The government of Spain, a country in Europe, has announced plans to get rid of the siesta. In Spain, it is a tradition that people stop working in the afternoon to take a nap. People have done this in Spain for a long time, but things are changing. Today, most people do not have enough time to nap during the week. They mostly nap on weekends.
If Spain makes the change, it would still have a big effect on people's lives. Most Spaniards work a long day that is split into two parts. They begin work in the morning and work until early afternoon. Then they take a break. They come back to work later in the afternoon and work into the evening.
During their break, many people go out for lunch with friends or go shopping. Big stores in Spain do not close in the middle of the day.
Spaniards Need More Sleep
The siesta was first created to give farmworkers a break during the hottest part of the day. They could take a nap and go back to work when it cooled down. This is less important today. There is not as much farming in Spain as there used to be.
The government wants to end the workday at 6 p.m. Government leaders think this will make people work harder. They also say it will make things easier for families. Right now, many working parents do not get home until after 8 p.m. This means people eat dinner late and go to bed late. As a result, many people in Spain do not get enough sleep.
The school day is similar to the workday, although it is not quite as long. Children start early and then break at around 1:30 p.m. At 3 p.m., they go back to school until 5 p.m. Parents who cannot afford school meals have to make four trips a day to deliver and collect their children.
Grandparents Or Babysitters
For working parents, day care may be necessary between about 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sometimes, grandparents can watch the kids. If not, parents have to hire babysitters. This can get expensive. More and more schools are letting kids out earlier in the afternoon. This saves schools money. Scientists say it also may help children learn better.
More and more people are trying to avoid the split day. Some may do this by working from home. In Spain, not all bosses like this. Many believe you must be in the office in order to work.
Whatever happens, the fact is that a 26-minute siesta is good for your health. It also helps people work harder. However, the Spaniards who are most likely to be able to take a nap are the millions of people who are unemployed. These people need to find a job. Until then, it will not much matter when the working day begins or ends.