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How Can Playing Games Improve Your Health?

How Can Playing Games Improve Your Health?
18 Aug
2021
Not in Hall of Fame

Playing games is something that many of us did as children, so for adults, it can often bring up nostalgia and happy memories. Many adults are happy to participate in games now, as they are a great way to spend your leisure time and there are tons of different games available that are suitable for all ages. Whether you are burned out from working too often and never having any fun, or simply want to try something new for entertainment and winding down in your life, there are tons of different games to play with something to suit everybody. In addition to being a great way to spend your free time, many games also provide an excellent and easy opportunity to meet new people since people of different ages can play together and join different communities. Here are just some of the main ways that you can benefit from playing games. 

Avoid Burnout

If you're the sporty type, you can try a different workout by playing through a virtual golf simulator and other VR games of your favorite sport. Many games can be a great way to relax and have some fun when you have a busy and hectic working life. No matter whether you enjoy playing online casino games, first-person shooter console games, strategy games or even board games, having something to play can help you achieve a better work-life balance and make it easier for you to wind down rather than working all the time. 

Reduce Stress

There have been several studies to suggest that playing online games can be an ideal way to reduce stress and anxiety. Playing a poker tournament, for example, gives you something that you can focus on rather than thinking about whatever is stressing you out at the time. It gives you a break from your stressors and provides a distraction when you need it the most. In fact, one study found that people with severe anxiety or PTSD might even be able to avoid the symptoms of a panic attack by turning their attention to a game when they feel one coming on. Online casino games that involve strategy like blackjack or poker can help give you a sense of control and provide you with an outlet to channel that stress when you’re feeling particularly overwhelmed. Check out https://www.onlinecasinos.co.uk to find out more about the different online casino games available and where you can play them. Online Casinos offers a lot of information on the best casino sites and apps to play at in the UK, including details about security, reputation, games, bonuses, payment methods and more to help you choose one that will work well for you. 

Improve Physical Health

Some games are ideal for helping you get up and get moving even when you don’t feel like working out. Going to the gym can sometimes be boring and sometimes you might need something a little bit more fun and interactive to encourage you to move your body and get some exercise. The good news is that there are plenty of games to help with this. Pokémon Go is a popular game not only with fans of the Pokémon franchise, but also among those who enjoy the fact that this game gets them outside and walking around as they try to catch all the Pokémon in their local area. If you want to stay at home, there are plenty of games and consoles that you can use to take part in active sports games or virtual reality games where you’ll need to get up and move your body to win. 

Improve Cognitive Function

Many studies have found that playing certain games can actually help to improve cognitive function in people of all ages. This can often be especially useful for older adults who may be suffering from the natural cognitive decline that comes with age. Strategy games are especially useful for brain training, whether you are playing card games, Tetris, Sudoku, or any other games that get you thinking. Bingo, a popular game where players need to look out for certain numbers being called out to fill up a line or card and win, has been shown to have lots of cognitive function benefits – perhaps one of the main reasons why it’s often seen as a game that older people love to play. 

Improve Your Social Life

Lacking in a social life can have many negative impacts on your health as a whole, but especially your mental health. Even if you would describe yourself as quite an introverted person, people are naturally wired for connection and we all need some kind of a social life in order to survive. Loneliness can often be one of the biggest causes of depression and it can sometimes make the symptoms of other mental health concerns, such as social anxiety, even worse to deal with. On the other hand, spending more time with like-minded people has been proven to improve our mental and physical health in many different ways. Gaming is a great way to spend time with others, and is especially good for introverts or people with social anxiety who might not feel comfortable going out to meet other people in person, and prefer the option of being able to socialise and make new friends through games online. 

Improved Vision

The idea of sitting too close to the TV or computer monitor negatively affecting your health is something that has been around for a while. You might remember your parents telling you that you’d ‘get square eyes’ if you watched too much TV. The good news is that, today, when playing the majority of video games, you do not need to get that close to the screen. Even when playing on a smartphone, the screens are larger and easier to see. Studies have found that computer gaming can actually improve your vision by forcing you to look for details on the screen and notice different colours. 

Playing games isn’t just a fun pastime – it can also have plenty of benefits for your mental and physical health. 


Last modified on Thursday, 03 March 2022 12:57
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Kirk Buchner, "The Committee Chairman", is the owner and operator of the site.  Kirk can be contacted at [email protected] .

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