The Greeks have one of the oldest cultures in the world (not to mention the first known democracy), and to this day, we turn to the wellspring of Greek wisdom for guidance on living well. With both an ancient tradition of introspection and ethical inquiry, and also to one of the most heart-healthy diets in the world, the Greeks know a thing or two about how to live a good life.

But it's not just ancient Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle who unlocked the secrets to a meaningful life. The health habits and leisure rituals of modern Greece also have a lot to teach the rest of the world about health and happiness. Here are some Greek secrets to living well!

1) A Healthy Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is heavy on vegetables, olives, healthy fats and oils, fish, whole grains and red wine (in moderation), and is thought to have extensive health benefits, contributing to lower rates of heart disease, obesity, cancer and Alzheimer's disease.  Research analyzing 1.5 million healthy adults found that those who followed the Mediterranean diet had a lower risk of dying from heart disease and cancer and had a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Greeks firmly believe in many things and afternoon naps are one of them. In some of the smaller towns and villages, businesses commonly shut down in the mid-afternoon for the Greek siesta time and open again around 5 p.m.

 

During the warmer months, small villages and towns in Greece turn to the daily tradition of 'volta' (translated as stroll or outing). When the sun goes down, Greek families will take leisurely walks up and down the main streets of small towns and on the islands, they'll enjoy a leisurely stroll along the shore.

The Greek philosophical tradition is one of the oldest and arguably the richest in the world. Philosophical inquiry thrived in the culture of ancient Greece, and philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Epicurus and Epictetus asked the big questions: How do we live a good life? How should the city be governed? What is morality and how should we treat others? 

In many ways, we owe the tradition of living the 'examined life' to the ancient Greeks. As Aristotle once wrote, 'Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.'

Greek hospitality goes as far back as Odysseus and it's been embedded in Greek culture and families to this day. This generosity and welcoming spirit derives from the word filoxenia which literally translates to 'love of foreigners.' Historically, it has referred to the hospitality of villagers and residents of small towns who would take in travelers passing through, offering a meal and a bed, whereas now it generally refers to the hospitality offered to friends, family or acquaintances.

To read this article in full, please visit: Huffington Post

Angélica Manrique, a student at Paderborn University in Germany, is conducting a study for her Bachelor’s thesis, which deals with the determinants in the expatriate adjustment process.

Understanding this process can help expatriates to learn about their situation, as well as to show international companies how and in which areas they can support their employees and families.

An international assignment is more than just a change of job. Expatriates must adapt to various events in the host country and deal with various cultural differences, which influence the adaptation to the host country. Factors such as labor and health conditions, spouse adjustment and moderators such as Cultural Attractiveness and Tightness-Looseness of a society affect this adaptation process and will be examined within this study.

Understanding this process can help expatriates to learn about their situation, as well as to show international companies or institutions, how and in which areas they can support their employees and families.

To be able to carry out this study we are seeking input from expatriates who are currently working on international assignment.

The multiple-choice questionnaire takes approx. 10-15 minutes of your time and is in English. It is completely anonymous. The information submitted to us will remain confidential. The data will be evaluated without name and address.

The University of Paderborn, the Department of International Business and I want to thank you in advance for your participation in this important survey.

Travelling by ferry boat is one of the best modes of transport in Greece. However, adding kids to the mix can prove a bit challenging. Celeste from Family Goes Out shares her best tips for family-friendly ferry travel!

Be Prepared. Greek ports can get chaotic during the busy season. If you are travelling on a large long distance ferry boat you will find cars, trucks, busses, people and pets, all boarding/departing at the same. Some ships have no separate waiting lines for all these and the boarding procedures are not efficient. It can be dangerous when cars and people are moving at the same time. Keep your kids close.

Bring sun hats/water and a stroller sun cover. Queuing for the ferry boat can take a long time and you will stand in the sun or sit in your car waiting to board. You will carry your luggage, too.

Ask for help. My experience is that the ferry boat staff is very helpful and they will give a helping hand carry your bags/kids up the stairs/ out of the boat. If you have booked a cabin, a porter will help you with your bags after you pick up your key. I often came alone with 2 kids and many bags. I always found help.

