Youth pursuing comfort with pets, plush toys and other relaxations

Zhou Wenjie, 29, who works for a community committee in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, heads to a cafe almost every weekend. There, she enjoys drinks and plays with dogs, according to the Taiyuan Evening News.

"A cup of coffee, a little dog by your side. Petting it gently and feeding it treats — a few such hours are truly healing," Zhou was quoted as saying.

Liang Shuli, a programmer in Taiyuan, has to deal with strings of code and numbers at work, which often leaves her feeling a great deal of pressure. Every few days after work, she goes to a pet experience shop to play with birds.

"There are parrots, all raised in a free-range manner, chirping away," she told the media. "Grab a handful of bird food, and immediately several of them fly over."

"Some parrots stand on my hand to eat, while some hop around on my shoulders. As their soft feathers touch my face, my worries and stress vanish in an instant," she said.

The health center supported offline stress-relief methods in a statement, emphasizing that people should not overly rely on digital remedies.

"Young people need to have better time management, and view digital content as a 'spice' rather than as a tool to escape reality," the center said, highlighting the importance of the young improving their ability to face challenges.

It suggested youth relieve stress by doing sports, traveling and socializing, as only in this way can they truly achieve personal growth and enhance their self-worth, it added.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn