the major cities, or of they were from Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK) 🙂
OMG Greece is definitely not a lagom country! Most things are done in extremes here. A great example is sitting on a table with a Greek company. If you don’t understand the language you will probably think that the people around you have been fighting for 5 hours straight (and no, it is not unusual for Greeks to be having lunch for 5 hours straight). The truth is that your Greek friends have mostly been having fun. They have probably had several fights in between, but they were all forgotten as quickly as the fights started. And in the end, whereas foreigners would leave the table exhausted, Greeks will just feel like they had just had a very entertaining meal with friends and family.
My country is definitely anti-lagom, nothing is free haha unless its an HIV test. Healthcare and tuition from pre-primary to University isn’t free. People are very classist and one is seen better than another according to status or should I say flex culture. Which has been highly adopted from American culture. Definitely can wait to leave my country. You say you love paying your taxes I simply can’t see where tax money is used in my country, people lack housing and infrastructure in different provinces, health care lacks and water and electricity is a struggle. I would dread becoming a tax payer in South Africa corruption is truly at its highs.
Being English, I can strongly relate to that feeling of shame about how right-wing your country is becoming. We’ve been gradually chipping away at social welfare and privatising the hell out of everything over the past 30 years and I hate it! It’s like we’re undoing all the great work we did to provide social security after the war 🙁
2. I’ve heard that one but I’ve never really seen anyone get any flak for stating their skills/achievements or even low-key bragging (unless maybe by a friend wanting to be a bit of an arse). When to medium bragging I might’ve seen it, and all-out bragging (as in you’re just taking over the conversation talking about yourself and aren’t all that honest about your accomplishments either) it’s rather uncommon and to be honest, most people are too polite to say anything in the first few minutes (if ever) unless, maybe, the person is taking the cred for their accomplishments. The problem with that (not that I ever had any problems with that at Uni, the Professor or the teacher is usually the person in front of the class, talking ;)). Or having an apartment so lavishly that your guest are uncomfortable sitting in your sofa as to not dirtying it! :p Not sure the selling out was bit-by-bit, unless I misremember the Alliance did it rather uniformly and while I don’t really like it (at least not all of it) I’m not sure we’d have it better had they not done it during the recession.
Canadian, from the french province of Quebec. Quebec is the most “socialist” province of the country. We pay more taxes than other places because we have more social programs, but I wouldn’t say that people are happy to pay taxes. Of course were grateful to have free healthcare, free studies and other stuff but we don’t trust our politicians as much as scandis do. We feel like our money is wasted on bad management. Canada is a North American country so I wouldn’t say that lagom is a thing here: people like to stand out, to chock and feel unique so more excessive behaviours maybe
Hej, I lived in Sweden for a few years in my early twenties. I was born in Canada and am an Indigenous Canadian. I appreciated the same things you have explained, a culture of caring for people. Canada rides on an international reputation of being peaceful, but it is a colonial country build on theft and exploitation of Indigenous people. The nature here is spectacular but we continue to destroy it for profit. Some of these forces relate to global capitalism but I really did love those amazing cultural aspects of Sweden, even though I am not a lagam person either. Tack så mycket… I also like paying taxes when it goes to a humane civil society,.
