How do you spend your down time?? I spend mine writing, pampering and playing games!!
Gaming isnt just consoles, you dont need to own the latest Playstation to get into gaming. ANYONE can play something, of course it can be deadly… Iv lost hours on Evermerge before and thats just on my iPad!
Maybe you enjoy puzzles, or arcade games. Games that work your brain or games which numb it, stressful games… or games to chill and play! There are a million options out there to fit any preference! Got to LOVE that there is something for everyone. I do not believe that there isn’t anyone who doesn’t enjoy gaming sometimes… as a way to unwind or to challenge yourself! Personally, I like a mix of both. I have games I alternate between … that challenge me and then ones which I can switch off and play.
Gaming is fun! But also importantly it can be really beneficial for your mental health….
Kelli Dunlap, a clinical psychologist who has a master’s in game design, says video games can help people living with mental illness by providing a way to relax, connect with others and feel competent.
“We know that games are exceptionally good at helping us feel like our decisions matter, and that we can have power over the world around us and that we can have a sense of accomplishment,” says Dunlap, who is based in Rockville, Maryland.
Where to game…
You’ve got a million options of free games easily accessible from your phone or laptop without ever needing to purchase a console or anything! The APP store has tonnes of course, broken down by category and there are charts so you can see exactly which ones are popular at the moment. I like a mix personally, but my favourites are puzzle and arcade games. I find my games on the APP store and online on websites like Plays.org.
APP Games I play DAILY include Evermerge, a fairytale puzzle game, Toon town – a colour block matching game and Royal match – another colour block matching game but with some twists! To be honest I alternate between new ones too but those are my 3 GO TO apps.
My favourite for online gaming though is Plays.org, a free games site FILLED with hundreds of games to play whenever you like, there are way more top quality free games on there than most others I have tried plus you can easily save your faves for play another time. PLUS the random plays option, when I dont know what Im in the mood for, just tap random plays! Iv found some of my FAVE games using that!
They have retro games too which I LOVE!
My FAVES are the Tom & Jerry Snake game, yes it says its for kids but it is reaaally fun to play. Easy to unwind and play! Just FUN. Then theres Endless Siege Tower Defense, this one is really interesting because each day this game offers a new map, meaning it never gets boring and it always keeps you on your toes.
Whether you are a newbie or experienced gamer…
You deserve to unwind and have a play. Take some time for yourself, we are told so often that we need to cut down on our screen time but why not just change what we do with our screens. Instead of just scrolling through social media for hours, challenge yourself or unwind and play some games! YOU deserve it.
Let me know in the comments, where do you game?? and what do you play!?
If you enjoyed this piece then check out our piece on Gamers Dating here!
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I haven’t had as much time recently but typically I always go to video games as a way to escape a difficult day. Even challenging puzzles in a game are still a nice unwind frkm life stressors.
I used to be much more of a gamer and life kinda got in the way a bit — but reading this, I see how it was a great way to spend my down time or to just switch off for a bit. I find it takes my mind off the things that stress me out so as I am on a bit of a holiday break, I’m going to spend some time getting back into it. Thanks for this reminder that self-care can come in many forms!
Lovely blog. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing the thoughts. I’m playing the games sometimes. Most of the time busy with reading and writing ✍️ and of course my 9 to 5 job.