So, what happened? 

Thank you ALL for the amazing comments. Such wonderful words of encouragement and I've read them all. Thank you

Once corona is gone i would love to see you explore other cities and places in Finland :) vlogs and checking out the best spots and also just hanging out in nature

Welcome back, mate! You know, probably half the adults in the world have burned out over the last year, so I don't think anyone with half a brain is surprised it happened to you too. And it is important to highlight it, so thank you for that! Finns have a reputation for honesty, but not when it comes to mental health unfortunately, so it's doubly important here. Come think of it, it's doubly important everywhere. Hope you continue to feel better! Ps. He's a handsome lad isn't he, you wee lad. Pps. Did you keep discord, so you could see all my magnificent memes, or did that go too?

Great Video. EVERYONE needs some vacation now and again, and sauna! (Sauna of the Finnish Church in London is closed!). Regarding new content and your viewers growing up with you yeah it's true, as a 'long time viewer of Dave Cad' I don't feel myself connecting with your taste tests that much anymore, but a lot of of your other content very much so. If you want ideas into your hopper for new themes: - Public saunas (Finland & abroad? With English POV) - Social/other policies that Finland has that work (or don't!) - Videos exploring Finnish mindset vs other cultures - Private summer cottage reviews/documentation (to give idea of the the range out there, your own cottage is ALWAYS the best) - Finnish national parks - Explain what Finnish 'snägäri' is all about (The number of my foreign friends that are obsessed with visiting a snägäri when they visit Finland shocks me!) - Summer cottage saunas. OK I admit it, I'm a Finn stuck in Covid-19 lockdown London with no access to a sauna!

Wow hasn’t Leo grown up a lot. It’s ok to give yourself a break. We should always try to remember to that especially this year. Take good care💕

Winter time, man. Five years and going here for me. I think that it's great you are taking some time out for yourself. Finland's climate at time of pandemic is not the best combo, but hey, seems like it's gonna get better soon.

Welcome back, Dave!

First time commenting here. I discovered your videos out of a curiosity about life in Finland and ended up staying because of you. You seem like a really nice guy and I always enjoy your content. More vlogs and exploring Finland and life in Finland would be excellent - either way you should definitely make the content you enjoy the most. Glad you're back and that the break has done you well.

I would love to see more "daily life kind of videos: How does one buy lippu? What does doing laundry look like? (I'm in the US, and I know we are more machine-focused.) How do you get mail/packages? Etc, etc.

It's good that you took some time for yourself, and it's great to hear that you're feeling better now. Taking care of yourself and your mental well-being is REALLY important. Nice to see you again :)

Welcome back Dave. It is good for yourself sometimes just stop and recharges your own batteries, so you know what is best route to continue and to be more creative what you really want this channel. Whatever you decides, we most likely watch it, because of you. You are the main reason, we want to watch your channel, your open personality and positivity way you doing these videos that is why so many People want to support your channel Dave. So keep it going, and be safe out there these pandemic times.

Welcome back mate! As for content, do whatever you feel like doing. Cadin Keittiö is something I'd like to see as a person who cooks professionally, but whatever you feel like doing, I'll be here watching when I can :)

Dave, welcome back!! Easily the most important and impactful video you have put out in a really long time. Really great to see you back on track with health again - keep it up Last year was tough, took its toll on everyone. Your honesty here is refreshing, as is your desire to evolve your channel and content. This is an important step in the right direction! Sure, there will be some naysayers...but those who do not adapt are fated to obscurity. Don't be held back by their comfort zone. Well done on this strategic, sensible and necessary decision and happy to see how little Leo is growing up so fast. Peace!

So you literally Finnish now 😄 it’s seasonal thing also so be prepared for the next year 🤔

Good to see you back! My personal recommendation is to go in the wild nature, do only the necessary things and feel how all the stress and anxiety just melts away. There are some excellent finnish youtubers who are making content about hiking, camping and outdoor lifestyle in general (not talking about myself 🙈). A collaboration video with one of them would probably be a hit!

Definitely do what motivates you and makes you happy and the views will come!

A big YES to the new direction of your channel! Very much looking forward to it!

