Beat Stress with Playtime!

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

22 Jan 2009 06:35 PM

Are you allowed to have playtime every day? I am. I play with my dogs... but I also take work breaks to play computer games. It sounds counter-productive, right? But a quick game break actually helps me refocus on my work.

Studies from East Carolina University back me up on the computer games. Recent research has shown that video games are great for stress relief! Just fifteen minutes of play can help improve mood, relieve tension, and increase your ability to focus.

Stress isn't just mental. It can have a physical impact on you, too. Taking a few minutes to reduce stress levels can improve your overall productivity.

What's the best game to play? That's really up to you. Pick something fun and challenging, but not so hard that it makes you feel worse! Puzzle-based games like Tetris (a long-time favorite of mine) or Bejeweled are good choices for a quick brain break. Maybe you've always loved crossword puzzles or have a passion for Sudoku. Give yourself permission for a game break and de-stress!

If you need to bust more stress than a quick game can handle, you might want to try something that involves a physical component like Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero, or any of the games for the Wii. Exercise is another great stress buster. Even a ten minute walk around the block can clear your head, stretch your muscles, and get you back to work feeling more alert.

The next time you get that frazzled feeling, give playtime a try. MSN and Yahoo are two great places to start if you want to try a quick, fun, free online game. There are plenty of sites out there dedicated to offering a wide variety of flash games if you look around -- and plenty of variations on old favorites.

I might just go play a quick round of Tetris now. What's your favorite stress busting game?

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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