Made me want to move to Sweden ASAP! I’m form Mexico and oh boy are we on the other extreme end of Sweden. Form the Lagom, the smiling to strangers, we talk A LOT with our neighbors and wear shoes inside the gous, the taxes omg here paying taxes is like being literally robbed! Every tax payed goes directly to the politicians personal pocket (illegally of course) but it’s true. The only similarity I find is the cooking at home thing we do that! 🙂
Here in Ukraine we are not lagom at all. It seems to me that complaining is a huge part of our culture on one hand. People tend to tell others bad news and hide good ones. Being pessimistic is a normal thing and is considered to be a clever option. On the other hand we are very friendly and merry, love loud celebrations, good food etc. It is not lagom too, as there would usually be too much noise, food, alcohol, laugh, colours etc. To be honest, I do love this part of us, maybe, because I am extravert. Strong hierarchy is typical here as probably in most post-soviet countries. Hate this. Still have to deal with it. We are in a very bad relationship with taxes. That is also a part of soviet inheritance. Medicine, schools, universities could theoretically be free, but still you have to pay for a lot of thing which are not included. Still not too bad for a developing country, I can see a progress over last decade. Or I just haven’t learnt to be pessimistic enough for my motherland :)))))
Australian I can say i always felt safe, have had good opportunities with school, you do have to pay your university fees back once you reach a certain income but it is only a % so for the education i feel it is worth it as it is valued on a resume for many industries. I feel the same about taxes, yes we pay but when i was in hospital for 2 months i paid nothing and the medical system is fantastic. The only thing that hurts is our housing economy but its better in Melbourne, where i am vs Sydney and Brisbane and I cant really speak for all of Australia anyway just my perspective. I love home cooked meals over take out much more healthy and I can make them how i like as im vegan, I do want to live in Europe as i feel very isolated in Australia its so far for people who love to consciously travel 🥰🥰🥰
In Mauritius, we have free healthcare but sometimes can be really shitty services, free transport for all students and free education. However, Gov does not do anything, literally anything for the well being of the population. So, the people are extremely anti-lagom, incredibly high in diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol. Very unhygienic public places and the rich gets richer while the poor gets poorer.
I’m in USA completely anti-lagom country. However I built my lagom inside of my brain and my house. And love it. Long time ago I lived in Sweden and absorbed that beautiful culture. Originally from Russia Northern part I learned from the childhood the lagom state without even knowing the word and keep having my lagom life in the most consuming and non lagom society in USA.
I think Swedish attitude about not bragging is something we can all learn from. Here in the US, everyone thinks they’re amazing that it almost seems that narcissistic personality disorders are normal. I like the idea of not thinking you’re better than anyone else. I think you could still be creative and competitive but being more humble about it.
You go girl!!! Livining in Sweden for a year for now and I feel just like you in terms of social democratic and I am frankly in love with lagom and nice things of this friendliness of swedes. Paradoxically, I miss so much the brazilian warmth! It’s literally a shame this situation of right parties going up. But I am hopefull!
I’d say that Portugal is fairly lagom too 🙂 and our taxes situation is somewhere in between Sweden and let’s say the US: we do pay for university and hospital care, but if we use the public systems is still fairly affordable. No scholarships or insurances needed. I wish we were more like old school Sweden though 🙂 that’s what every society should aim for, in my opinion.
Hey:) Interesting article! I am from Hungary and we have quite high taxes actually. The problem is that we don’t really get the benefits from it, like in a Scandinavian country. We have free health care and school, but the quality is terrible. Most people who have more income than the average, choose to go to private health care facilities. Schools are often run down, teachers have really low salaries,so there is a shortage of them. Overall tax paying is something a lot of people want to avoid or minimize. Or they just really hate it.:D (maybe this is also due to the low trust in the government) Also you pay the same amount of taxes with no regard to the payment you get,so it becomes even harder to pay the taxes if you have a low income. About the lagom,I think Hungary is an anti-lagom country. As you can see, I haven’t really paid attention to the positive side 😀
Sweden sounds perfect to all of my personality aspects. In astrology, I’m a Scorpio sun, Pisces moon, Taurus rising. It means that my personality is somewhat intense, looking cold and reserved on the outside but quite warm and profound on the inside, like many of my Scandinavian friends. I don’t do well in the cultural environment I live in, Israel, where I was born as well. I’m sensitive enough to feel quite like an alien here, plus the climate is draining me physically (and the place drains me emotionally). As a Scorpio sun I admit I’m fascinated by the mellow and darker things in life, Norway is my go to. But as a Taurus rising, I’m a designer in everything that I do, and I strive for beauty and perfection in their more clean, polished, minimal and practical look. I’m an extroverted introvert, so to speak, with love and appreciation of nature and art and a need to escape to them from my surroundings every now and then. It keeps me sane. So that being said, your article has emphasized to me why I have such attraction/fascination by the Northern countries, and I feel like it’s time for me to follow my dream of moving there. I just hope Coronavirus won’t get in the way. Thank you for your vid and inspiration.
