Not everyone gets a summer break – and that’s okay!

Image: Pexels

Text: Lyndsay Jensen

Dear readers

Lately, almost everyone I meet asks me the same question: “So, where are you off to this summer?” It's asked with a smile, as if a getaway is a given.

But this year, I’m not taking a holiday.

Instead, I’m staying put - not out of obligation, but because I’m deep into a new, exciting project that I genuinely am loving. It’s all leading up to some exciting things happening soon, and right now, I’m exactly where I want to be: building, writing, preparing.

Still, I won’t lie - I do feel the pull of sun-drenched afternoons, the envy of out-of-office replies, and the gentle pressure to disappear for a while.

And if that’s your July? Enjoy it. Every long lunch. Every nap in the sun. Every moment away from your to-do list.

But this ed's note is really for the rest of us - the ones who are still here, still working, while the world seems to drift into vacation mode.

You’re not alone.

In Denmark, while most workers are entitled to five weeks of paid holiday, many industries—and many internationals — can’t pause in the summer. According to SMVdanmark, only about a third of small and medium-sized Danish companies fully shut down during the traditional industrial holiday in July. The rest stay open.

In manufacturing, the old July production dip of 18% (back in 2000) has narrowed to just 8.5% in recent years. More businesses are staying operational and busy.

And then there are the industries that never pause at all: healthcare, transport, retail, hospitality, and agriculture. The hospitals and care homes where my son lives run 24/7. Supermarkets stay stocked. Buses and trains stay on schedule (for the most part). And cafés, hotels, and tourist attractions are at their busiest.

So if you’re keeping the wheels turning while others rest, thank you. Whether you’re pouring coffee, caring for patients, driving buses, or keeping the lights on, you are the reason summer runs at all.

Yes, rest is essential. But it doesn’t always have to mean a beach or a boarding pass. Sometimes it’s a slower morning, a walk after work, or five minutes of stillness in a packed day. You don’t have to go away to take care of yourself.

Here are a few ways to bring that holiday feeling to everyday life (ideas I’ll be stealing for myself, too):

Micro adventures

• Sunset picnic in the park: Grab a blanket, your favourite snacks, and a friend (or book) after work.

• Beach or lake dip: Morning or evening swims can feel like magic.

• Forest walk or urban hike: Explore a part of your city you’ve never wandered through.

Treat yourself moments

• Solo café morning: No agenda, just coffee, a pastry, and a book.

• Try a new food spot each weekend: Turn your town into a mini culinary tour.

• DIY tasting night: Wine and cheese, local beers, or even an ice cream flight at home.

So, whether you’re away, working, or somewhere in between, I hope you find some lightness this summer. You deserve it!