Crossword puzzles and other solitary games can provide stress relief.
Expensive therapy sessions or medicine aren't the only way to relieve stress. Popular stress relief games can reduce stress by taking your mind off the cause of the stress. These games are effective at lowering your blood pressure, heightening your mood and increasing optimistic feelings. There are many different types of stress-relieving games and most are either free or relatively inexpensive.
Solitary Games
Games you can play by yourself are quick, easy forms of stress relief that you can do for a few minutes in your office or home. Card games, such as solitaire, give you something to focus on for a few minutes to take your mind off your stressors. Other effective methods include doing puzzles, such as crosswords, sudoku or sequential puzzles -- brain teasers the require specific ordering. Fidget toys are also popular stress relievers because they give you something to do with your hands. Fidget toys are small objects that stretch, twist, click, bounce, turn or squeeze. Stress balls, Chinese rolling balls, squishy balls, stretchy tape and clicker pens are good examples of fidget toys.
Group Games
Games you can play with other people are an easy way to get your mind off the stress. Simple games, such as charades, chess or checkers, allow you to interact with others and focus your mind on a different task. Many other board and card games are available as well, which can get you laughing and talking. Team-building games, such as ropes courses, trust games and team-building tasks, promote teamwork and allow you to focus on someone other than yourself.
Outdoor Games
Getting outside for your daily dose of vitamin D can help relieve stress. Outdoor games, such as tennis and soccer, can decrease stress hormone levels. This decrease in stress-producing hormones often results in relaxation of both body and mind. Games such as softball, kickball or dodgeball promote teamwork as well. Even playing a simple game of croquet, tag or catch with your children can help you forget about your stress-causing problems and relax for a little while.
Online Games
There are a wide variety of stress-relieving games online. These games are generally fairly mindless and are designed to allow your mind to blank out for a few minutes. Popular games include card games, word games, puzzles, arcade, strategy and sports games. There also are some multiplayer games available.
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