Introduction: What is Sweden's "relaxed" working style?
Sweden, a Nordic country, has been attracting attention worldwide for its high level of welfare and unique culture that emphasizes work-life balance. While many employees take an average of five weeks of vacation in the summer, the country is characterized by maintaining economic growth and corporate competitiveness by working efficiently.
The Fika connection
Small breaks can make a big difference
The coffee break culture , known as "Fika," is a custom that represents Sweden's "leisure" lifestyle. Regular time is set aside at work, at home, or in a cafe to socialize with others while enjoying coffee and a light meal.
Fika contributes to the creation and development of Nordic tableware
Fika culture does not simply refer to the time spent drinking coffee, but emphasizes "the entire time spent with coffee." The demand for this "comfortable break time" has also had a major impact on Nordic tableware design.
• Examples of Swedish tableware brands
Representative examples are long-established Swedish ceramic brands such as Rörstrand and Gustavsberg . They produce a large number of beautiful and functional coffee cups and plates, and their designs are highly regarded around the world.
• Combining practicality and design
At Fika, enjoying coffee and sweets in beautiful tableware is also an important element. This everyday habit has fostered sophisticated Nordic design and created the soil for the development of tableware and crockery that provides a comfortable user experience.
• Spreading the Swedish lifestyle
The background to the "Scandinavian boom" in Japan and other countries around the world was the widespread support for the relaxed lifestyle symbolized by fika and the appeal of the simple, warm tableware that adorns that lifestyle. Through the fika culture, Sweden and the design culture of Scandinavia as a whole attracted even more international attention.
The Swedish way of using free time is not just a way to rest or have leisure time, but is considered an important factor in increasing work productivity . Repeating short periods of concentrated work followed by regular breaks makes it easier to maintain high efficiency. Furthermore, allocating time to hobbies and study outside of work increases the opportunities to gain new ideas and perspectives, and "leisure" is a source of creativity.
The Spirit of Lagom
"Lagom," which means "just right" or "moderate," is a value that supports the Swedish lifestyle and culture in general. It is said that the attitude of not working too hard, but also not being lazy, and continuing to pursue an exquisite balance, is what supports the high level of happiness of the Swedish people.
While Sweden has been attracting attention worldwide for its work style that values "leisure," it also has the shadow of high tax rates and the welfare system supported by them, as well as a high unemployment rate. Nevertheless, it can be said that the reason why Sweden has maintained its national power to produce innovative companies (IKEA, H&M, Spotify, Ericsson, Volvo, etc.) is because it has a good balance of efficiency, flexibility, and the spirit of Lagom (moderation).