Balance: The Great Resignation and Lagom

Have you heard of “The Great Resignation” or the “Big Quit” permeating the U.S. and global work force? I find it to be a fascinating cultural shift with important psychological impacts.  

What is it?

Focusing mainly on the economic and job sector, the mayhem created by COVID originally was what we would have expected: high layoff numbers and low resignation numbers. Companies were needing to layoff employees due to the impact of COVID, making job security more scarce, and in turn the resignation rate dropped. Basically people losing their jobs inspires other people, who still have their jobs, to hold on to them. 

But then something really curious happened. Through the dance of varying COVID restrictions and government funding for many businesses, companies started to bring back laid-off employees. While many employees returned to work, there was a higher than “normal” percentage of employees who quit. So you get the opportunity to go back to your job and rather than go back, you quit.  

Why is this happening?

There is still a lot of speculation and analysis to do on the overall phenomenon. Many factors influence the job force. If you were a working mom or dad that got laid off and then took on the responsibility of managing zoom school for your kiddos as well as daycare, you may not have been able to go back to work, hence the quit. Or you may have been a retail or service industry worker who found the time during unemployment inspiring to switch job fields, go back to school, or start your own company. Perhaps you were in the tech industry and working from home became a luxury you didn’t want to live without, so now you will find a position with another company that honors that flexibility. Factors like working conditions, work-life balance, and refocusing on what your career goals might be, all play significant roles in this shift we are seeing in the work force. 

The Psychological Impacts and Introducing Lagom

As a seeker of optimism, I’ve been pondering the positive implications of the Great Resignation and have some anecdotal references. My hope is that the shock and affronting nature of this pandemic have made people assess, “how am I living?” Perhaps it inspired people to wake up and understand life is short and needs to be appreciated. I have witnessed people I know starting new businesses, changing career fields, and more closely monitoring their work-life balance with more intent than before. 

I recently learned about a Swedish way of living called “lagom.” It roughly translates to “not too much, not too little, just the right amount.” Similar to the story of Goldilocks, finding the bed that is just right. The Swedes implement this way of living in everything they do from socializing to food to work. 

When we look at lagom in the area of work, it is something to be admired. There is a strong focus on productivity while at work, but also an absolute expectation and strong boundary line between work and the rest of your life. Swedish culture encourages rest, recuperation, and enjoyment as a balance to productivity, hard work, and efficiency. 

As we head into a time of year with the possibility of much excess, perhaps consider embracing some lagom in your life.