The third principle is to choose the form of rest that suits your own condition. In other words, there are two forms of rest: pure relaxation and learning something new. If you are feeling extremely tired and unable to do anything, all you need is some relaxation. However, if you want to recharge and gain more energy and excitement, you may want to consider learning something new.

Pure relaxation is very simple. You can lie down or sit for a while, take a walk, watch a movie, or read a novel. If you want to relax during work, you can do some low-intensity muscle exercises, gymnastics, yoga, stretching, etc., without increasing your heart rate.

But if you are not exhausted of energy, but feel a little lack of concentration, unable to use energy, and always want to paddle for fish, and you want to work with higher energy and faster thinking speed, then you need another way to rest. You need to challenge yourself. If it’s at work, you can go out and do a couple of laps to get your blood flowing and your heart beating up. If you’re at home, you’d better engage in a learning activity.

This may seem counter-intuitive. How can studying become a form of rest? The point is that learning something new gives you a sense of mastery, and mastery provides solace. I’m not suggesting that you learn any livelihood skills, but rather something that interests you. For example, learning to play the piano or painting, learning foreign languages or sports can all provide a sense of accomplishment.

Studies have found that those who use their break time to learn a skill not only have more energy when they return to work, but also become more enthusiastic. Enthusiasm is a particularly good word. It describes a person who does things with dedication, great interest, and enthusiasm. Those who get into this state at work are people who have hobbies in their spare time.

You can learn anything, but there is one condition: the project must be something you like. No one is pushing you, there is no assessment or deadline, so you can be stress-free. If you have to cook tonight, it’s not called a rest; but if you want to study new dishes out of interest and cook a table full of food, that’s the best kind of rest.

This is why everyone should have hobbies. Hobbies are not hindrances to work but rather facilitators. Hobbies can make your brain more flexible and your spirit more energetic, enriching your off-duty life!