5 Reasons Playing Simple Games Relaxes Your Mind

Please note – this is a collaborative post 

If you’re new around here and haven’t followed the journey, from the creation of my blog to now, then you might not know I am a constantly busy person who is prone to burnout.

As a busy mum, working out the school schedule, swimming lessons and appointments for a five-year-old is a job in itself. Let alone working and managing everything else in life.

I find it difficult to switch off, but these days I force myself to let my mind relax. And playing simple games, that you don’t have to think about, help me to do that!

In this post, I want to discuss how Playing Simple Games Relaxes Your Mind

If you also need some relaxation, join me on a journey to finding a mindless, enjoyable task, where you can focus your attention for a while and switch off.

A Creative Outlet

As a creative person myself, someones I am not always in the mood for writing a full blog post and frankly, sometimes I just don’t have the brain power for an in-depth task. But, it’s nice to display your creativity in ways that don’t exert too much energy or time.

Games like Minecraft and The Sims can allow you to build a whole world for yourself, just the way you imagined. And we all know how powerful imagination can be, not just for kids but also for adults.

Games help create a flow state

One of the main tools I use to manage low periods of mental health is hypnotherapy and meditation. Games can also help create a flow state, similar to mediation. Where you are awake, but your mind is focused on one task. You are essentially switching off your logical brain. And using the creative, imaginative side of the brain.

Games are rewarding

We all know that social networks gear their algorithms around the brain reward system. The same applies to online games. Winning or making progress in a game can trigger this chemical process in our brains. And it allows us to feel a sense of achievement.

Games allow you to destress from the day

In the world of work, we often face an 8-10 hour day of mostly focusing on work-related tasks or the stresses that come along with employment. After using our brains constantly for this period, we must have a de-stress technique, to almost get our mind out of work mode. A recent study found that mobile phone games can help you recover from a long workday, in the same way mindfulness apps work.

Games help decision making & problem solving

Sometimes part of the fun is losing or getting it wrong. And the sense of achievement you feel when you finally crack the game is immense. Games can help us improve our decision-making and problem-solving skills, by ultimately going through a process to win the game.

Within an online game, feedback is immediate. So if you lose, you can quickly change your decision-making to enable you to achieve your desired result the next time you play.

Some of my favourite games

REMEMBER – Playing Simple Games Relaxes Your Mind. I want to share some of the recent games I played and why I loved them.

cashier simulator

I loved playing the cashier simulator game because it allowed me to complete really basic calculations in a fun way. Almost powering down my brain, to allow me to perform with minimal effort required.

And I found the task enjoyable. The music was relaxing and this is even something I could play with my little girl.

cash back

I loved the interface of cash back. When visiting the home screen, the game is colourful and attractive.

It was also great to use the buttons to increase the amounts you give to the characters as cash back.

The tally at the bottom which counted sales was also great.

Mind.org.uk has a page recommending some puzzles and games you can use to help you distract yourself. Check out the page here.

Lego City adventures – build and protect

I actually got really distracted with Lego City adventures – build and protect – because I loved it so much.

It gave me The Sims vibes, where you helped build a city and reveal the bricks.

I will be playing this one on my own to destress and probably with the little one.

Want to keep reading about this topic? Why not check out WebMD and their great reasons that playing games can help your mental health?

Hidden Food

Me and the little one were literally shouting at the screen while playing Hidden Food. We loved spotting the foods in the massive pile.

Think Where’s Wally but in the kitchen. This will now be one of our favourite phone games.

Summary

I hope you enjoyed reading all about the reasons games can relax your mind.

Do you play online games? Which ones are your favourite? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.

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