Physical exercise combined with a healthy diet and regular sleep cycle is a solid base for physical and mental heatlh for me at least. I don't mean pumping iron until your vains pop out or eating only seeds and carrots, but long aerobic training few times a week with functional training, and delicious healthy homely fare.
I sit at the keyboard 8-15 hours per day. If I reduce training, I tend to lose my appetite and stay awake later and later, which result tiredness, which result a downhill in mental health also.
Part of it may be, and most likely is, a placebo effect - but I don't complain as long as I have ways to keep myself happy.
What comes to life's misfortunes - The sun doesn't always shine, that's a fact. Sometimes you might need an umbrella, but even after the world's hardest and longest storm there's always a rainbow!
Like many have said, one shouldn't try to create life content out of intoxicants - that just doesn't work. But I don't deny they weren't really nice spices
