Í júlí viljum við ekki bara ferðast meira, heldur líka sofa lengur, en í ágúst förum við smám saman aftur í vinnuna.

This is because Icelandic follows the V2 rule in main clauses: the finite verb normally comes in the second position.

So when the sentence starts with a time expression like Í júlí (In July), the verb viljum has to come next, and the subject við comes after it:

• Í júlí viljum við ...
• literally: In July want we ...

If the sentence started with the subject, then you would get:

• Við viljum ... = We want ...

This word order is very common in Icelandic.

Here í means in, referring to time, so it takes the dative case.

That is why Icelandic says:

• í júlí = in July
• í ágúst = in August

A useful rule is:

• í + dative for location / being in something, and also many time expressions
• í + accusative for movement into something

That same contrast appears later in the sentence with í vinnuna.

It means not only ..., but also ...

So:

• ekki bara ferðast meira, heldur líka sofa lengur
• not only travel more, but also sleep longer

This is a very common pattern in Icelandic.

You can think of it as:

• ekki bara X, heldur líka Y
• not only X, but also Y

Because the two verbs are being modified in different ways.

• meira = more
• lengur = longer

So:

• ferðast meira = travel more
  Here the idea is quantity/frequency/amount.
• sofa lengur = sleep longer
  Here the idea is duration.

English does the same thing:

• travel more
• sleep longer

So Icelandic is being quite natural here.

Meira is the comparative form of mikið (much / a lot), used adverbially here.

So:

• mikið = much / a lot
• meira = more

In this sentence, meira modifies the verb ferðast (to travel), so it means to travel more.

Lengur is the comparative adverb meaning longer.

It is used with things that last for a period of time, like sleeping, waiting, staying, or living somewhere.

So:

• sofa lengur = sleep longer

For learners, it is best to remember lengur as the normal word for longer when talking about time duration.

Because after vilja (to want), Icelandic normally uses the bare infinitive, without að.

So:

• vilja ferðast = want to travel
• vilja sofa = want to sleep

English needs to, but Icelandic often does not after certain verbs.

That is why the sentence has:

• viljum við ekki bara ferðast meira, heldur líka sofa lengur

not:

• viljum við ekki bara að ferðast ...

They are both 1st person plural present tense forms.

• viljum = we want
• förum = we go

So the sentence is talking about we in the present / general sense:

• Í júlí viljum við ...
• í ágúst förum við ...

For the same reason as earlier: V2 word order.

The clause begins with the time phrase:

• en í ágúst

Once that comes first, the finite verb must come second:

• en í ágúst förum við ...

So Icelandic is again following the normal main-clause pattern.

Smám saman means gradually, little by little, or bit by bit.

It is best learned as a fixed expression.

So:

• förum við smám saman aftur í vinnuna
• we gradually go back to work

You do not need to analyze it too much at first; just remember it as a common adverbial phrase meaning gradually.

Because this is movement toward something: going back into work / to work.

With í, Icelandic distinguishes between:

• accusative for movement into / toward
• dative for location inside / in

So:

• í vinnuna = to work / into work
• í vinnunni = in the workplace / at work

Since the verb is förum (we go), movement is involved, so the accusative is used:

• aftur í vinnuna

Aftur can mean both again and back, depending on context.

Here it means back, because the idea is returning to work:

• aftur í vinnuna = back to work

In another sentence, it could mean again, for example:

• Gerðu það aftur. = Do it again.

So the context tells you which meaning is intended.

Vinnuna is the definite accusative singular form of vinna (work, job).

Very roughly:

• vinna = work
• vinnu = work (accusative singular, indefinite)
• vinnuna = the work / the job (accusative singular, definite)

In Icelandic, the definite article is usually added to the end of the noun.

In expressions like fara í vinnuna, Icelandic often uses the definite form where English simply says go to work.

Here en means but, introducing a contrast:

• In July ...
• but in August ...

So the sentence contrasts two situations:

• July: wanting to travel more and sleep longer
• August: gradually going back to work

In some contexts, en can feel fairly mild, but but is the best translation here.

It sounds like a general pattern or a typical seasonal statement, not necessarily one single specific year.

The present tense supports that idea:

• viljum = we want
• förum = we go

So the feeling is something like:

• In July we tend to want ...
• but in August we gradually go back ...

Of course, depending on context, it could also refer to the current year, but by itself it sounds fairly general.