Discover the summer island getting rid of time -

One of the most common questions asked every day—a question that is likely being asked as you read this—is: What time is it? On one tiny island in northern Norway, they’re asking: Who cares?

Sommarøy is an island in West Tromsø, around 321 km (200 miles) north of the Arctic Circle. Its name means Summer Island, which is appropriate since the island offers more than two months' worth of non-stop summer. A dream come true for anyone who has ever wished that those long summer days would last forever.

Just in time for the summer solstice of 2019, this tiny island decided to make the lifestyle its residents have been living for years official by declaring itself the world’s first time-free zone. The idea didn't really go through, as the residents of Sommarøy didn't want to sign a law about something they already do. In fact, they all seem strangely relaxed about it, as if they have all the time in the world to figure it out... 

If you think about it, this island’s philosophy, born of extreme solar circumstances, may be the antidote we all need in a world where we wake up to clocks, are controlled by strict schedules, constantly check our phones to see the time, and ultimately move in synchronized motion to the relentless ticking towards our final days. Yikes!

Check out this gallery to learn more about the island making time a thing of the past.

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Summer of 69 - On the island, the sun doesn't set from May 18 through July 26, a full 69 days, CNN reports.

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The midnight sun - This natural phenomenon where the sun remains visible at the local midnight occurs in the summer months in places north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle.

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Extraordinary solution for an extraordinary circumstance - The island’s Facebook page, Time-Free Zone, asks a valid question: “Why do we need time and clocks when there is no night?”

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Why they’re so good at summer - The reason the islanders make the most of their summer is in part because they must also endure the long polar night from November to January, when the sun doesn’t rise at all.

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They’re used to unconventional time - "There's constantly daylight, and we act accordingly," says islander Kjell Ove Hveding.

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Some usual summer activities - Hveding said that it’s perfectly normal to see children playing soccer or going for a swim, or people mowing the lawn in the middle of the night, "which city folk might call '2 am.'"

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No darkness and no rules - The Facebook page writes that “a coffee with friends on the beach at 2 am is a normal thing.”

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Benefits of being active at “night” - The residents say there’s always less wind at night, which is “perfect to paint the garage.” Thrilling!

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“We do what we want when we want” - Which includes putting all traditional forms of time in "air quotes."

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What about sleep? -

While activities are welcome around the clock, so is clocking out for a little while. “If we get tired, we’re fit to go after a nap on the sofa.” People who love naps: this is the place for you.

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Making it official - There are little more than 300 people on the island, but they got to a point where they decided they wanted the world to recognize their lifestyle, and so they gathered at a town hall meeting to sign a petition for a time-free zone.

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Making it official -

On June 13, 2019, some members of the town’s council met with a Norwegian member of parliament to discuss the practical and legal challenges of the initiative.

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Just a formality - "To many of us, getting this in writing would simply mean formalizing something we have been practicing for generations," Hveding said.

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What does that look like? - They want to be free of traditional opening hours and to provide flexibility for their residents, both in school and working hours.

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Better for mental health? - Hveding spoke to Norwegian broadcaster NRK about the prevalence of stress and depression in cities around the world. “In many cases, this can be linked to the feeling of being trapped, and here the clock plays a role.”

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The goal - In renouncing time, this old fishing village hopes to provide a place where people can live their lives to the fullest, in whatever small ways that entails. "Our goal is to provide full flexibility, 24/7. If you want to cut the lawn at 4 am, then you do it."

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It’s not throwing everything out the window - Though vague about how exactly it would work, the initiative ensures children and young people would still have to go to school, but there would be more flexibility. “One does not need to be put into a box in the form of school or working hours."

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It aims to help its workers - Fishing and tourism are the main industries on the island, and since the local fishermen have often spent days on the ocean without regard for a timetable, this official acknowledgment would simply recognize their time-free work schedule.

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It never became official -

The law was never signed by the Norwegian authorities. In fact, it was discovered more recently that the main idea of the proposal was to incentivize the tourism and promote the islanders way of living internationally.

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The land that time forgot -

This way, the quirky little town has kept up its reputation as the land that time forgot.

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Tourism is booming - The quirky appeal of a timeless Nordic island and an endless summer are huge draws for visitors curious to see what life without time would feel like.

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It offers an idyllic landscape too -

Even without its timeless appeal, the island is a popular tourist destination due to its white sand beaches, traditional Rorbu fishing houses, and stunning natural scenery.

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How many times have you checked the time today? - Their Facebook page asks, “Do you hear the ticking of time? Why don't you just turn it off?”

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Both isolating and unifying -

Throwing away time makes it difficult to keep up with the developed world’s strict schedules, but it has also built a strong bond between this community that dares to live differently.

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Just call ahead before you go - With no strict working schedules, there’s increased communication among residents, and everything becomes more personal. Of course, this is much easier to accomplish in a town of just 300 people.

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Whether you could do it or not... -

This summer the people of Sommarøy will again enjoy weeks of daylight before a sunset splashes orange into their sky.

Check out the extraordinary story behind the island of long life.

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