Nice to have you back Dave! Always take time for yourself

Good to see you back and feeling better! Looking forward to seeing more content. Evolving is part of life 👍🏽👍🏽

Welcome back dude! Hope your doing better! Hope to see some vlogs from you soon! I’ll be honest man the taste tests ain’t for me! I love Finland and all but I would much rather see you vlog and out and about but do what makes you happy man! I can’t wait to get out and film a new video! I know we have never met but if you ever wanna talk to a level head 35 year old geordie I’m here for you mate

Welcome back Dave! I hope you a feeling refreshed after being able to spend some family time. I love the vlogs, vlog style videos and videos seeing/ exploring Helsinki and Finland so im excited for all the upcoming content

Looking forward to seeing your future videos! As you're describing them, your new style of vlogging is exactly what I'd be interested in seeing. I started watching you because you live in Finland and so I'd love to see more about your family's life there.

I remember a time a long bit ago you went through this. You just needed a break. Glad you feel better.

I'm self employed. I haven’t had a single one day off in years. The holiday starts at 9pm and end is based on how much I dare to take away from sleep. Until 5am.

Glad to see and hear that your break was healthy and glad to have you back! 😌💙

I hear you 100% Dave! I had a stressful burnout so I quit my job December last year. I have been unemployed since, but I feel SO MUCH better now. Looking for a new job atm, but I have to say its so good to be just by yourself for a while and do nothing.

Welcome back, happy you’ve found joy again and be mindful of your health in the future❣️

Good job taking care of yourself Dave! Excited about future content :)

I hear you mate. Try to stay strong. Many of us haven been were you are at, we love you and hope to see you better.

Your taste test videos are how I discovered you, but it's all your other content that has kept me around! Really enjoy watching the different videos you create, where you're taking the channel, etc. Do what makes you happy Dave, we're just lucky to be along for the ride!

It's been a rough year all around and as soneone who's struggled with depression for years I know how important it is to give yourself a break and allow yourself to feel, process, settle and just breathe. I'm so glad you're feeling better and congrats on the book, that's super exciting! Leo is absolutely adorable!! Big hugs to you all

Welcome back! I really enjoy your videos!

I miss your vlogs, they were what drew me to your channel! I don't really watch the taste test videos, but I understand needing to do them if they are popular.

Hope you're feeling better Dave! Had to comment as I was five years ago exactly 16 years old and now 21 😄 Personally I still like the taste test videos because of their relaxed vibe, but those other plans sound great too! The video where you and Cat ate some lunch and had a casual conversation was very pleasant, maybe you could do more of that kind of stuff and perhaps combine taste testing with some casual talk/vlogging? Also got to say that those videos from the mökki are always great, looking forward to seeing those next summer as well!

Not gon lie borther you got great beard potential! Grow that thing out again and control it a lil by trimming it. - Good to hear you are living healthy again :)

Aww, your son looks like an angel, so cute!! Take care of yourself, Dave, let's hope the world gets back on track asap... I work in a grocery store and have been working all this time so I see the MENTAL effect this all has on customers. Nobody in our store has been sick, bar a couple of people having normal colds. Being around hundreds of people on a daily basis and being completely fine makes me feel like I'm living in a different reality, lol...

You are super. I could sleep 17h/day now. Feeling super tired etc. I hope you feel better now. Happy spring!

Ooh, looking forward to more Cadin keittiö! That's my favourite series of yours. 😀 Winter is hard time in Finland with the darkness. Brightlight lamps help a lot. Take a break every time you feel like it - we will be here! 😊

So nice to have you back! I think it is important to talk and show the fragile part of us as well. We are not loosers if we need a break, but winners bacause we have the courage to face our fragile parts and do something for it. It is very ok to be human! I like your new plans of your vlogs. All the best wishes!

So nice to see you again and hear that you are feeling better! 🤗

Best job in the world or not, too much is too much and then you have to listen to yourself. So glad you did and took your break. And these things should be talked about it more, there is nothing embarassing about it. Also, would love to see some content of places you visit and how you think of them. Finnish tourist attractions? Yay for adultier content! Hope youre feeling better!

Burnouts seem to be very common for youtubers. You are not alone.

Welcome back! You have helped me out of dark moments with your videos, I'm glad that you are better now. ❤ Can't wait for the children's book!!!

Looking forward for changes

Taking care of yourself is the most important thing, good that you had a break😊

You didnt look that bad with a beard! Very cool. Taking a mental health break is always a good idea, i hope you are doing good. I heard that Helsinki is in more of a rough spot compared to other parts of Finland, well, atleast compared to Tampere.

Nice to hear that everything is ok 😊👍

I'm always so excited whenever I see a new upload!