Bring something warm. The A/C in the Greek ferry boats keeps it very cool and I always bring a vest or scarf to keep warm and to cover my kids for a nap.

Bring snacks and drinks if you are travelling on a budget. Most ferry boats have good restaurant facilities with snacks, drinks, candy etc., but similar to airports. Prices are usually higher.

Do not rush to exit the boat. Unless you are using the smaller Flying Dolphin or catamaran boats, the entrance/exit to the ferry is usually via the garage. This means that you can find yourself and your kids queued on the stairs or inside a closed garage surrounded by cars and trucks for a while before the doors are finally opened. Although staff is usually eager to get everyone downstairs before arrival (so the ship can quickly continue it s journey to the next island) my suggestion is that you wait a bit longer and let others go first. But do make sure you do get off and not sail to the next island!

To read this article in full, please visit: Family Goes Out

“Greece has it all. Not many European nations can boast over 300 days of year-round sunshine, islands outnumbering the days spent in one country, epicurean adventures to please the most discerning food connoisseur, and a cultural treasure chest of antiquities,” the Huffington Post reports.

 

The year 2017 brought a record 30 million visitors to Greece and as the year closes, projections for 2018 are high. As travelers continue to fall in love with Greece, the Ministry of Tourism is promoting Greece with its mild spring and winter season as a year-round destination.

And tt’s not just the usual suspects of Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos who are reaping the benefits from Greece. Significant increases in arrivals include: Lesvos and Samos in the North Aegean; Kavala in Eastern Macedonia; the island of Kos in the South Aegean; the Ionian islands of Zakynthos and Kefalonia.

To read this article in full, please visit: Huffington Post

According to Forbes, "the laidback Kerameikos neighborhood seems to live in a magical world of its own.” Because of its vibrant neighborhood with murals painted on the walls, new exciting restaurants, and some of the trendiest places for a drink, this Athens suburb has been labeled by Forbes as one of the coolest, hip, and artistic neighborhoods in the world.

The hippie-like atmosphere of the neighborhood has caught on and even tourists check it out and hang out with the local crowds. There are up-and-coming artists who display their work at galleries, theatres, bars, and there is something do around every corner.

Kerameikos is just a 10 minute walk from the historic center of Athens. As Forbes says, "It’s a place where old and new, Greece’s storied past and often turbulent present, tradition and forward-looking creativity all coexist happily together."

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

Photo credit: Greek Reporter

A great day for the city of Athens, as it was announced as the winner of the 2018 European Capital of Innovation Award! Recognizing our city's extraordinary accomplishments, the European Commission awarded Athens with this prestigious title and a €1 million prize. Together with 5 other European cities, Athens was shortlisted for the award after implementing innovative solutions to social challenges throughout the past year.

Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, who announced the winner said: “Cities are beacons of innovation. They act like magnets for talent, for capital, for opportunity. With the European Capital of Innovation 2018, we reward the cities that go the extra mile to test new ideas, technologies and ways to make citizens heard in the way their city has changed. Athens stands out as an example that a city facing many challenges can achieve great things. Through innovation, Athens has found new purpose to turn around the economic and social crisis. It is proof that it’s not the difficulties, but how you raise yourself above them that matters.”

Well done, Athens!

To read the article in full, please visit: European Commission

The Greek Minister of Tourism Haris Theocharis, the mayor of Santorini Antonis Sigalas and the president of the board of Lidl Hellas Iakovos Andreanidis, have joined forces to launch the public awareness campaign "Plastic-Free Santorini." The campaign aims at the reduction of the plastics overuse throughout Greece.

 

The initiative will officially launch in spring–at the opening of the tourist season through promos at key tourist points on the island such as bus stops, organized beaches, the local media, the harbor, and the Athens International Airport.

To read this article in full, please visit: AMNA

How do the following phrases sound to you? “I’ll give you the iPad only if you are a good kid” or “Everyone loves a good child” or “A good girl always takes care of others”. Do they remind you of something? Is it perhaps something from your childhood? Something you’ve often heard from your parents, grandparents, uncles, family?

