Several of my posts have been about getting organized, staying motivated or eating right. Not this one. Even the most health conscious among us need to just give it a rest. Literally. I used to have a yoga teacher who said we should follow nature’s lead. When the days get shorter and there’s less daylight — do less! Simple, sound advice that I, for one, plan on heeding, which is why if you ring my doorbell at 7:00 p.m., you’re likely to find me in my pajamas, if I come to the door at all.

The body and mind need time to recharge. Despite popular opinion, this is not the time to be running around after dark doing your holiday shopping. (Do what I do — shop online!) Why do you think so many people get sick this time of year? It’s all that dangerous candle burning people do trying to get everything done. Trust me, your loved ones would rather have you around healthy, than not. That really is the best present.

So consider this permission to do a little guilt-free indulging. Key words: guilt-free. Slip into your sweats, curl up with a blanket and watch that sappy Hallmark Channel Christmas special. (You know you want to.) And don’t forget, animals live off their stored fat during the winter, so I say it’s okay to put on a few pounds this time of year. Hey, what are New Year’s Resolutions for? Happy napping.

We invite you to join us on this journey from the core of the Spanish culture, through all its branches and researching each leaf.

On behalf of the team here at Just’n Joy I bid you welcome to Spain. I am here to help you with tips and ideas, I am a native and I know my country. Therefore, please feel free to ask me anyhting, I hope you can make Spain your country too.

White sandy beaches may look idyllic and inviting, but those fine grains of sand manage to work their way into the most inconvenient places (including ones sandwich!), and if you have ever applied sun lotion before sitting down on a windy beach, you will know what a sugar-covered donut feels like!

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore pure sand, crystalline waters, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, but I enjoy the experience a whole lot more if I am sitting next to an infinity pool, safely lifted from those pesky grains of sand below.  Therefore, I must concede that I am a ‘pool person’, but I’m pretty sure I am not alone.

The pool scene in the US is huge, and if you have ever experienced one of the Sunday afternoon pool parties in Las Vegas, you will know exactly what I am talking about!  Beautiful bodies, loud music, and free-flowing cocktails are standard, but it might not be the best place in the world if you want to relax and read your book…!

Europe is still behind when it comes to the whole ‘pool scene’, although many of the larger resorts are now trying to copy their American counterparts by setting up large white sofa beds, ultra cool cabana’s, and offering ridiculously overpriced cocktails.

Destinations like Fiji and Mauritius seem to get it right when it comes to the pool scene.  With separate areas for children, and strategically placed sun loungers, it is easy to find your perfect spot, be it next to the live band playing tropical music, or shaded under a palm tree in complete solitary.

So if you find yourself digging sand out of your Speedo’s this summer, head off to the pool – it’s a whole less complicated!

Often we make a something like ‘wish list’ for the vacation time, what’s needed to do. Consider things you would like to do and you need to do. Someone has a lot of travel activities, someone is planning to visit relatives or go to countryside for a while.

What is on your vacation list?

• Go to the movies;
• spend more time outside the house;
• go to an amusement park;
• do some homework;
• trip to Europe;
• go to the beach;
• clean your room;
• design you dream house;
• cook 3 meals a day;
• read work related books;
• chat with friends on facebook;
• take summer courses at the community college;
• spend more time with children;
• visit relatives…

Well, did you pick things that relates to you? But where is a ‘do nothing’ time, when you will:

• forget about alarm clock and have a ’lazy’ morning;
• surf the Internet without checking an e-mail;
• do things with no-rush attitude during the day;
• have a cup of tea and watch life going on outside the window;
• eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste a food;
• read a book while at taking long warm bath;
• spend time with family or friends without rushing;
• head out to seaside & watch sunset;
• do one thing at the time.
  

  enjoy the sunshine or simply watch people passing by

What comes to traveling, do you have a list of sightseeing ’must see today’ places? Planning is good. But do you know that all the plans are made to be changed? If this is your holiday, do you really need to get up at 7am to have a quick breakfast and be first in line to famous tourist attraction?

I like traveling. I like sightseeing. But somehow staying in a queue for an hour or two to get  up on viewing platform of Notre Dame Cathedral, getting in to Coliseum/ Louvre  or  visit a Vatican doesn’t sound tempting at all. Therefore I would suggest use tourist sightseeing passes that include transportation and line skipping as much as possible

There are things that I don’t understand either - like traveling 5 European cities in 7 days or running trough British Museum in two hours. I see just a lot of stress from getting from place to place and tired people of ‘too much information’ in short time. I wish people would enjoy more:

• breakfast without rush;
• catching the morning sun at the hotel’s swimming pool;
• enjoying the view of the city or some attraction;
• simply sit down at the park and watch people passing by;
• enjoy sunset (sunrise is nice as well, but too early )

I do understand that not everyone can have 1 or 2 month off the job but even a week is good for it. With good planning even a short breakaway can be helpful to ‘recharge batteries’ of your body & soul. Do the things you have been wishing for a long time or go to the places that are off your regular route… 

With all the activities going on don’t forget to include time, when you ‘do nothing’. Modern meaning of ‘holidays‘ is a special days to have a rest or relaxation ( as an opposite to normal days of work).

Relax, take it easy!

…and enjoy you vacation days!