- Wellness
- Games
- Tips
Casual Games as an Exercise For The Mind
Short sessions can reset focus, build micro-skills, and pair well with learning or remote work when you set boundaries.
How to optimize your five minutes
Taking a break from a task can be more productive than staring at it for hours, but sometimes a quick game or match can help us reset and return to a problem with a new perspective. It is important to pick games that are designed or can be paused inbetween shorter rounds to avoid getting sucked in for longer than intended
Use timer functions if available, or try the Pomodoro Technique - a work break system that uses 25 minute intervals separated by stretching breaks. More casual affairs such as typing racers, spatial logic puzzlers, or geometric based maths quiz show can serve to reinforce skills that would be applicable in the classroom or workplace while being light enough to not impair learning. Systems like these offer progress systems focused on speed or difficulty beaten rather than grades that some gamers of any age may find more appealing than a traditional test. For more mature players, games that test and train spatial or reaction based skills can help develop hand eye coordination applicable to more serious pursuits without having to commit to learning console style controls for complex franchises.
Stopping at the right time
Mute push notifications if they are serving only to tempt you back to the game, and put phones in another room if a device is not going to be referenceable while studying or sleeping. Casual games are popular on browsers for a reason - they tend to be quicker loading and do not ask for much information beyond account login details, and may even keep player data online for easy cross device access. While that convenience may lead to more playing marathons than intended, the ability to plan and space casual game sessions around work or study fits the needs of many with busier schedules.