As a Finn, I Get 5 Weeks Off! My Summer Vacation Rituals Explained
Curious about Finnish work-life balance? Discover how long paid vacations, daily routines, and a simple mindset shift help me unwind in summer.
In this blog, I share real stories from Finland and related audio files to boost your Finnish.
Subscribe for free to receive new posts and learn about Finnish culture and language.
Did You Know Finland Gives 4 Weeks Paid Summer Vacation?
You might have heard that Finland has long summer vacations. That’s true!
When you’ve worked for at least a year, you’re entitled to four weeks of paid summer holiday. Not every workplace allows you to take all of it at once, and sometimes you have to coordinate your time off with other employees, but let’s be real: this is amazing!
I’m lucky in the sense that:
I don’t need to negotiate my vacation timing with anyone; I can take it whenever I want
I can take my entire vacation at once
I have some unused vacation days, so I can make my time off even longer
So this year:
Last workday: June 27
Back to work: August 4
That’s five full weeks off, with full pay!
I know that this kind of opportunity isn’t something to take for granted, and I’m grateful for it.
Long Vacations vs. Lower Salaries: What’s the Trade-Off?
Yes, we get long vacations. But I want to point out that although we have long summer holidays, the salary level in Finland is lower than, for example, in the United States. Yes, we also have free education, reasonably priced healthcare, and other services. It’s hard to make simple comparisons, and everything probably comes down to what you’re used to and what you value most
I’ve lived in Finland my whole life, so I’m used to this culture and society. After recovering from burnout years ago, I’ve also tried to embrace this mindset:
no one has ever said on their deathbed: 'I wish I had worked more!'
How I Mentally Unplug After Work (Every Day)
I value the chance to take a break from working life. I do very goal-oriented work in B2B sales, so I sometimes get stressed.
I also work remotely a lot.
Working from home easily blurs the line between work and free time. When am I working? When am I off?
In my everyday life, I try to separate work and free time by going outdoors:
as soon as I shut down my work laptop, I go for a walk with my dog. By the time I return home, I’m already mentally “off duty.”
This afternoon walk has become a vital daily ritual for detaching from work.
Inside Finnish: Summer Vocabulary to Practice
Here are some key words from this post—try listening to the audio and saying them out loud!
loma – holiday, vacation
Example: Minulla on viiden viikon loma kesällä.
I have a five-week vacation in the summer.kesäloma – summer vacation
Example: Kesäloma alkaa tänä vuonna kesäkuun lopussa.
Summer vacation starts at the end of June this year.vapaa-aika – free time
Example: Yritän erottaa työajan ja vapaa-ajan kävelyllä.
I try to separate work and free time by going for a walk.kesäsuunnitelmat – summer plans
Example: Minulla ei ole isoja kesäsuunnitelmia Norjan matkan lisäksi.
I don’t have big summer plans besides the trip to Norway.lähteä pois – to leave, to go away
Example: Loman alussa haluan aina lähteä pois kotoa.
At the start of my vacation, I always want to leave home.puutarha – garden
Example: Aion viettää aikaa puutarhassa kesällä.
I plan to spend time in the garden this summer.luonto – nature
Example: Rakastan patikoida luonnossa loman aikana.
I love hiking in nature during vacation.vene – boat
Example: Aiomme mennä vesille veneellä ja vesijetillä.
We’re planning to go out on the water with our boat and jet ski.koira – dog
Example: Teen päivittäin kävelylenkkejä koirani kanssa.
I go on daily walks with my dog.kävely – walk
Example: Kävely töiden jälkeen auttaa irrottautumaan arjesta.
A walk after work helps me disconnect from daily stress.
Is there a Finnish word or expression you'd like help with?
Leave a comment or message me in the chat – I’d be happy to explain or pronounce it for you.
I Always Leave Home When Vacation Starts
I also have a ritual for starting my vacation. I always go somewhere, anywhere, on the first day of vacation. I just need to leave home.
The destination doesn’t matter, and it doesn’t have to be anything special: a weekend at my parents’ place in North Karelia is enough. What’s important is just to go somewhere.
That physical transition, a change of place, helps me mentally disconnect from work. After a couple of days, I don’t even think about work anymore.
This summer, me and my parter are starting our vacation with a trip:
First stop: Helsinki
Then: Flying to Bergen, Norway
We’re planning to go hiking and take a fjord cruise. I know it rains in Bergen on more than 200 days a year. Well, the weather in Finland isn’t always great either, so we’ve got proper outdoor gear. Still, I wouldn’t mind a bit of beautiful sunshine!
What I’ll Be Doing This Summer (Besides Relaxing)
Other than the trip to Norway, I don’t have any big vacation plans.
I really enjoy having the freedom to do whatever I want.
Usually, taking time off from work gives me mental energy and space to think, write, explore new things, and come up with ideas.
Often I get ideas about new hobbies during the summer.
The break from work is so complete that my mind naturally drifts toward the things I would do if I didn’t have to work.
I think this summer I’ll at least:
– do activities with my dog
– spend time in the garden
– go hiking in nature
– enjoy time on the water with our boat and jet ski
– consider creating more Finnish-language content for this blog or elsewhere
What about you? What are your plans for this summer?