Picking a spot to visit for your summer holiday is never an easy task, but it is an exciting one. Looking through travel brochures, weighing up the pros and cons of each country, working out the budget, then finally booking – it’s all part of the experience. To give you a head start when it comes to working out where you want to go this summer, we’ve put together some great reasons why Spain should be your ultimate destination. Here they are.

Festivals

Spain has many different festivals and fiestas that span the entire year. No matter where you go or when, you’ll find there is some festival or other being prepared for. Some are more serious, like the ones you’ll come across during Holy Week, and some are more frivolous and fun, like the many food festivals across the country. Each festival is full of color and life, and is certainly something for you to remember for many years to come.

The Location

Spain really is its own country. Although part of Europe, it is often considered a little bit of an outsider due to its location; geographically it is a little more isolated from the rest of the continent. That means that although there is a lot of European culture in Spain, there is more solely Spanish culture. This is completely different to anywhere else you’re going to have a chance to visit, and even if you’ve been to many other European destinations, Spain will be something new which is a great reason to go there.

The Food

Spain is famous across the world for its food and for good reason. Paella is perhaps the most famous single dish, but you’ll discover that it is prepared different in each region (sometimes in each town or city). The basic ingredients of rice, stock, shrimp and prawns, and mussels tend to remain the same, but plenty more besides can be added. It is entirely possible to travel around Spain subsisting on paella alone – it wouldn’t become boring because there are so many variations.

Tapas is another famous Spanish cuisine. Tapas is not one food but a type of food made up of lots of small dishes that you can pick and choose and share. It’s a fun way to eat and it means you can try many different Spanish delicacies in one sitting.

Let’s not forget the drink either. Spanish wine has made quite a name for itself, but it is sangria which is most well known. Sangria is made from red wine (usually Spanish rioja) with fruit and it is a refreshing, delicious adult beverage.

So Many Cities

Spain is one country but by visit some of the many different cities across it you might be forgiven for thinking it is many smaller countries bundled together. That’s because each region in Spain is entirely distinct from the next, meaning you can travel from one end of the country to another and experience a multitude of different things. If you find that you have seen enough of one place, you can easily hop on a train and head off to another. Remember not to get too carried away though, as travelling can sometimes become expensive. The key is to set a budget before you leave.

The People

Although it might sound like something of a generalization of cliché, the Spanish people really are incredibly friendly. You can be confident in trying out the Spanish language, for example, because the Spanish people will appreciate your efforts even if you get it wrong! By the end of your holiday your confidence and your Spanish will be much greater than they were before you left home.

No matter where you go, whether it’s the beach, a museum, a café or bar, you will find someone who will be happy to talk to you about their country and culture. You’ll discover so much more this way and your vacation will be a much more fulfilling one. Lying on the beach for two weeks is fine (in fact, it’s good for you as long as you wear the right sun block), but mixing that with learning about the country you’re staying in is even better.

Flamenco Dancing

When you think of Spain, the famous flamenco dancers might be the image that comes to mind. All across Spain you’ll be able to find flamenco shows and it is definitely something you should experience. The proud woman with her fan and hair up on her head and her beautiful dress dancing passionately across the stage is a sight to be seen. There is a kind of contagious energy that comes with flamenco and once you start watching you won’t be able to draw your eyes away. 

Family Friendly

If you are looking for a family-friendly holiday to take the children on so that they can also experience new cultures and places, Spain is a great choice. This is not a country where it is frowned on for children to stay up late; in fact, the locals will enjoy seeing your kids having fun and it will be a refreshing break for the parents to be able to relax and let the children run (relatively) free. With great, fresh food, plenty of space to play, and wonderful beaches as well as museums and adventure theme parks and the like, your children will love Spain as much as you do.

