The daily habit of the Japanese that prolongs life and prevents anxiety and depression

The article presents the Japanese concept of "ikigai," according to which the happiness of being busy is the secret to a long life. It claims that a lack of daily meaning and purpose can lead to existential anxiety, while focusing on flow states and activity grants mental resilience and helps maintain health over time.

The article presents the Japanese concept of "ikigai," which defines the happiness of being busy as the secret to a long and fulfilling life. The authors Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles, mentioned in the article, explain that it is advisable to engage in activities that bring about a "flow state" – periods of time in which a person is completely absorbed in activity and does not feel the passage of time. This is in contrast to immediate pleasures such as overeating, alcohol, or prolonged television watching. The article claims that a lack of routine and commitments can lead to crisis and anxiety, and that daily responsibility serves as a vital mental survival mechanism that keeps focus on the present. The focus on daily goals and flow states is presented as a central tool for maintaining health and prolonging life, while quoting Albert Einstein that a happy person is content with the present in order to engage with the future.