Most of us have been brought up making an effort to be the good kid. I remember my mom telling me, “Good girls don’t shout and they never talk back.” “Good girls always listen to their parents and do what they are told to do.” “Good girls this, good girls that….” It does not come as a surprise that I was raised to be a “good girl.” For me this meant that I did not want to make mistakes, I did not say no, I did what it took to please others. Whenever I tried to be a “bad girl”, that is to find and bring my own voice to the surface, I always regretted it. So I learned not to set my limits, to be ashamed of my true self, to hide the “not-so-nice” parts of me, to become the door mat for everyone and everything. Why? For the same reason we all do it: to get acceptance from others, the significant others at first, and love.

Until one day I had enough! Enough of this good girl stuff! The first and most difficult step for me was to acknowledge my truth; my very own truth. If I wanted to bring real changes I had to introduce some different qualities into my life. For example, to stop feeling guilty, to not blame myself for others’ mistakes, to stop trying to fix everything or be there for everyone. I worked a lot with myself and I still do. This is a never ending yet incredibly rewarding trip. At first I started with baby steps, slow but steady. Today I keep on going. I will make mistakes on the way but now I know there’s a lesson there for me to learn. Yes, I like it when others have a good opinion of me but I know that not everyone can like me and, more importantly, that my value does not depend on it. I do not avoid conflicts when I deem it necessary and I let my voice be heard. Of course not everything is painted pink all the time but I do not put myself down, I try again. My wish is for my daughter, our daughters, to take different lessons from what you and I took back then, to raise their own strong voices and to build their own lives the way they want to.

Originally Published on: itsmylife.gr

Written by Nadia Georgiou

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You probably have heard that our childhood affects our adult behaviors. Dr. Gabor Mate, a Hungarian-Canadian physician, author, and expert on addictions among others, is a firm believer. In a recent speech in London, he talked about how childhood trauma – big or small – colors how we act and express ourselves as adults and focused on the direct relation that exists between our way of living and our physical and mental health.

It’s true that our lives today are more hectic and stressful than ever. We run around in so many different directions we hardly have the time to take care of ourselves let alone our inner needs. With the occasion of World Mental Day on October 10th, there’s been a lot of talk about how resilience helps us cope with stress. Here are nine effective and easy-to-follow ways to nurture your mental well-being and live a less stressful life!

1. Create an “Every day is a gift” empowering morning routine. When you wake up in the morning, instead of jumping out of bed and rushing to your daily routine, take a couple of minutes to think of this new day as a gift to yourself. You are here, alive on this planet for one more day.

2. Take advantage of this day to do great things. Drink enough water. Water keeps your body hydrated and alive. If you are not naturally into this habit just schedule water breaks during your day. A small tip: it helps to have a bottle next to you right on your desk.

3. Take technology breaks. Take small breaks from your mobile, computer, or tablet screen. I have often fallen into the trap of doing mindless scrolling, especially when I’m tired. What I now do – and you can certainly do it as well – is that I plan these breaks and put them in my calendar just as I would for any other meeting.

4. Take small, regular breaks during your day every 40 mins or 60 mins. Get up from your chair and stretch. You can even walk for 5 minutes whether it’s from room to room or getting out of the building if possible.

5. Keep a gratitude journal – morning or evening. Think of at least 5 things you’re grateful for whether it’s the fact that you have hot water or that you have good friends or that you’re healthy. Keeping a gratitude journal helps you keep focused on the good things in your life.

6. Meditate for 10-15 minutes during the day. Meditation helps you to empty your mind and to concentrate better. Whether it’s guided or not sit still and offer yourself this time as a gift.

7. Celebrate your wins, big or small, every day. Especially the small ones as we do not usually pay attention to them and consider them a given.

8. Get connected. Healthy relationships offer quality to our lives. Build strong positive relationships with loved ones and friends to get support. Volunteering is one way to get connected when for example you move to a new area.

9. Talk to a therapist, a life coach, or a person that suits your needs. You will feel relieved and at the same time empowered talking to someone who’s only there to listen to you and understand you without any criticism.

With time and practice you can build your resilience, learn to stay calm when facing pressure and live a happier and more balanced life. Needless to say you will be a positive example for your children, if you have any, and your friends’ children who will thank you for this gift.

Originally published on: itsmylife.gr