The Climate

Spain has the same kinds of seasons as the UK which means when you travel in the summer you’re sure to get some great weather when you arrive in Spain. That’s not to say it never rains, but for most of your holiday you should have great sunshine and hot weather. If you’re looking for somewhere hot to relax and enjoy, Spain can be the ideal choice. When it gets too warm you can head back to your hotel for a siesta like the locals do, ready to enjoy the slightly cooler temperatures when you wake up.

For many people, working from home is the ultimate dream. There’s no long, soul-sucking commute, you can be in a place you find most comfortable, and – if you’re really lucky – you can even choose your own hours (this is even easier if you’re self-employed). Yet in some cases working from home can make us a lot less productive than we might normally be if we went out each day to an office environment. Here are some great tips for making the most out of your home office and getting everything done.

Start Early

Because you don’t have to catch a certain train or head out the door at a specific time to miss the traffic, you can get up nice and early and make a good start on the day. If you begin work when you would normally start a commute to an office (or before that if possible) then you will have achieved something before most people even switch on their laptops. When you reach that point you can get up, stretch, have some breakfast, re-set, and start again.

When you begin with such a positive, achieving mindset, you will get so much more done. Plus you might even be able to finish early because you started before everyone else.

Imagine You Are Going To The Office

For some people, there is a big psychological difference between working from home and working from the office. The daily commute, although not perhaps the best part of the day, sets them up ready for the work they have to do. So too does wearing more formal attire and leaving the house. If this is the case for you, you can trick your mind into feeling as though you are heading to the office and it can make you more productive at home.

Firstly, set your alarm and get up as though you have to be in the office. Get dressed in office clothes, pack a bag with your lunch, make a flask of coffee, do whatever it is you need to do to get ready. Then leave the house. It doesn’t matter whether you need to drive around the block a couple of times or you go for a walk to the train station and back, if this puts your mind in the right place then go for it. When you get back to your house, you’re at work so all other distractions – housework, shopping, chatting to a neighbor – can’t happen. When the work day is over, go out again and when you come back you can relax into your evening at home.

Have A Dedicated Work Space

Although you might feel as though working from your bed, the couch, or even the kitchen table is a perk of working from home it might be making you less productive than you could be. You really need a dedicated office space that you can go into and shut the door behind you, cutting off as many distractions as possible. That way you don’t have to keep packing away your things and moving somewhere else because someone wants to watch TV or cook dinner.

Another bonus of having a dedicated work space is that you can leave it at the end of the day and not go back until the morning. One of the issues many people find when working from home is that they can’t stop working; it’s too tempting to check emails or spend 10 minutes here and there finishing off some task. They key point to remember is that if you worked at an office you wouldn’t be able (or, perhaps more importantly, expected) to do these things, so you shouldn’t do them just because you work from home.

Stay Off Social Media

Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter can be fun but they can also be hugely distracting. Many offices have a policy that doesn’t allow them to be used during working hours and in those office productivity is increased. At home, there are no hard and fast rules about it, so make one for yourself. Don’t look at social media during working hours; whatever is there can wait until you finish work for the day, or take a break (although beware: if you use social media on your break you might lose track of time and get behind on your tasks).

Many people are addicted to social media and can find that they unconsciously type in the URL whenever they’re online. If this is the case you may need to block those sites from your work computer (unblock them when work has finished if you use the same computer for personal browsing too) and remove the apps from your smartphone.

Make A Plan

The best way to be as productive as possible is to make a plan. Planning your next day’s work should be the very last task you do the day before. That way, you’re already pumped for whatever it is you need to do the next day, plus you can get straight to it without wasting working time wondering what you should begin with. Try to do the hardest tasks first to get them out of the way and then move onto the easier ones as the day goes on.

There are many reasons why owning a pet is a good idea, and one of those reasons is that they can be good for your health. Studies have shown that there is a definite correlation between having a pet in your home and feeling fitter and healthier. It’s good for you on an emotional level too and can even improve your immunity. Here are some of the ways that owning a pet can be good for your health.

