Mind over Managing | Back to work, but did we ever leave?


Work can be a beach, so make it your own beach (Photo: Colourbox)

So, one of the best Danish summers in years is drawing to a close, and many of us will have recently enjoyed the dubious pleasures of a return to work after an extended break.

We’re never off the grid
Until a few years ago, this would have meant spending a day or two getting to grips with a mountain of emails, catching up with whomever you arranged to check your inbox, and generally reacquainting yourself once again with the logistical realities of working life.

Smartphones and the prevalence of wifi access at holiday destinations across the world have changed all of this. You are now always connected to your inbox, always contactable.

For many it seems to have even become a badge of honour that you are “never off the grid” , with clients reassured that even though you may be on vacation, you are “always contactable”.

The death of the holiday
So where does this leave the traditional notion of holiday being a time when you can disconnect, de-stress and relax?

It undoubtedly means that the break in communication we once enjoyed from work effectively no longer exists.

But it’s not all bad – there are benefits to being able to keep on top of your inbox on the beach, from underlining your commitment to alleviating the struggle on your return.

Besides, it’s not like vacations are always stress-fee – especially if you have young kids. 

But however we choose to spend our holidays, it is vitally important that we find a way to refresh and reinvigorate ourselves.

Mindfulness to the rescue
Mindfulness teaches the importance of simply stopping what we are doing, paying attention to what is happening right here, right now, and accepting what we find with compassion, thus stopping the mind’s constant forays into the present and the past and bringing us back to the present moment.

Being there, fully present in the moment, provides a deep sense of connection with where and who we are, bringing clarity to the focus of what we are doing with renewed vigour.

It’s a genuine and precious respite from the tumult of the everyday – whether we are at work or not.




  • Today is 10 years from Copenhagen terrorist attack

    Today is 10 years from Copenhagen terrorist attack

    On February 14 and 15, the last terrorist attack took place in Denmark. Another episode occurred in 2022, but in that case, there was no political motive behind it

  • Enter Christiania: how the Freetown works

    Enter Christiania: how the Freetown works

    We all know Christiania and have been there at least once. But how does the Freetown work? How are decisions made? Can a person move there? Is there rent or bills to pay? British journalist Dave Wood wrote a reportage on Christiania for The Copenhagen Post.

  • The struggles of Asian women in Denmark’s labour market

    The struggles of Asian women in Denmark’s labour market

    Isha Thapa unfolds her research “An Analysis on the Inclusivity and Integration of South Asian Women in High-Skilled Jobs within the Danish Labor Market”. Thapa describes the systemic and social challenges these women face, ranging from barriers in social capital to cultural integration.

  • Parents in Denmark reject social media monitoring 

    Parents in Denmark reject social media monitoring 

    Most parents in Denmark reject using social media parental controls despite knowing about them. A new study questions the effectiveness of these tools in ensuring children’s online safety.

  • Analysis: we need a different education system for international children in Denmark

    Analysis: we need a different education system for international children in Denmark

    Data analyst Kelly Draper Rasmussen highlights that Denmark sees peaks in international migration during early childhood and high school years. However, with only one international education option, many families are forced to leave to secure different opportunities for their children.

  • Danish Refugee Council to lay off up to 2,000 staff

    Danish Refugee Council to lay off up to 2,000 staff

    After the anticipation from The Copenhagen Post, a press release by DRC has confirmed the plan to lay off thousands of employees in response to the recent halt of foreign aid spending by the Trump administration.