Elisabeth Carlsson – författare

Discover lagom – the Swedish idea of balance, harmony, beauty and sufficency.Our love affair with all things Scandinavian shows no signs of letting up. Having embraced the Danish concept of hygge, we’re now looking to Sweden and one of their essential philosophies, lagom. It’s best described as ‘not too much, not too little; just the right amount’, which, in practice, is balance – and isn’t that what we’re all looking for? In this delightful book, Elisabeth Carlsson, a Swede who has been living in the UK for many years, lets us in on the secrets of the enviable Swedish lifestyle and shows us how we can all be a little more lagom. She explains what lagom means to the Swedish and then explores how it can relate to all areas of our life, starting with our separation of work and home and how we manage our time. She suggests taking a more balanced approach to how we eat, never depriving ourselves but not overindulging and avoiding waste. Elisabeth also explains what makes a home more lagom in style and function and how we can take care of it sustainably. We also need to appreciate and look after our bodies with moderate exercise and care. Lagom has the potential to change our approach to life as a whole and help us realise that what’s good for the world can also be good for us, too. Filled with advice and ideas, this thoughtful guide provides the key to a lagom way of living – healthy, harmonious and happy.

Discover the secrets of the Nordic way of life to gain meaning, calm and happiness.The Nordic countries are renowned for being among the happiest in the world, and in this beautifully illustrated guide, Elisabeth Carlsson shares the keys to their lifestyle to help you improve your health and wellbeing. In the first chapter, learn about the benefits of wellness practices such as saunas and find skincare rituals that you can try at home. Next, take inspiration from Nordic foods by focusing on simple flavours, seasonal produce and preparing your meals as an act of self-care. There’s also a chapter on immersing yourself in nature through cold-water therapy and wild swimming. Embracing and adapting to the seasons is one way that the Nordics cope with the dark winters, and you’ll find methods to help you tune in to your environment through seasonal celebrations. From small self-care rituals to ways to shift your mindset, this guide includes plenty of inspiration from the Nordic countries to help you simplify and savour your everyday life.