5 Transformative Lessons I Learned in Spain For Achieving Better Physical And Mental Health

Bonus tip: Not having a job had a positive impact on my health.

If you read my articles then you know in 2018, I left the US after living there for almost 2 decades and moved to Spain.

I have posted multiple articles about my life in Spain and how it has improved in every aspect.

What surprised me the most about living in Spain is how the Spanish mentality and way of life have contributed to not only physical well-being but mental health, as well.

Living outdoors 300 days a year

If you have visited Spain, you may have noticed that people tend to spend a lot of their time outdoors. This is because the cities and villages are designed in such a way that encourages outdoor living, with many public plazas that are popular gathering places.

Everyone is there, from zero to 100 years old. Ask Rocco.

Last year, I moved to the outskirts of the village and started living off the grid in a yurt. This means that I spend my entire day outside, from morning until it gets dark.

In North America, people tend to spend a lot of their time indoors or in their cars, while for me, life is all about being outdoors and surrounded by the fresh air, nature, and birds in their natural habitat.

We have around 300 trees on our property. I move old day like always doing something at the farm. Being outdoors and moving, calms me down and helps me sleep better at night. I used to have trouble waking up in the morning, but not anymore since living here.

Eating Mediterranean Diet

I arrived in Spain in 2018 with 35 lbs more than I have now. What can I say, I arrived with a big tire around my waist and even my face looked swollen. I was always hungry in the US, overeating, snacking, and still feeling hungry.

But living in Spain and consuming the Mediterranean diet has allowed me to lose weight without even trying.

Mediterranean diet is balanced and includes only unprocessed foods or refined sugars.

The best thing about following the diet is that it doesn’t feel like you’re on a strict diet. Plus, you’ll feel satisfied and won’t crave snacks.

Since I followed the diet and cooked at home, I lost over 35 lbs.

After less than a year… extra pounds… gone.

I started cooking, exploring, and experimenting with various Mediterranean recipes.

I continued to cook at home, lost weight, maintained my glucose, and didn’t feel the Yo-Yo effect of sugar fluctuation.

Finally, I became myself.

Cooking has become a genuine art for me, similar to painting or writing, that is accessible to everyone and brings the greatest pleasure in life.

People who have a problem with weight can lose weight without dieting just by following the basic principles of the Mediterranean diet, which really doesn’t feel like a diet, but eating wholesome, unprocessed foods.

Having community and social life

I find it easier to make friends here than in North America. I am enjoying my new life and the people around me. Upon arriving, I exchanged phone numbers with people who asked to meet up, without expecting them to actually call me. To my surprise, they did.

In the US, people may make commitments to call or meet up, but then they often don’t follow through and you never hear from them again. Even if you agree to meet, they might cancel at the last minute. This isn’t common here.

It is completely normal to strike up conversations with strangers in bars or on the street here. People are very attentive to those around them and not focused solely on themselves.

People stare at each other.

In the village where I live, you must greet the elderly.

It is rude not to greet them.

A seller from the fish market yells at you HOLA CHICA!!! QUE TAL? From afar.

Slow life

When I came to Spain, the first year, I was exhausted and burned out because living in the US for two decades was just going, going, going.

At first, I struggled with the slower pace of life and lack of stress in Spain since it was new to me. However, I have had a couple of years to adapt and now I am truly enjoying my life here.

The people here are not in a rush and do not seem to be stressed out. Although some work hard to earn a comfortable living, they do not experience the same level of daily stress as North Americans.

Having no stress to go, go, and go made me calmer and mentally healthier. Now, I don’t have as many anxieties as I used to have.

Even in the big cities you still can find your solace and peace. And that is the best medicine for my mind.

Bonus lesson:

Not having a job

It may sound unbelievable, but not having a physically demanding job or working under someone’s supervision have a positive impact on your mental health.

Currently, I freelance for approximately 10–15 hours per week while also doing farm work.

I find more satisfaction in my current lifestyle than when I was striving for a high-paying job with a prominent title. My spouse works 3 months out of the year as a travel nurse and that is enough for us to have a comfortable life, here. Spain is still affordable.

I love my current lifestyle which is my career now. Having a flexible and self-reliant job or not having a job can significantly improve your health and well-being if you are financially independent.