What if Your Holiday Gives You More Than Just Rest? Why Summer is the Perfect Time to Reflect on Your Career

For many of us, summer is the first time all year that we truly slow down. The deadlines pause. The inbox becomes quieter. We spend more time with family and friends. And for the first time in months, we have space to think. That's often when the questions we've been quietly pushing aside begin to surface.

"Am I actually happy in my job?"

"Is this still the career I want?"

"Why do I feel exhausted even after taking time off?"

As a Career Clarity Coach, I've noticed something interesting over the years. September is often one of my busiest months. Not because people suddenly become unhappy after the summer. But because a holiday gives them something they've been missing for months: perspective. One of my clients recently shared something that really stayed with me.

She said,

"It wasn't until the second week of my holiday that I realized I wasn't tired because I needed a break. I was tired because I'd outgrown my job."

That single realization became the starting point for a completely different conversation - not about taking a longer holiday, but about creating a career that genuinely suited who she had become.

During my 17 years working in HR, I met many talented professionals who stayed in roles that no longer suited them because they were busy, responsible and convinced things would improve if they just kept going.

Today, I hear similar stories from my coaching clients. Many tell me they feel guilty for wanting something different. After all, they have a good salary. A permanent contract. A respected position. So they keep telling themselves:

"I should be grateful."

But gratitude and fulfilment are not the same thing.

For internationals, these questions can feel even more complicated. Moving to another country often means putting your career on hold for a while. You focus on finding a home. Settling your family. Learning how things work. Building a new network. Sometimes you accept the first job that gives you stability, even if it isn't quite the right fit. And that's completely understandable. But once life becomes more settled, it's worth asking yourself an important question:

Does the career that helped me build my life here still fit the person I am today?

Because the role that helped you get started in the Netherlands doesn't have to be the role you stay in forever.

This summer, I'd like to invite you to pause and ask yourself three simple questions:

• What parts of my work give me energy?
• What parts consistently drain my energy?
• If nothing changed over the next three years, would I be happy?

You don't need to have all the answers today. Sometimes clarity begins simply by asking yourself the right questions. Whether that leads to setting healthier boundaries, having an honest conversation with your manager, exploring a new opportunity or considering a career change, giving yourself permission to reflect is often the first step towards creating a career that truly fits. And perhaps that's one of the greatest gifts summer can offer us. Not just rest. But perspective.

About the Author

Aneta Kantarowska is a Career Clarity Coach and former HR professional with 17 years of experience. She helps internationals build fulfilling careers in the Netherlands through practical career coaching, workshops and career guidance.

Learn more at www.kantaclaritycoaching.com or contact aneta@kantaclaritycoaching.com.