ADHD and the Scandi art of balance
Image: Colton Sturgeon on Unsplash
Why taking regular breaks
is a habit we should all adopt
In Sweden, the concept of ‘lagom’ is a big deal.
While it has no direct equivalent in the English language, lagom essentially means ‘not too little; not too much’.
And it’s a rule to live by that can have a profound effect on body, mind and soul.
The foundations of lagom lie in the pursuit of achieving perfect balance.
Of knowing when something is at its optimum, without stopping short of – or going too far beyond – whatever is required for something to be ‘just right’.
Practised well (as many a Scandinavian aspires to do), this positive ethos can be applied to just about any and every aspect of life.
And so can be adopted by anyone, anywhere – whatever they’re into. Such as…
- the chef who values fewer, fresher ingredients over an all-out assault on the taste buds
- the artist who considers white space to be a vital active element of the overall design
- or the jazz pianist who knows that it’s the notes she DOESN’T play that brings her inimitable style to a tune
A truth about the working memory you should never forget
One application of lagom that many of us would benefit from relates to how much we set out to get done.
To reassess our perception of what achievement looks like, and allow ourselves NOT to fall into the trap of assuming that mental effort and exertion are the only markers of a successful day. Or week. Or month. Or even year.
Research into ADHD has long pointed to the fact that the act of putting the working memory through its paces requires relatively more effort for someone who is ADHD.
There’s even a study that takes the idea further, calling for future investigation into the very EXPERIENCE of increased ‘in-the-moment’ mental effort by ADHDers – suggesting that it may be a relatively less pleasant one compared with people who are not, diagnosably at least, ADHD.
Less pleasant equals more fatiguing. And so the problems with unnaturally extended periods of concentration compound for an ADHDer, until a state of mental exhaustion is so often reached.
Mental exertion should – MUST, in fact – be balanced with rest. And, if your brain is of the ADHD type, that’s one thing you should try not to forget.
A little Swedish balance for your ADHD brain
A typical ADHD experience of working patterns (as if there were such a thing) is often said to manifest as intense periods of concentration followed by an almost total inability to get anything done at all.
A rollercoaster ride of hyperfocused highs and hyper-frustrating lows that make it seem like every step forward triggers a kind of inertia that will undoubtedly take the joy out of the ride.
But to see these necessary pit stops as a failing is to miss how the ADHD mind works.
Those times when we get a shit tonne done are cool. And empowering. And put our productivity on speed.
But they drain the battery fast.
And so the need to rest isn’t just inevitable; it’s completely necessary – and a crucial part of the process that gets us ready to go again.
Sweden repeatedly ranks among the top three happiest places in the world to live.
The country’s productivity has been among the highest globally in recent decades, too.
As ADHDers, we can learn a lot from that. Because it empowers us to build the habit of resting regularly in order to get more out of life.
Or, as the Swedes would say, it reminds us to be a little bit more ‘lagom'.
Copyright © Kevin Exley 2025
You should not regard the information contained in this article/post as being, or as a replacement for, professional medical advice or treatment. The words contained herein represent the thoughts and opinions of the author, who is not clinically or medically trained.
References: Hsu CF, Eastwood JD, Toplak ME. Differences in Perceived Mental Effort Required and Discomfort during a Working Memory Task between Individuals At-risk And Not At-risk for ADHD. Front Psychol. 2017 Mar 21;8:407. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00407. PMID: 28377736; PMCID: PMC5359313.