I’m Brazilian and we have schools and universities and hospitals and all kind of health care that are free for not only Brazilians but also immigrants and tourists, but we also have a very bad corrupt president and politicians that make their best to make all those institutions look their worse 😔 it’s very revolting
sweden is supposed to be one of the happiest places in the world. I agree with the person who says they live in france, people here in France do not appreciate what they have and the government really look after their people; just my opinion thats all, and my experience. If you don”t have a lot of money; medical care is free and so is education. c’est la vie x
Hi, I’m from Singapore. Love the Swedish concept of lagom, which doesn’t really blend with the materialistic lifestyle of many well-off people in my country. The majority of affluent people strive to achieve success in their professions, earn tons to money and flex their wealth whenever they can. Having just enough is never enough for them. Sad but that’s life.
Australian here! We do have a sense of logom, as there’s a very careful balance in social interaction – be friendly, but not needy or desperate. There’s a fine art to small talk – it’s a great way to find out local news, have a bit of banter and a laugh with people you interact with everyday – I have noticed there’s a rhythm to it, and there are definite social cues as to when a conversation ends. Very enjoyable way to communicate.
Mexico here. Anti-logom. Based on your social-economic status. I grew up in a medium-low income neighborhood but got the opportunity to get my degree and MBA in private universities so I got the chance to see and live both ends of the sprectrum and let me say, BIG differences. In this country, we pay around 40% of our income in taxes but due to corruption and bad government, the infrastructure and healthcare are poor. We get free healthcare for the most part but because of the lack of quality, those who can afford it, we get an additional private one.
Great subject! The Netherlands here, we pay pretty High taxes, but we also live beautifully. Every time I come back from traveling, I am always very happy to be back. At least I know where most of the taxes are used for, Great roads, clean city’s, you can get pretty much anything you need, High percentage of home owners, life can be very good. Having said that, racism, the far Right, anti-Islam, we also have that.
My great (great?) grandfather Karl immigrated from Sweden to Seattle a long time ago and it’s cool how much of this I resonate with. The social support, work/life balance, and the value the Swedes place upon paying taxes are the reasons I want to move there when all my beloved American elders have passed. Gotta learn Swedish first, though!
I live in Minnesota, U.S.A., and I have to say that since so many Scandinavians have settle here, we have a Scandi sub-culture: lots of Ole and Lena jokes, IKEA, lefse making parties, tomtes everywhere, not a lot of hugging/smiling (until the Irish infiltrated), outdoor sports/love of nature and minimal bragging. So what I am saying is that America is truly a melting pot of cultures, and I’m proud that we take the best of a culture and weave it into our American fabric.
Loved this! Totally different from Brazil’s culture. I would say I am more on the swedish side. Our taxes are very high and although we have free health care, education and retirement, the quality is really bad, except for public universities that are the best in the country. Otherwise we should pay to have a decent service.
Here in Greece we’re the opposite in many ways. We’re louder and sentimental, we protest a lot 😅 it can be both good and bad I guess, it depends. One thing in common though is the public system, although I’m sad to say that it’s slowly degrading overtime. Higher budget percentages go to the police and the army rather than health or education
My parents immigrated to the US from a very impoverished and corrupt country in Asia, and now I feel bad because we’re getting screwed over and pushed out with the racist attacks, and tax policies which don’t support us, among many other issues. It’s better than where we’re originally from, but that isn’t saying much. It’s still not great and I’m upset with how our government mistreats us. I dream of moving to places like Sweden. Maybe one day I will if I can figure it out, but of course right now I am stuck here.
I LOVE the cultural quirks idea. I would love to see more from you on this topic. I hated learning that so much in Sweden has gone to the for profit model. In my experience (I am in the USA) you can expect to see severely reduced quality of care and a complete lack of accountability and honesty from a for profit hospital or nursing home.
I am Malaysian but now feel like I was probably a Swede in my past life. All the Swede quirks you mentioned are things I identify with and they never seem to fit into the Malaysian culture. I often feel very “lonely” or misunderstood by fellow Malaysians. I even like the fact that you have a word like lagom to describe a state of understated abundance. I think I’ll probably be happier living in Sweden. (I forgot to mention that I binge-watched Scandi series on Netflix and my friends cannot understand why they get me so hooked!)
About paying taxes, I am Italian…. So many people don’t pay their taxes at all or only a percentage. And of course that fuels the vicious circle of services are bad so I don’t pay taxes. Although if you have a lower income the state will help with school supplies and a lower uni fee or none. Sweden has always sounded like a paradise for me, far from the honks and the loud people, I even tried to learn the language when I was 14. I hope to live there one day.
