Lift & Shift Foundation

Gaming To Relieve Stress

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Immerse Yourself in Games to Melt Away Stress

What Do You Play?

Feeling stressed out lately? Do you need a break from the daily grind? Do you want to have some fun and relax? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might want to try gaming as a source of stress relief. Gaming isn't just a hobby, it's a way of life. It can help you cope with stress, improve your mood, and boost your creativity. Let's explore the benefits of gaming and how you can get started today.

Girl Gamer Playing a PC Game

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Gaming: A Source of Stress Relief

Games are more than just entertainment. They're also a form of therapy. Studies have shown that playing games can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels, which are all indicators of stress. Games can also increase your endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin levels, which are hormones that make you feel happy and relaxed. Games can also help you escape from reality, distract you from your worries, and immerse you in a different world. Games can also challenge you, stimulate your brain, and improve your cognitive skills. Games can also help you socialize with other people, make new friends, and bond with your existing ones. Games can also help you express yourself, unleash your creativity, and discover new aspects of yourself.

Get Into Gaming

If you're new to gaming, don't worry. It's easy to get started. All you need is a device that can run games, such as a computer, a console, a smartphone, or a tablet. You also need an internet connection if you want to play online games or download games from digital platforms. You also need some games that suit your preferences and interests. There are many genres of games to choose from, such as action, adventure, puzzle, strategy, simulation, role-playing, sports, racing, etc. You can also choose games based on their themes, settings, stories, characters, graphics, sounds, etc. You can find games online by browsing through websites like Steam, Epic Games Store, Google Play Store, Apple App Store, etc. You can also find games offline by visiting local game stores or borrowing from friends or libraries. You can also find games by reading reviews, watching videos, listening to podcasts, or joining online communities.

Basic Gaming Needs

To enjoy gaming as a source of stress relief, you need to take care of some basic needs. First of all, you need to set a budget for your gaming expenses. Gaming can be expensive if you buy a lot of games or equipment. You need to be mindful of your spending and prioritize your needs over your wants. You can also save money by looking for discounts, sales, bundles, free games, etc. Second of all, you need to set a schedule for your gaming time. Gaming can be addictive if you play too much or too often. You need to balance your gaming time with your other responsibilities and activities. You need to set limits for yourself and stick to them. You can also use timers or alarms to remind yourself when to stop playing. Third of all, you need to set a space for your gaming area. Gaming can be distracting if you play in a noisy or crowded environment. You need to find a quiet and comfortable place where you can play without interruptions or disturbances. You can also use headphones or speakers to enhance your audio experience.

Fostering Long-term Satisfaction

Gaming is not just a one-time thing. It's a lifelong passion that can enrich your life in many ways. To make gaming a lifelong passion, you need to do some things:

  • Find Your Niche: Explore different genres of games until you find one that suits your preferences and interests.
  • Challenge Yourself: Try new things and push yourself out of your comfort zone.
  • Meet Other Gamers: Join online communities or attend local events to meet other gamers.

Support the Lift & Shift Foundation

We believe supporting stress-reducing hobbies is an important part of our mission. If you found our tips helpful, please consider sharing them with your friends, family, and community. You never know who might benefit from picking up a pen and putting their thoughts on paper. And if you'd like to stay up-to-date on our latest stress-reducing activities, join our email newsletter today.

References:
  1. Granic, I., Lobel, A., & Engels, R. C. (2014). The benefits of playing video games. American psychologist, 69(1), 66-78. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034857
  2. Kowert, R., & Quandt, T. (Eds.). (2015). The Video Game Debate: Unravelling the Physical, Social, and Psychological Effects of Video Games. Routledge.
  3. McGonigal, J. (2011). Reality is broken: Why games make us better and how they can change the world. Penguin.
  4. Przybylski, A. K., Weinstein, N., Murayama, K., Lynch, M. F., & Ryan, R. M. (2012). The ideal self at play: The appeal of video games that let you be all you can be. Psychological science, 23(1), 69-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797611429706