Playing creative games for fun: a great way to relax
by:
Alexandur Marias
Play is a state of mind that is safe, inquisitive and exists in the moment. It is also a bodily state of relaxation and an uplifting and engaged emotional state. Some say play is a spiritual state of profound connection and joy. Play can be something we do by ourselves or with others, but it is also something we can watch others do. Play is often described as a time when we feel most alive, yet we often take it for granted and may completely forget about it. Play can be entirely positive, or have a negative.
Most people believe that play is unproductive, and therefore inferior to “productive” activities. Perhaps this is because we equate play with feeling –happy joyous feeling –that traditionally is seen as less important than thinking. Many of us have lists, at home and at the office, prioritizing tasks by how productive they are. When we run out of time, we cut the fun stuff and do the “productive” stuff because we may feel guilty or bad if we play hooky or goof off by playing a game of golf or chess, taking a hike in the woods or daydreaming for an hour. New research on the brain contradicts this cultural dismissal of play, by emphasizing the importance of feelings and the necessity of feeling safe and relaxed in order to think clearly and productively. Play teaches us how to
manage and transform our “negative” emotions and experiences; it supercharges learning, and is a foundational factor in good mental and physical health. And, it can make work more pleasurable.
How can play trigger the flow state?
Psychiatrist and writer Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, (pronounced "chicks send me high”) studied play in Sidney, Australia and described it as a flow state that requires just the right balance of challenge and opportunity. If the game is too hard or too easy, it loses its sense of pleasure and fun. Maintaining a flow state in games with others requires all participants, regardless of age or ability, to feel challenged, but not overwhelmed. Csikszentmihalyi’s research has been undertaken and confirmed in several countries, and now reaches 250,000 surveys. In the flow state we feel:
Why is play an important part of our lives?
Humans are designed by nature to play, and have played throughout evolution. Playfulness is an inborn ability that is hardwired into our genetic code. Play is part of how humans have adapted and survived everywhere on Earth, from the tropics to the great deserts to the Arctic Circle. We want to play because it is instinctive and fundamental to our existence; it is one of the evolutionary mechanisms that enabled us to
develop as a species. Playing helps us survive by connecting us to other human beings and to sources of energy and excitement within ourselves. Play is simultaneously a source of calmness and relaxation, as well as a source of stimulation for the brain and body.
Play will be important to our future. Some futurists have said that we'll need to be more inventive, creative, and flexible to handle the tasks, flow and rhythm of life in this century and beyond. A sure (and fun) way to develop these abilities is to play – with your children and grandchildren, your officemates and friends.
Why is it important to play at work?
When researchers follow pre-teen children’s attitude about play, they discovered that some children called almost everything they did “play” while others called almost everything they did “work”. Reconnecting with the children at the end of adolescence, the children who thought of everything as play were more successful and happier in school and were more content socially than the people who saw everything as “work”.
Success at work does not depend on the amount of time you work. It depends upon the quality of work, and the quality of work depends on the level of well-being of the workers. The level of well-being depends significantly on the how often they replenish themselves through play in any of its forms. Work is where we spend much of our time. That is why it is especially important for us to play during work. Without some recreation, our work suffers. Most of us have been working faster, harder, and smarter, and with diminishing free time. We first thought that working faster, harder, and smarter would handle our increased workload, but that is not the case. We still got behind and became chronically overwhelmed. When the project you're working on hits a serious glitch (as they frequently do), heading out to the basketball court with your colleagues to shoot some hoops and have a few laughs does a lot more than take your mind off the problem. If basketball isn't your cup of tea, having a model airplane contest, telling stories, or flying kites in the parking lot will also allow your relationship to the problem to shift and enable you to approach it from a new perspective. Interjecting play into the work cycle: keeps you sane and functional during times of stress; refreshes your mind and body; renews hope; triggers creativity; and increases energy.
Playing non-violent computer games can be a great way to relax and combat stress, at home and at work, by children and adults. There are many sites on the Internet with free or resonable priced non-violent computer games, such as:
http://www.fungamesplaza.com
http://www.fungamesplaza.com/pc-kids_games.html
http://www.fungamesplaza.com/pc-addicting_games.html
http://www.amicgames.com
‘Online Games' - Most
Relaxing Experience Want to Unwind – Play Online Games Increasing Audience
for Online Gaming
by: Allen Brown
Recently, many new online gaming services have been introduced. The
world is having a visible affect on the online gaming industry, as more
and more people turned towards playing and enjoying online games.
Games on net were once an imaginary phrase, but since the introduction
of thousands of user friendly and easy operating games on the Internet,
people are finding that fiction has become reality.
But, now you can read about what you want to learn and play free online
games at paying no money. This is the ultimate playing way for anyone
frightened by the complex layout of games. To play online games, read
introduction to the games and play along.
Another main reason people want to play free online games is to get
refreshed from the monotonous and hectic routine. With games on net, all
of that excitement can be put into action. The people may choose to play
free online games for recreation. Many people just want to chill out at
the end of a day, and playing with a pool or slot machine etc. doesn't
provide sufficient amusement.
According to a leading company’s survey on online gamers, women around
or above age 40 are the informal gaming hardcore, playing games at an
average of nearly nine hours a week. As far as men of all age group are
concerned, they spend nearly six hours gaming while women of all ages
average to around seven hours per week. This show increasing urges to play
online games in all age groups and both genders.
The report also unveils an interesting point, 54 percent of adults said
that they play games to wipe-off stress and the 20 percent of teens who
play for just relaxation.
With free online games one can experience the excitement of playing,
without the fear of losing any single cent. Many sites on the Internet
also let you to post messages in forum and even facilitate to chat with
friends while you play.
This is excellent news for gaming authors and websites, as the
more-n-more people are moving towards playing online games on net, the
more excitement around the globe will be.
All in all, it can be pretty relaxing experience and certainly it is
becoming very popular time-pass.
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