Less Stressed

Being able to be with a beloved pet can reduce our stress to a more manageable level. This is because, when looking after or playing with a pet, we are fully in the moment, feeling utterly present in our lives and not thinking about anything other than what we’re doing right now. Therefore, those stressful moments that might have been worrying us won’t be in our minds. When we do come back to the ‘real world’ after being with our pets, we’ll be feeling calmer and happier, so those situations that were causing us concern won’t seem so insurmountable anymore.

Stress can be the cause of many other illnesses, so having less of it in our lives is a good thing.

Lower Blood Pressure

Having a pet has the potential to lower our blood pressure, which is hugely beneficial to health. This links to the point above about decreasing stress, as when you are stressed you have higher blood pressure. This can cause many problems including strokes, heart disease, heart attacks, and even type 2 diabetes. Remember, however, that if you have seriously high blood pressure over a prolonged period of time, it could be a good idea to see your doctor as pets alone might not be enough to keep you healthy; you may also need medication.

Less Pain

If you suffer from chronic pain such as that experienced with arthritis or migraines, for example, a pet could help you feel it less. When you are in pain, you feel more anxious. Unfortunately, that anxiety actually makes pain feel even worse, and then you feel more anxious. This can go on and on until you make yourself feel incredibly unwell.

With a pet to take care of, you’ll feel less anxious, and that means that the pain you are feeling will be lessened too. A dog, cat, or other kind of pet won’t cure you, and it won’t take away the pain entirely, but it should help a little.

You’ll Feel Happier

Owning a pet will make you feel happier in general, which has a hugely positive effect on your mental and emotional well-being. Having a pet means that you will always come home to someone who loves you unconditionally, and this alone can boost happiness levels. When you are feeling happy in one aspect of life, you’ll most likely feel happier in other aspects too.

Clinical depression, of course, is another matter entirely, and although pets can help in some respects, this is another time when an expert is essential in order to get to the root of the problem. If you experience any mental health issues, or try to stop any form of self-medication and start to feel signs of alcohol withdrawal, we recommend booking an appointment with someone who can help. You’ll get treatment and your pet will thank you for it because you will be able to take care of them properly once again.

You’ll Socialize More

Owning a pet will give you many more chances to socialize with people, and since studies have shown that spending time with people you like is good for you, and can increase your health and happiness, it’s a good thing. A dog is the best pet for socializing as you need to walk them at least once a day and this means going out and seeing people. You might bump into the same people walking their dogs each day and strike up a conversation. Even a simple hello is better than nothing.

Other pets can also enable you to socialize. You might join local groups, for example, or go to workshops that teach you how to care for a certain type of animal and meet people that way. You could add yourself to an online group or forum and find people to chat to there. Or it could simply be a matter of having something in common with someone you’ve met for the first time.

Can Improve Immunity

It may seem like the logical thing to say that if someone is allergic to animal fur, they shouldn’t have a pet. However, studies have shown that actively being around these animals can improve immunity towards them, particularly for children. This can mean that allergies become less severe or even disappear altogether. Studies are still ongoing as to whether this can help an adult who suffers from pet allergies, however.

Another benefit of owning a pet is that your immune system can be improved in general, and not only in relation to pet allergies. That means you’ll be less likely to catch colds and other illnesses so you’ll feel more healthy all year round.

Helps With ADHD

If a child has ADHD it is difficult for them to express themselves properly. An animal can help them to focus and give them something to talk to when they need help. Simply being able to tell their problems to a pet can make a big difference in the lives of children suffering from ADHD and similar conditions, and it is especially helpful if they are unable or unwilling to communicate with their parents.

Pets offer a predictable, safe routine which can be ideal for ensuring that these children feel more at ease and confident. The simple act of holding an animal, of stroking and petting them, can be a soothing sensory experience. If you’re unable to have a pet due to work commitments or other reasons, then a visit to an animal shelter can also be of help to a child suffering from one of these conditions.