Wow! Free Healthcare and Schools (through taxes)? People can afford rent and food and clothing easily and can even go on vacation?!? That sounds really nice! It sounds a lot more reserved there, but i think they have a good way of going about things. People can work and contribute, but also live life! Not just work! And Elders are taken care of. Thats really nice! Thank you for this article!
Love this! I always enjoy your cultural commentaries, especially your take on the differences between the Nordic countries. I’ve definitely been living my most Lagom life this week here in Iceland, visiting a volcano in heavy snow! Looking forward to balancing a hard work week with a long, relaxing holiday weekend in the countryside. Glad Påsk!
Regarding Brazil: >High taxes compared to other countries with the same average income >Free health system but its not good so middle and upper classes pay insurances >Free universities, but terrible basic education >Heavy on the war on drugs, poor investments in murder solving I don’t think you would be glad paying taxes if you lived here 😛
As a Brit living in America for half his life I’m soooo jealous of the decent societies you Nordics have created. I view Britain and America as the two most reprehensible/disappointing societies in the “first world” and in the entire history of humankind. So much wealth and potential, entirely devoted, for centuries, to the impoverishment and immisuration of the least fortunate, for the sole benefit of the least worthy. Both nations sicken me to my core. If I could master one Nordic language I’d be happier to sweep the streets of Norway/Sweden/Denmark/Iceland/Finland than to be a millionaire in the UK/USA.
Back in the late seventies, I went to work for a father-and-son carpentry outfit. They were from Sweden, but had been living in America for a number of years. I was in my early twenties, and this was only my second carpentry job, so I had alot to learn. They showed great patience while I learned how to frame houses with them for several years. For those who don’t know, framing houses is hard and physical work, and you also need to be intelligent and have good math skills. We worked throughout the year, in summer heat and frigid cold. Looking back, I am impressed by their honesty and tremendous work ethic! They always treated their employees with respect and patience, and I will always be grateful to them for inspiring me to develop a good work ethic. I really was quite fortunate to have met them and had them leave such a long-lasting impression on me! I don’t know if either of them are still alive, but if they are, I’d like to say “Thank You” to Joel and Roger Sandholm. You were two of the most decent and respectable people that I worked for in my more than 40 years in carpentry! They certainly made a good impression of Swedish people on me!
I’m Canadian and a few years ago we went on a trip through Estonia, Finland and Sweden. There were lots of families in the areas we were in and yet we never heard any parents and children bickering. Several times we heard kids ask for things or ask questions but the parents calmly answered yes or no and explained what the children wanted to know. The kids might ask follow-up questions and time was made for that as well. And then the kids would accept whatever was said even if it wasn’t what they had wanted. It was awesome! When we got back to Canada, we didn’t make it out of the airport before hearing parents barking at kids who are whining trying to get their attention to ask a question. #7 is something that we absolutely should adopt here!
My spouse and I have used separate duvets for our entire 20 year marriage and it’s one of the secrets of our success! We have very different temperature and texture needs. I run hot at night and usually only use one very cool cotton sheet even in winter, whereas he likes to be cosy with a heavier and warmer blanket. Even if you perfectly match your spouse in temperature needs, having separate duvets means you never fight over who gets more of it. Highly recommend for every married couple.
One thing you didn’t mention: no small talk! We hosted a Swedish exchange student for 2 years, and he was most surprised by the amount of casual/short and even cheap conversations. He was always happy to talk, but he would patiently talk at length. Sweden sounds like a wonderful country to live, especially the Fika! ❤
“Whole and clean” dont mean “always represent yourself at your best”. It means that clothing are optional as long as you are washed and don’t show up in clothes that is broken or really in bad shape. It’s a old saying but something we can still use if someone asks if there is a dress code. For a party or even a funeral. That gives the person the freedom to choose whatever clothes they want to wear.
