Leisure Time: The Principle of Balancing Life and Facing Stress with a Smile

Leisure time

★Everyone-including you-needs joy every day to relax and rejuvenate; laughter is an essential element of a healthy body.

★ Tired of purely sightseeing trips? Try doing something different next time you take your vacation.

★Relax your mind and body; here are various methods from deep breathing to exercise to sex.

★A sauna offers a hot way to relax, and here's one of the Scandinavian favorite ways to unwind.

★The purpose of archery is to regulate the body and mind; here's how to get started.

Balanced life

Preventive medicine experts have advised that a strong body requires a constant flow of joy. Therefore, maintaining a happy, content, and loving mood, and cultivating personal interests, can ensure physical and mental health. A cheerful mood every day can boost immunity, lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease, alleviate pain, and may even prevent certain types of cancer. Dr. Schubert, also the author of *Healthy Joy*, says, "Happiness is the best prescription for a fulfilling life." The following is an interview with Dr. Schubert published in *Men's Health Magazine*:

Q: You have advocated the principle of happiness in your writings. Could you elaborate on that now?

A: In the past twenty years of exploring how to live healthier lives, I've found that the harder people work and the more energetic they are, the more they enjoy, seek out, and create fun. They appreciate every little thing around them, are eager to help others, look forward to making each day better, and fill their lives with joy. These findings help us better understand the principles of happiness. This principle will bring us a double benefit: you can not only enjoy pleasure instantly, but also achieve a healthier life.

Q: Does doing good things make us feel comfortable?

A: That's simply our nature. For example, our ancestors' love of ripe fruit gave us a sweet tooth. These fruits are also a source of calories and certain vitamins. Our fondness for fatty foods stems from their high calorie content, which helps us survive when hungry. Today, while there are exceptions, enjoying food, sex, sleep, friendship, work, and family remains our nature and an indicator of health. At the same time, we are aware of some unhealthy habits, such as smoking and drinking alcohol. No matter how much you enjoy smoking, there is ample evidence that it is harmful. Even if you love strong liquor, a small glass a day is still a bad thing. Therefore, the most suitable hobby is enjoying the pleasures of nature; this interest not only benefits us but also improves our health.

Q: What is the difference between the pleasure principle you mentioned and pure hedonism, which involves doing things because you enjoy them?

A: Happiness is not simply a selfish pleasure. We find that the most fulfilling thing in life is a selfless and unselfish joy. Whether it's enjoying pets, nature, loving your loved ones, caring for the homeless, or even caring for those less fortunate than yourself, these things can bring you intense satisfaction and are beneficial to your physical and mental health. I don't object to anyone cultivating sensory or spiritual hobbies; what we should resist is an overindulgent lifestyle. Many people in this society don't derive their basic daily needs from the sensory pleasures of nature. They might slowly go to work every morning after waking up. They focus only on their immediate surroundings, completely ignoring the outside world. For example, they might spend all day indoors, never carefully appreciating the sunrise or sunset, indifferent to the world, even wolfing down their food without savoring it, and never listening to the sounds of nature or beautiful music.

Q: What tangible health benefits do we actually receive from carefully appreciating roses in our leisure time?

A: A German experiment divided students into two groups: one group took steam baths daily, while the other did not. The results showed that the students who took steam baths were less likely to catch a cold over six months than those who did not. Another study found that patients who underwent gallbladder surgery recovered faster if their hospital rooms offered views of trees rather than being completely isolated. They also had shorter hospital stays (one day less), fewer complications, and required less pain medication. These studies demonstrate the significant impact of a love of nature on our health. When Brahms' music is played in the operating room, patients only need half the usual dose of sedatives; visiting an aquarium to see fish can lower blood pressure in hypertensive patients; a short nap at midday can reduce the risk of a heart attack by one-third; being touched can stabilize heart rate, even in comatose patients. The scent of herbs can improve mood, and enjoying bright, natural sunlight can alleviate depression. Sources of sensory pleasure from nature are readily available.

Q: If there is no lunch break during regular work hours, what advice would you give to these people?

A: Actually, enriching your life and cultivating healthy hobbies doesn't require much time. Simply taking a leisurely walk outdoors, or spending time savoring your food and paying attention to the smells and aromas around you, can all benefit your health. If someone says, "I'm skipping lunch, I'm going for a walk and maybe catch a funny movie," some might wonder if they're trying to skip work. But regardless, watching a funny movie and having a laugh is good for your mental and physical health. In fact, laughter helps us fight off colds and respiratory infections.

Q: What are your thoughts on good habits in life, such as regular exercise and a healthy diet?

A: Recent health research reports suggest that physical health comes from regular, moderate exercise. I believe that from a balanced perspective, health is a tool; that is, only with a healthy body can we achieve the goals we want in life.

Q: Do you usually put your beliefs into practice?

A: Yes, that's what I do. For example, I used to think about work even when I was playing with my son. Now, I realize that spending time with him is the most valuable thing. I try to incorporate this philosophy into my daily life. No one is perfect, so I don't put too much pressure on myself. Even when cultivating healthy hobbies, I start small. These little pleasures not only enrich our lives but are also the best prescription for maintaining physical and mental health.