You cannot rest without boundaries!

Heeeeej!

As n’betweeners, we have an incredible ability to adapt and switch environments.

In the past weeks, I’ve traveled quite a bit: France, Spain, Denmark.

Here is how I know I’m in Europe during the month of July, and NOT in the States.

Empty offices, people asking “aren’t you soon gonna go on vacation?”, shops with signs that say closed for two weeks, main streets empty and beaches packed.

While in the US, same old, same old. It could be May or October…things look mostly the same.

When I first moved to the US, I took pride in sharing that we have 5 weeks-vacation in Denmark.

8 years later, I feel guilty to take 5 days of vacation.

So yes, I’m home in Copenhagen, and I’m fully Americanized.

Everything seems small here: tiny cups of coffee, small cars. I notice the urge to drive, sometimes I feel lazy to bike. I’ve even forgotten how to use a laundry machine. 

But the saddest part is that I’ve forgotten how to rest.

Capitalism teaches us we can’t rest. It tells us that rest means “you’re doing something bad”.

Often the reaaaaal work is not to work, but to learn how to rest.

Boundaries are essential to rest. 

Rest literally means to say no to work. 

Rest is a space n’between.

Rest can be one breath or a month of vacation in Corsica. 

Rest is also a privilege.

Denmark's system not only supports but encourages people to rest.

You might not have that privilege, but you can always make space for n’between rest.

I can no longer take 5 weeks vacation, but here are my latest 5 n’between moments of rest:

• Napping with my bestie in the middle of the day

• Putting my phone on airplane mode for hours

• Blocking time for rest in my calendar

• Jumping in the harbor after a hard day

• Eating a delicious croissant on the floor

What does rest look like for you today?

Kram fra København

Nora