I have to agree with other Germans here in the chat that there is quite some similarities between Sweden and Germany. I found the point about the kids worth considering – I think we are treating teenagers in a more „adult” way than in other countries (a thing that our Japanese exchange daughter pointed out) but I think it would do us good to also adopt the more respectful approach for younger kids (by the way, being respectful does not mean that you don’t parent!). – A thing about Germany I am loving more the more I experience other countries is our body positivity. Of course there is still pressure on young people from social media to look „instagramable” but overall there is a very free and relaxed atmosphere for example about nudity at beaches, in the sauna etc. People before and beyond puberty are overall very relaxed about the way they look. For me that is a big part of feeling comfortable in Germany.
I’m half Swedish, half American and brought up in London, UK. One thing we should learn from other countries is talking to your neighbours and strangers. You might have seen the memes “Waiting for the bus like a Swede.” that kind of scepsis towards other people is real. While when I’m abroad people actually talk to eachother on the train, they invite you to their table in pubs, say good morning on the street etc. It’s very easy to feel unseen or lonely in Sweden.
Back in the early 2000s I spent 6 summers (and a short winter stay) mostly in central Sweden: Dalarna, Härjedalen, and Jämtland, preparing for and participating in Uppdansningen för polskdansmärke (known in the U.S. as “medal testing”) and hanging out with fellow folk dancers and musicians. Those of us from the U.S. generally stayed with local dancers or in cabins here and there, and the hospitality was truly heart-warming. One “weird” Swedish practice that I thought characteristic and well-intentioned (though prone to being taken rapacious advantage of by various European visitors) was allemansrätten—the right of free access anywhere in the countryside, even on private property, for camping and even picking berries, with proper respect for ownership (some wild stories there about violations of respect—and their consequences). It’s not just Swedish—the same can be found in Norway (with similar tales and outcomes). That might merit further explanation, Johanna. And another, minor bit: the ubiquity of the brightly colored dalahästar or “Dalarna horses” in many people’s homes.
Well, you have given me some insight into my Swedish heritage. My grandparents came to the US before 1913. My dad was born here, but I have noticed little behaviors in my family that speaks strongly of our heritage. Things like being reserved, not putting ourselves forward, hospitality where guests are catered to, generosity. There are other things, but my dad was an open-handed, big-hearted man who gave to everyone. I can now understand why he was the way he was.
Many of the mentioned points are common in Eastern Europe too, but for ex. if you’re having guests over, not only the house needs to be polished to shine but also a tooon of food will be prepared so that you not only don’t leave your guests go hungry out of your home but basically roll back to theirs😂
American here. I did cosleeping with both of my children. I didn’t even know I would do this until the night my first child was born. Then an instinct kicked in that told me there was no way I was putting my son in a bassinet next to my bed. I LOVED sleeping with my kids, and I really don’t understand why some people believe it to be harmful. I’ve since learned that cosleeping regulates the baby’s heartbeat, breathing, and temperature, and that the majority of babies who die from SIDS die cold and alone in their cribs. It just makes sense to sleep with our young. Every other animal in nature does it, and for good reason. It also helps with bonding, babies sleeping through the night sooner, parents getting more sleep, and it makes breastfeeding so much easier. Funny to me that only the western world believes it to be a problem, when the rest of the world knows better, and does it with no problems Edit: to those of you who disagree, you’re free to disagree, and you can present all the “facts” you wish, but the FACT that we among countless others all over the world have safely and successfully bed shared with our children isn’t going to change. Yes, rarely some people accidentally suffocate their babies in bed. There are usually other factors involved besides just sleeping with the baby, and the number of people who sleep with their babies and DON’T suffocate them, as compared to the ones who do, should be an obvious indicator of how safe it IS. Unless you’re a very heavy sleeper, you use drugs or alchohol, you’re a very overweight person, etc, sleeping with your baby shouldn’t present any danger.
I am a 73 year old American woman living in Sweden and I have a “best”, American, friend from the time we were eight. She was a Montessori pre-school teacher in her own home for children from infancy to three years old. I used to spend my vacations visiting with her, staying in her home and experiencing her days with the children. In over twenty years I never once heard her raise her voice or respond with anything less than the utmost respect. Partly this was her Montessori training, but mostly it was her nature. She and her husband raised their son the same way. This past summer their son (now in his forties) paid for my husband and I to travel from Sweden to Greece to join them on a vacation he had dreamed of for years. They have two sons, nine and eleven, and I experienced the same level of respect for their children as he had experienced from his parents. The boys were delightful! The vacation was unforgettable!