I totally know what you mean, I just had to admit to myself only last week that I am completely and utterly burnt out. And I am "only" studying. I even started crying during a Zoom class the other day, needless to say that was embarrassing. But it's important to talk about this stuff, we are not machines and sometimes we get overwhelmed and that's okay as long as we accept help. Anyway, hopefully 2 weeks was enough, it certainly feels like a short period of time... but I understand that RU-vidrs find it really hard to stay away much longer. Glad to have you back, in either case!

Keep it up Dave. Videos to bring you joy: how about something outside? Show us regular stuff in Finland. It's really interesting to see Helsinki. I'm sure your subscribers who aren't in FIN would appreciate it. How about a hike!?

Gonna be beautiful book!! Jenna makes some amazing illustration!

What a perfect ending to this sunday, sauna and your greetings, I’m so happy you are back. I think I would enjoy more mature content not that some taste test in the future is a bad thing but being allready quite grey haired myself I do enjoy just hearing how’s your life going. Looking forward for yours and Cats book, very exciting news. Hugs for Leo he has grown so much 🥰

Yes! More kitchen videos! Especially those when You are given a recipe without know what the end result will be! And yes - You should ALWAYS do content that You LIKE to do - not what You feel You must do. We will notice the difference in quality etc. If YOU are having fun - we viewers will enjoy watching it. Simply as that! Keep up the good work and don't be afraid to take brakes every now and then.

You should do content that makes you happy, I think it's very important! I love "cadin keittiö" videos. It would be fun to see what you eat in a day type of video or you making food with your family😊

Great stuff mate, and glad to see you back. I'm one of the monotonous worker bees who does a 9-5 job however I'm grateful for the holidays we can get. Having said that self employment is appealing in a lot of ways and I hope one day I can do it.

Oh, that's perfectly valid, Dave! Even the best job in the world can wear you out. Especially in the context of said job being very present in your personal life, combined with the pressures of entrepreneurship during a pandemic... We're glad you're back, but even so, feel free to take as much time as you need whenever you need it to cope with the pressures of life and to maintain your mental health. We'll still be here.

Yes, Dave! 🙌🏼 Happy you are back and rested and really looking forward to purchasing a copy of the new book! Also very excited for the new things to come. Ps. Leo is getting so big!

Glad you took time off to recharge, it's important! I love Cadin keittiö, so I'm happy you are going to do more of those. I was thinking, if you don't want to make full videos of taste tests, you could do like small clips on Instagram whenever you try something new. So it could be like one new candy bar and then your feedback. I don't know, just throwing that out there because I have always gotten a lot of tips from your TT videos and tried new things because of them. But you do you ☺️ Good to have you back!

Nice to see you again Dave. :-)

Good to have you back. And as I promised, we were here waiting!

Happy to see you back

So glad to see you again! 🧡

Nice to see you back Dave 😎

Well that is how i first came to your channel to watch how you reacted on finnish alcohol. That could be counted as a taste test for sure. After that i watched some candy taste and so one. As a typical finn we are often very curious how foreigners think about finnish things (including people). So that is reason why many finns follows foreigners life here in Finland. Also culture shocks and differences are many cases very nice to watch. Some things are so oblivious when we live here that it is nice to see other perspective as well. Most people who visits here and makes videos are stunned from some of things or ways of life here in Finland. It also opens my own eyes how good we actualy have things here compairing to elsewhere in world. You always picture that it would be so much better to live somewhere else but actualy it´s quite opposite and nice to see that people from all over the world wants to move or at least visit Finland. It´s propably hard to try to be creative and think what people wants to see. Put it this way and do what you want to doo and made videos about those things. Cooking is one thing. Everybody needs to cook and eat so that is always good idea. That also might inpire some youngsters to cook too and thats always positive. Of course this whole corona situation slows things down and there are not so much possibilities to do things that before. Stay positive dude!

Welcome back! It's good to take some time to rest once in a while.

It's important to talk about these things. Thank you! I think society today does not really acknowledge enough the mental problems. It's getting better but there is still a way to go. For example for people that are not self-employed, it might be a tricky situation to tell their employer about their issues, and then self-employed do not get enough support for their issues and they need to carry it all themselves. It will get better and I wish you all the best of luck. This is not an easy time to be self-employed and you should really be proud of yourself, not only the children's book but everything you do every day.

Dance to your own rhythm, Dave :) We all love a Cave Dad doing stuff whenever he so pleases. :)

Oh, it was a bear wakeing up and turning to Dave... Many fullltime RU-vidrs in Sweden are burning out, becourse they work 24/7 and not takeing care of them self. So I am not suprised, it happend to you. Good for you, you took a break, welcome back whit new energy, it should be fuun make videos not becourse you have too... 👏

Welcome back Dave

Kiva saada sinut takaisin..Nice to get you back😁

Did you use a drone in the last part of the video, when you were walking outside? That was cool! :)

If you want to explore then come up to Oulu and syöte, I'm from manchester and also need to get out.

