Man, everyday life in quarantine is filled with an array of unexpected daily challenges that seem small, but add up quickly. The In It Together Series will make your day to day easier thanks to expert advice from female business owners in Seattle. As a personal stylist for women in Seattle, I’m fortunate to be a part of a community of bright, generous, resourceful women who have the power to improve our situations. Today’s post is from an old friend of mine and the force behind Bold Spirit Travel, Regina Winkle- Bryan. She’s been all over the word and now focuses her energy empowering women through travel. I loved this post so much that I’m posting it earlier than I’d planned. It’s just that good. I hope it inspires you the way it did me.

We do many things well in the United States, but relaxation is not one of them. Short vacays, working weekends, crammed social calendars, and never-ending to-do lists are commonplace. Now, forced to stay home and social-distance, you may not be run-ragged by long commutes and packed workdays, but new stressors have sprung up to replace them.

I lived in Barcelona for a decade next to the warm sands of the Mediterranean Sea. I was often scolded by my Spanish family for working too much and not knowing when to disconnect. It took a while, but I realized that they were right. When it comes to enjoying life, Europeans—especially Southern Europeans—know what they are doing. They’ve been perfecting the lifestyle for millennia.

In this season of uncertainty and anxiety, let’s look to the Spaniards for some schooling on how to calm the hell down.

Your Beginner’s Guide to Relaxing Like a Spaniard

Say it with me: “No pasa nada.”

This is a common refrain in Spain and means, loosely, “No big deal.” It’s a way to roll with the punches. Clearly, COVID-19 is not a “no pasa nada” situation, but some of the side effects of your new COVID-19 isolation might be. You now have to wear gloves and a mask to the grocery store…no pasa nada. Your online dog food order is going to be delayed…no pasa nada. Your stir-crazy kids just broke your favorite Star Wars mug…no pasa nada. Embrace the “don’t sweat the small stuff” mentality. Reassess what is really important.

Eat the damn baguette.

Never have I eaten so much bread as I did when I lived in Spain. Buttery croissants with coffee in the morning. Slim baguettes with manchego cheese and drizzled olive oil. And an ample bread basket served with both lunch and dinner.  It’s a carbaplazooa every day and, yet, Spaniards are svelte.

Not eating bread all the time has been one of the most lamented cultural differences my Spanish husband has experienced living in the United States. My point is, eat the bread. Buy a muffin or a croissant and sit in the sun with a cup of coffee. Savor each bite. Allow yourself to appreciate the simple things, like gluten. If you want to get really fancy, make your own bread and eat it warm, just out of the oven, with some salted butter. Bliss.

Day-drinking is back.

In most restaurants in Spain, there is a wonderful offering called the menú del día, which is basically a daily special. But this is no soggy tuna melt. Instead, we’re talking about a three-course feast served with wine and, of course, a bread basket.

The menú del día is always reasonably priced, targeting workers on their lunch break. These people are going back to work after eating, but they imbibe the wine served with lunch without hesitation. I love this. I didn’t do it much because I needed to “be productive” in the afternoon (remember what I told you before about not being good at relaxing?), but Spaniards have no problem day-drinking and then working. So, I ask you: Could you have a glass of pinot gris with lunch? A short nap afterward and then back to the grind? Is this naughty? The Spaniards say no.

Clearly, weekends are a free-for-all. Open a bottle any time after 11:30am and have at it. But make sure to pace your day-drinking and pair it with snacks. Spaniards seem to always be drinking but never drunk—this is an important distinction.

Walk in the sun.

One of the reasons Spaniards can eat all that bread (and drink all that wine) and not gain much weight is because they walk all the time. They want to be out with one another, shooting the breeze and observing their communities. Frankly, their sunny weather helps, too. Clusters of elderly Spaniards stroll on the public promenades and then gather on benches to watch the day unfurl. If you are in a region where you are still allowed to leave your home and walk, then do it. Walk for miles. Stop and look at the spring flowers. Wave to neighbors from six feet away and yell, “Good morning!” Carry chalk and leave upbeat messages for other walkers. Feel the sun on your face. Do this daily.

Celebrate something, anything.

I’ve been to over 35 countries and I have never experienced a culture that loves to party more than Spain (maybe Brazil…I haven’t been there yet). Spaniards take revelry seriously, and if you don’t believe me, just look at their extensive line-up of national holidays. Plus, their parties are wild and creative. The fiery Fallas in Valencia where giant paper statues are burned. The sexy strut of the April Fair in Seville with flamenco music and abundant polka-dots. And Barcelona’s La Mercè city-wide festival, the mother of all free parties and a great place to witness the famous human castles.

It’s time for you to host a (virtual) fiesta. Invite your friends to Friday Night Cocktail Hour via Zoom, Houseparty, Skype, or Facetime. Share a cocktail recipe beforehand for everyone to make. May I suggest cava sangria? Play a virtual game. Host a virtual scavenger hunt and let the kids join in, too.

I have a standing happy hour every Friday with my family. At first, there was a Zoom learning curve. Now, we look forward to it all week. And this is key, people. We need something to look forward to besides our TBD social-distancing freedom day. For your next fiesta, get imaginative. Dress up for the occasion. Tell people they have to wear a hat or a costume. Remember fun? It’s time to cultivate it.

People in Spain have been in total quarantine since March 14th, 2020. That means no family gatherings, no walks in the sun, no nada. So what did they do? They celebrated. They came together to honor their exhausted health workers by taking to their doorways and balconies each night at 8pm and making a whole lot of noise. You can see some moving examples of their solidarity here and here.

Eventually, we will be able to move around again and physically gather with friends and family. We’ll be able to get our hair done and shop mask-free. We’ll be able to travel. As soon as we can, Bold Spirit Travel will resume our popular tours of Spain, and we would love to have you join us. For now, employ a few of these Spanish strategies for stress-relief. I’m all for yogic deep-breathing and the calming benefits of meditation, but sometimes the best cure for anxiety is a brilliant distraction, whether you find it on a sunny stroll, an online party, or bottled in a crisp albariño. When in doubt, embrace the trinity of what’s really important: food, family, and fun. Life, even in quarantine, is meant to be enjoyed.

Bio: Regina Winkle-Bryan is a writer and the founder of Bold Spirit Travel. She leads all-women trips around the world including several getaways in the Pacific Northwest this summer. Learn more at: