Is there a Swedish recipe for work-life balance?

The Dutch have their hygge, while the Swedes invented lagom. What exactly is lagom and how can we find it or introduce it into our workplace? Is the non-Scandinavian Europe capable of adapting the life style of our northern neighbors?

A mere twenty years ago, nobody in the whole wide world would have believed that companies, in an attempt to attract employees, would one day offer them well-furnished and wellthought-out workspace. An office that supports the workflow happens to be one of the most decisive factors determining whether an employee accepts the job. It is actually perceived to be on a par with benefits and perks offered to candidates. Even ten years ago, it was still unimaginable that trends in office furnishing would head in the direction of creating a natural, almost home-like atmosphere in the workplace. Quite the contrary, the movies set in the near future fixed a completely different picture in our minds – lots of glass, high gloss finish, elegant furnishings, light in different colors. Well, that future has already come and… We spend most of our weekdays in the office. No wonder the employers gravitate towards refining the image of their offices and the environment in which their employees do their fair share of work every day. This fashion for domesticated offices with the elements from the “outside world” remains strong and still evolves. Today, we’re looking for tranquility, trying to live a life which allows us to walk a fine line between doing our duties and enjoying leisure time, no matter if we’re at work or anyplace else at the moment. The lagom philosophy reflects the Swedish lifestyle and shows the way of getting the best of both worlds. The Swedes, wherever they are and no matter how much work they have to do, will always find time for fika – a coffee break, that is. This word not only sounds foreign, but there is also something magical about it. This is more than just a short recess for brewing coffee and coming back to the desk. Fika is a genuine ritual. A short moment when we can leave our desk, change our sitting position, walk to the kitchenette, bump into other coworkers and have a friendly little chat with them. In Sweden, fika is usually celebrated in the morning and then once again after three o’clock in the afternoon before going home, but not with one’s foot already in the door. Do not mistake it for a lunch break for this is a separate phenomenon. It usually lasts fifteen minutes and is included in the employee’s work time.

NOT TOO MUCH, NOT TOO LITTLE, JUST RIGHT – LAGOM Lagom is a state of balance and common sense exercised both at home and work. It fits perfectly in the current trends of shaping modern office space. Such offices don’t bring only smart solutions or rocket-science systems into mind anymore, but rather a place that is able to cooperate with its users.

WHAT MAKES A LAGOM OFFICE? Healthy diet and ergonomics – simply, taking care of ourselves. The solutions that whisper to us how we can spend our time at work.

Does the drawer unit on castors, the one sitting under your desk, really have to be used exclusively for storing... What exactly do you keep in it? When was the last time you opened it? Or maybe you can’t since the key to the lock is missing? As a matter of fact, the drawer unit is not only a great place for storing things. It can also be used as seating for an unannounced guest coming over for an informal meeting.

How many hours do you spend talking on the phone? Is it possible that all your phone calls combined snatch as much as one third of your day at work? If that is the case, try to make the best possible use of that time and get up from your desk. You can stretch your legs, change your position and sit back in a comfy armchair. Or simply walk away from your team so as not to disturb them with your lengthy conversations over the telephone and let them focus on their work. CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY This is the subject that has been widely discussed lately and dominated a great The Swedes, wherever they are and no matter how much work they have to do, will always find time for fika – a coffee break, that is. This word not only sounds foreign, but there is also something magical about it. This is more than just a short recess for brewing coffee and coming back to the desk.

number of business conferences. If not us, who’s going to take care of our planet and secure its future? Bear in mind, however, that waste sorting is not an ultimate solution to the problem. Sustainability is not on the lips of only “green” offices anymore. According to IKEA’s policy, many products are manufactured with sustainability in mind. Kitchen fronts made from recycled plastic bottles in the office cafeteria? And good-looking, too? Done! A smart way for sorting waste? Here you go! Common areas can also be furnished with recycled goods. Eco-friendly and well-designed.

CONNECTION WITH COWORKERS AND NATURE The already-mentioned fika is the perfect occasion for meeting other coworkers. During the eight-hour workday, we should be seeking even more situations that would let us get to know other users of the same space. This will not only put us in a good mood, but it will also help us to network. The solutions that support us in reaching these goals can be found in common areas: corridors, canteens, kitchenettes, etc. In larger offices, we’re most likely to find nooks with comfortable sofas where you can wait for someone as well as take some time off. It would be fairly easy to squeeze a small bookcase in there to enable the employees to exchange books. A large dining table for all coworkers? This may be another great place for meeting new people and networking. In the times when we spend most of the day at work, it is nice to rub elbows with nature a little bit. Walls painted green or even small plants in flowerpots placed around the desks can have an immense impact on the office atmosphere, same as the “natural” rooms furnished in the urban jungle style. Nature is another element we should factor in when shaping the office space we work in. Greenery and natural lighting are gradually becoming a more common sight in work spaces. This is great news since these accents are fantastic moodboosters. In some offices, the employees volunteer to water the plants, thus establishing new contacts.

36 HAND IN HAND WITH NATURE – LIGHTING AND COLOR When writing about nature, one must not forget to mention colors and additional lighting. The interior is colored not only by painting the walls or decorating them with vinyl wall decals. The color can also be looked for in textiles which, together with texture, feel nice to touch and let us comfort ourselves in those difficult moments at work.

A growing number of companies are looking for more intimate locations for their offices. Access to natural lighting and the ability to step out onto the balcony or into the garden are coveted. Some companies even start vegetable gardens where their employees can grow their own veggies and fruits. The owners of large office buildings with vast open office plans should invest in the lighting that would at the same time facilitate the work and render the time spent at work pleasant. The combination of lamps and plants produces an incredible effect of a mini-jungle, with shadows playing around, some areas filled with brighter light and some dimmed a little bit. Every one of us does a different job and therefore needs specific conditions in order to do it well. Nevertheless, we are all humans and our basic needs are pretty much alike – we want to be heard, we expect understanding, we like meeting people, we need to talk. And we need to satisfy all of them both at home and at work since we spend there so much time day after day. It’s time to take care of our workplace. Let’s secure ourselves the work space that will secretly help us do our job. This way, our performance at work is bound to increase and we get to keep some of the energy for the afternoon when we clock out and come back home.

Author:

Aleksandra Dobrzyniecka, Interior Designer, IKEA for Business