Welcome back Dave 😊

We totally get the self employed way of life! People need brakes 😎 It's really good to figure out what kind of content you enjoy making because we can imagine the amount of time going into it!

The beard is NICE hope to see it again

There is other youtubers who should also take a break. Good to see you doing better :-)

Stress, shift work and traumas are the things which make most of the mental illnesses, it's a western culture problem. If I didn't have those in my life, my brain would not have gone broke. It's easy to detect the reasons if you look hard enough were it came from because the illness happens after the thing which made it. I got into university got stressed, got panic attacks, brain shut off, dropped off, got better. (school stress) JAMK sucks by the way, the stress level there, it's unhealthy high. My parents divorced, it started them all. I got trauma and stress, didn't go to school for a week, got therapy, I was 15, the time when brain is the most weak.

Welcome back bud! I just moved from NZ to Finland with my partner (who is Finnish) on the day you took your break and it's now so nice to get back in touch with you now that I'm actually here! We've been watching your videos for years and we love you and your family and videos 😊 P.S. Runescape! Me too! But you probably play OS?? :'(

Take care of yourself and your family. 👍❤

I was so anxious at the end because I was afraid that the drone will fell to the water 😨😨 but anyway, welcome back!

Hienoa! Kirja kiinnostaa todellakin. :)

Happy you are back. :) Just take care of yourself, we will be here even after breaks

You do you. You are awesome person. I like your Learning Finnish-videos but would watch anything, but the taste tests, because everyone in RU-vid eats rando-crap now (such as GMM)

I feel you a small bumb can spiral a channels content creation for a while. A single video takes a lot.

Good to have you back Dave! 💪 Burnout is a bitch, but you did a wise thing by taking the timeout and opening up about it. I'm looking forward to your new stuff!

Dude's becoming finnish going silent mode

HELLO Dave and welcome back GOODBYE taste test!!!!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏 They had their place Really welcome this new direction, wherever it goes. Some of us have been watching you since the shaky camera days...change is important, inevitable and should be embraced...good on you!!!!!!

Welcome Back❤️.

I'm glad you took a break and took care of yourself, but of course I missed seeing you post. I absolutely adore following you, Cat & Leo. If you're interested in doing some more "informational videos" about Finland & being a foreigner, me (Finnish, but lived abroad since age of 11) and my boyfriend (Croatian) would appreciate it a lot, since we are moving to Finland this year (hopefully.) Much love!

Ta det lugnt!

First there was an amish guy on the screen...Then there wasn't.

Take train, and come icefishing here

Ei vitsi. Niin tiedän tunteen. Ja jos käy tosi pohjalla, niin sieltä ylös nouseminen voi kestää kuukausia, jopa vuosia. Kyllä. Hanurista. hyvä kun olet taas siinä. Tsemppiä!

Welcome

I noticed this video only now.

Who else was anxious about the thought that Dave's drone would drop into the ocean at the end? Also: all the best Dave, take your time to listen to your body and mind and feel free to take your content to the direction you are yourself most excited about. I think it is quite common among the youtubers that people stress about having breaks or changing their content to match their own wishes. It's good to remember that influencers always overthink their own things and other people - like your audience - are are not as critical, they are just happy to get the content you yourself like to do, as it is always the best kind of content.

Ice fishing video

My sisters husband is publishing childrens books as well

Well, I have had quite a bad burnout twice - yep, not very smart that way :) And it is truly a very serious condition and it really can take long time to recover. Great that you admit that you have it - I have tried not admitting it, nope, not wise. Do see a doctor if you haven't and while anti-depressants have a bad press (for partially good reasons), they can be really helpful for short term recovery that you can then use for more permanent remedies. Don't kid yourself that you wouldn't be actually, physically sick. You are, mate, sorry about that. And maybe at this moment kind of on the rebound thinking that everything will be fine, if you yourself will now just shape up - nothing to it but to lift oneself by the bootstraps. No, it doesn't work that way. You are physically sick and you most likely need a pretty long time to fully recover. Sorry for the sermon but these days I feel like I'm a pretty much an expert on this subject :) (And yes, I have now, finally, after almost five painful and long years fully recovered from my second burnout, Gott sei Danke...)

has it been already five years? i was 18 when i started watching your videos and i'm turning 24 this year