Games and Our Health

Have you ever wondered how games affect your health?

You can say it does not add anything to you in anyway but playing games does affect our mental health and physical well-being.

What kind of games affect our health?

There are games that require our physical strength, and some involves our psychology and mental alertness or a combination of both.

The games that involve our psychology and mental alertness are majorly games like chess, awele, card games (whot, Jack, king and queen), ludo, monopoly amongst others. In present times, these games are still played by some of us physically. With the advent of the internet, these games are majorly on our smart phones and computers. There are millions of games present on the internet. Our preferences and choices determine the games we play on our smartphones and computers.

The games that involve our physical activities include running, hide, and seek, hiking, recreational activities, swimming, football, golf amongst others.

Why is it necessary to participate in playing games?

• Games are important for relaxation and relief of physical and mental stress. They are beneficial for individuals of all interests and abilities.

• Games enable us to be emotionally stable, socially interactive, mentally alert, physically fit and psychologically active.

• We learn different ideas and concepts; understand a different approach to things; and experiment with various ideas, options and variables while engaging in game activities.

• Games provide an opportunity for us to engage with and practice strategies to outsmart our challenges.

• Games that involve both physical skill and mental alertness enable us to develop creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. It keeps us alert and sensitive to situations around us.

• Personally, I develop ideas and come up with solutions to problems encountered when I play games while resting. So, games enable us develop strategies to tackle situations around us.

Board games improves our ability to focus, increase our attention span and understanding of various situations.

Football teaches a team about teamwork, mental alertness, understanding your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and taking up opportunities to win as such opportunities arise.

• Physical games are a form of exercise which is beneficial to our staying healthy

During practice, I came in contact with a 60year old man with optimal blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol levels. What surprised me was that he plays football regularly with a team of youngsters.

• Games can teach us and improve our social interactions like verbal and non-verbal communication, waiting, taking turns, enjoy interactions with different people of different classes and tribe.

• Games teaches competitive individuals to cope with and handle disappointment or losses in games. It teaches individuals in a simple but effective way on life’s notion. “It is not every time you win, sometimes you lose”.

• Playing games is an interesting way to improve different aspects of your life. So, the next time you feel stressed about something and you are looking for a good way to analyze situations or balance your mental health or relax, you can opt for a game.

How often should we play games?

After knowing the benefits of games, how often we play games depends on us, be it physical games or games that involve our psychology.

Depending on your schedule; how it helps you feel relaxed and more proactive, you can participate in games that would assist you.

It can be at the end of your day’s activities or during weekends or few hours a day, it all depends on what works best for you.

 

A popular saying from my childhood goes “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” and vice versa. So, find little time to participate in little games with our families, friends, colleagues, clubs or wherever we find ourselves. You will see how it improves your overall well-being, especially your mental health.

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