The Balancing Act of Life’s Demands
How This Swedish Philosophy Helped Me Redefine Success
There I was, having worked for hours. Armed with a checklist of tasks, I found myself in a state of flow. Success for me meant ticking off as many items as possible.
The allure of productivity culture has always been undeniable for me. The drive to optimize various aspects of life and accomplish as much as possible was captivating. In theory, implementing productivity tips should save time. However, I discovered that finishing tasks more quickly didn’t always translate to spending less time on them. Instead, it resulted in allocating the same amount of time to a great number of tasks.
Productivity refers to maximizing output while minimizing input, or in other words, striving for efficiency. If my sole metric was my checklist, then I would consider my days productive. However, my checklist did not capture the unmeasurable aspects of life such as my relationships, my creative hobbies, my need to decompress and relax, essentially…my humanity.
For the longest time, I believed that dedicating all my free time to professional endeavors now would pave the way for a more rewarding life later. In reality, this translated into an excessive focus on quantity over quality. I rushed through tasks, sacrificing quality, driven by a fear of failure and a disregard for work-life balance. This mindset might have been influenced by societal or gender expectations regarding the definition of a successful life. While there is truth in investing in oneself for a better future, the path I followed was leading me toward burnout.
The harsh reality is that life offers no guarantees – no assurance that the current path will lead to success or prevent potential failure despite earnest efforts. Even more daunting, there is no guarantee of a future life or that loved ones will always be present. This sobering truth prompted me to reconsider my approach.
I recognized the need for balance – a desire to fulfill not only my professional aspirations but also my relationships, creative hobbies, self-care, and more.
I stumbled upon this Swedish concept of lagom, which translates to just the right amount. It encourages a balanced and moderate approach to life, avoiding extremes. Lagom suggests that individuals should not overwork themselves but also not be complacent.
This philosophy promotes a mindset of contentment, where one seeks a satisfactory equilibrium between their professional endeavor and their personal well-being. It implies that perhaps not all checklist items need to be completed now. If they happen to be accomplished over the next couple days or week, allowing more time to experience other parts of life, then that is perfectly okay.
I find that it acknowledges our humanity, emphasizing that we are not mere machines. We need time to decompress, replenish, connect, laugh, and play. This philosophy tells us that we will achieve our goals in due time, but it also underscores the importance of enjoying the journey along the way.
There will always be a part of me that will prioritize my professional goals, but lagom serves as a reminder to not let those goals consume me. It encourages me to strike a balance in my life, enabling me to efficiently allocate time to professional tasks while ensuring I spend an equal amount of time with my loved ones, for instance. It teaches me to redefine what success looks like by cherishing present moments instead of constantly dwelling on the future.
