By Kate Leo
A “siesta” is a nap in the afternoon typically after lunchtime. This term originated in Spain; however, siestas are also common in India, the Philippines, Italy, Greece, and Croatia. Historically, a siesta was implemented during the hottest hours of the day so that farmers could take breaks.
Traditionally, individuals would work between 9 am and 2 pm, and then they would stop for a two-hour break until coming back to work from 4 pm to 8 pm. However, with busy days becoming the new normal, siestas are rarely common in the current day. However, in Ador (near Valencia), the siesta is still honored every day. Between 2 pm and 5 pm, everything in the town seems to shut down. Parents are encouraged to keep their kids indoors, and shops close.
There are multiple studies that show how helpful midday breaks and naps can be for worker productivity. They can improve learning, memory, prevent stress, boost people’s mood and creativity, and refresh the brain. Naps are even linked to lessening clinical issues such as coronary heart disease. A study from Athens Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health tracked 23,681 Greek men and women, and they found that regular siestas could be associated with 34% of a lower risk of dying of heart disease even after looking for other risk factors. However, this association needs to be studied further, as a study from Costa Rica and Israel showed differing results.
Even though there has been a movement amongst the Spanish government to abolish the siesta due to it being outdated and impractical, there are still movements to save it. In 2017, a sleep cafe opened, called Siesta & Go. The business offers private and shared rooms where customers can participate in a traditional siesta without having to travel all the way from their workplace to home if it is inconvenient. Some use the siesta period to not even nap, but to go home to their family and spend quality time away from the workplace. The siesta can be seen as a symbol of work-life balance because it is a time for people to relax. This has long since been a Spanish tradition, and it is rooted in the culture.
Sources: https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20170609-its-time-to-put-the-tired-spanish-siesta-stereotyp e-to-bed https://www.culturallyours.com/2019/08/29/understanding-spanish-siesta-culture/ https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/Siestas_and_your_heart_Can_you_nap_your _way_to_health
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