[One Thousand Characters a Day] Dr. Lee Si-hyung's 'Happiness Must Also Be Learned' <5>

Editor's NoteOne way to activate the happiness hormone 'serotonin' is rhythmic exercise. Psychiatrist Dr. Ishihyung Lee recommends walking as the first choice. Walking stimulates the diencephalon, the life movement center, promoting serotonin secretion. With its appropriate rhythm and intensity, it is the most suitable exercise to stimulate the brain and is also excellent for dementia prevention. Word count: 907 characters.

Walking is not only good for brain health but also a way to enhance problem-solving skills. When you are sitting at your desk and can't solve a problem, what do you do? You probably don't just sit there struggling. You get up and pace around the room or the yard. It happens naturally because that is human nature. Do you know why famous thinkers and philosophers enjoyed taking walks?

Walking does not stop there. It plays a decisive role in relieving stress and fatigue, the enemies of serotonin. When stress prevents serotonin from functioning properly, one easily becomes frustrated and falls into depression. The prescription is to strengthen the weakened serotonin function right now. However, this simple prescription does not work well for modern people.

The answer is to live your daily life in a serotonin-friendly way. Among these, the easiest method is walking. It is good to walk alone or with others. The stress circuit of the problem is completely dismantled. There are few better stress relievers than walking. Your whole body becomes energized and motivated.

However, when stress is too great or prolonged, it becomes a problem. The brain activates a crisis management center that secretes the defense hormone cortisol to cope with the excessively secreted stress hormone norepinephrine. But there is a limit to this as well. It lasts only a short time, like a fleeting resolution. If you remain in a stressful state even after the defense hormone is depleted, you fall into what is called complete burnout syndrome. It can be life-threatening. The prescription is walking.

People living along the Mediterranean coast, such as in Italy and Spain, have a habit of slowly walking through the city after dinner while enjoying pleasant conversations with good company. This is called Passeggiata or Sanbo. Just seeing such groups under the beautiful evening sky called Midnight Blue is delightful. And park far away! Walking at least 100 meters to the door helps relieve the congestion in the lower limbs caused by being trapped in the car.

- Ishihyung Lee, Happiness Must Be Learned, Special Library, 16,000 KRW

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