The classic Spanish office work time starts from 9am to 7pm with 2 hours lunch break or the traditional Spanish siesta from 2pm to 4pm.

The concept of the siesta period is a unique charm of the country of Spain. We even embrace this habit during the colonial times and even some still do today.

But Spain’s present unemployment stands at 21%, and many Spaniards complain about their schedules. Parentssuffered in balancing work with the needs of their family. They are looked down trying to do tasks on siesta time.

People in Spain are set in their ways, theycomplain but they want to work and they also want a life.

Many are glad by Spain’s acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s recent proposals to end the normal working day at 6pm, signifying the end of the 2-hour afternoon siesta.

The young people of today believe they can do whatever they want at any hour of the day or night if they need to with no ill-effects.

However, millions of years of evolution have given our bodies a finely-tuned internal clock. Our body has been fine-tuned for particular activities at specific times of the day.

According to experts, listening to these natural rhythms could be the key to a healthier and happier life.

Many studies have shown how shift working can be harmful to health, with effects such as depression and obesity. According to a French study,missing night-time sleep damages the brain itself, impaired memory and slowed speed of thought.

Indeed modern life with all the technologies at our reach can run without care over our internal body clock.Perhaps the old classic Spanish siesta has been embraced for these very reason.

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Tidbits :

Armed robbery continues to threaten vessels and their crews in many parts of the world. Reports to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) worldwide Piracy Reporting Centre indicate that West African waters have seen a wave of armed robbery, sometimes with violence.

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Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Lao Tzu

(By Edgar Allan J. Tac-an)