SOCHI, July 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he lives a normal life and manages to find time for leisure in his busy schedule.
"I think I am an ordinary man. But, naturally, my job cannot be called ordinary, due to certain specifics. But, nevertheless, I live a normal life," he told the program Serious Talk With Vladimir Putin.
However, "there is certain degree of stress - moral, psychological, physical," he admitted.
"I set aside time, and considerable time, to engage in sport activities, listen to the music, interact with friends," Putin said, adding that he preplans this in the schedule. "If you don’t do this, you won’t have time for anything. But there is one more secret: the more you do the more you manage," he said.
"I like to read historical books, do sports, interact with friends. That’s pretty much it. Like everyone else, like you," Putin said.
When asked by a schoolboy at the Sirius Educational Center for Gifted Children what he would do on a day free from presidency, Putin said, "Nothing special."
"Generally, I think I am living a normal life, with certain specifics, but, to my mind, every job has its specifics," the president said. "To be a first-class musician or a first-class ballet dance takes had work, from early morning till late at night. Sometimes, I look at my friends, world-class musicians - they work 12-15 hours a day! Till blood blisters on their fingers, playing the strings! This is what dedication is about."