About 10 years ago, the United Nations adopted March 20th as World Happiness Day and began ranking the happiness of its 156 member countries. In 2024, the happiness ranking of the United States dropped from 19 to 23 while Sweden kept its top-ranking position. Sweden’s high-ranking is attributed to several factors, including the country’s functional democracy, generous benefits, and “lagom” lifestyle.
Lagom means finding a balance between too much and too little. Life’s challenges sometimes upset the balance of things like career/family, indoors/outdoors, saving/spending, and working/relaxing. The new year provides an opportunity to rebalance to achieve well-being. The following are strategies and resources to help you restore balance in your life.
Tips
- Counseling – seek help from a career coach, financial planner, nutritionist, therapist, or trainer.
- Goals – set goals for eating healthier, getting exercise, going outdoors, and spending time with family.
- Flexibility – stay alert for opportunities and be patient with setbacks.
- Journaling – keep a journal to record ideas, express gratitude, and track goals.
- Meditating – make a routine of daily meditation using an app or video.
- Monitoring – monitor balancing progress with quarterly reviews and smartphone apps.
- Planning – adopt step-by-step plans to achieve your goals and dates for completing them.
- Scheduling – schedule time for planning and relaxing during the week.
- Prioritizing – focus on a few matters to avoid overload.
- Simplify – de-clutter your life, spend less time with devices, and take time for daily walks.
Conclusion
Maintaining spiritual balance is essential for physical and mental health. Balance can also boost careers, enhance relationships, and improve well-being. Consider seeking assistance from your bar association’s Lawyer Assistance and Practice Management programs. Have a happier new year by taking time to balance things in your life.