Japanese lifestyle trend takes over Scandinavian
- May 8, 2018
- 2 min read
Lagom, “enough, sufficient, adequate, just right” was the buzz word ready to take over as the lifestyle trend of the year 2017. This is second time in a row that a phonetically taxing Scandinavian ethic is directing the world to the art of living life.
In the past six months the word ‘lagom’ has seen a huge rise on Google searches and has been tweeted about 13,500 times. Post a remarkable 2016, in times of such global economic uncertainty, Lagom seems to be an apt pseudo-philosophical way of life. This trend accentuates frugal living, intensifying the significance of recycling in our lives. An idea that we can strike a healthy balance with the world around us without having to make extreme changes, and without denying ourselves anything.
This trend was proposed by Swedish furniture giant, IKEA which often drives global design directions. They started a three year long initiative called ‘Live Lagom’ helping people know “how to make sustainable living easier, more affordable and attractive.”
Synonymously the Pantone color of the year 2017 “Greenery” also exemplifies the growing trend and shift towards sustainable living.
Though 2016 was all about Hygge – a new word added to the Oxford English Dictionary and a major contender for word of the year. This lifestyle trend has already had its moment all over world.
“Hygge” means cosiness. Everything from cardigans, chocolates and candles that indulged you to feeling cosy was relevant.
Though what reached the world was more of Brygge (Britain marketed products using the Hygge trend).
Maybe it is now time to find hygge in the lagom living?!
The concept of origin of this new lifestyle trend has its origins in the Japanese island of Okinawa which is said to be home to the largest population of centenarians in the world. As a result, it is thought ikigai may not only hold the key to happiness, but also longevity.
In some ways, Ikigai is the antithesis of hygge. Instead of encouraging us to slow down, it’s about find striving to find purpose in life, or raison d’etre to use a French equivalent. As such, it is a notion often adopted by those unhappy at work or who have retired.
The word is composed in Japanese using the characters iki, or life, and kai, meaning the result of a certain action," explains Hector Garcia, the co-author of Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.
Though the life has lot to offer and strive for, it is now time to find contentment in doing the same and celebrating it. This might bring fundamental change the world is waiting for.
Let’s live it right!
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