Some people think that it is important to use leisure time for activities that improve the mind, such as reading and doing word puzzles. Other people feel that it is important to rest the mind during leisure time. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Over the many thousand years, people have used their

time

apart from work hours for their leisure

time

. Some people believe that they could use

this

time

to keep their head at rest

while

others believe that it's best used to sharpen their

mind

. In

this

essay, I will discuss more about these views and give my opinion, which is that both views are valid. Many feel that these cognitively stimulating activities should be pursued at their convenience. The idea is that, when they are attentive, their synaptic connections are built up and keep the

brain

in good condition.

In addition

, games like sudoku, crosswords, puzzles or high-tech activities in the apps or websites enable the

brain

to be alert and sharp, warding off dementia .

Although

some of the creators of these say that changing the structure of the

brain

seems to be exaggerated, it's true that they keep the

mind

in a good state. The other view is that leisure

time

ought to be devoted to mental rest. Considering the long working hours,

along with

the stress of being in eternal contactable with smartphones, it's best for the

mind

to be switched off.

Furthermore

, there is plenty of research to support that walking in nature or simply sitting down quietly in meditation can be considered healing to the

mind

. A study of Buddhist monks showed that when in meditation the cells in their body are regenerated and

also

slow down their ageing process. Personally, I do believe that both these views serve their best for the

mind

. Following periods of extreme stress or problem-solving or meeting with lots of people, spending

time

alone doing nothing is rewarding. At the same

time

, when in monotonous work or lack of mental stimulation, reading a good book or completing puzzles

also

has the same impact. There is no point, in my view, in declaring that one is better than the other. In conclusion, I think it is true to say that both active leisure

time

and relaxation are good for us. The former stimulates the

brain

and in the latter, when the

mind

is being used very little.