Quizzing Is Cool: The Benefits Of Brain-Busting Games
It’s common to think of video games when somebody talks to you about gaming these days, but there are all kinds of games out there. People played games long before the dawn of the Internet, cutting-edge consoles and deluxe gaming chairs. Testing your brain has long been a form of entertainment. Quizzing and playing brain-busting games have had a resurgence lately, and it’s no surprise. In this guide, we’ll explore some of the brilliant benefits of flexing your gray matter while having fun.
Entertainment
How often do you get bored? Many of us experience brief episodes of boredom daily or weekly. Whether you’re stuck at the airport, waiting for another delayed train or hanging around in a waiting room, having nothing to do can be tiresome. One of the main reasons playing games is so popular is that it provides instant access to entertainment. No matter if you have five minutes or five hours to fill, games keep your mind occupied, offer welcome distractions from work or other stressors, and give your brain something new and exciting to think about.
Thanks to advances in technology, we can access a vast range of games at the touch of a button or the swipe of a screen. From traditional card games and puzzles to strategy games and apps that catapult you to different kingdoms or galaxies, it’s never been easier to avoid boredom. All you need is a mobile device, a laptop or a desktop computer, and you’re good to go. Simply select an app or open a website and click on the title that appeals most. You can play almost anywhere at any time, regardless of whether you’ve got an opponent waiting in the wings or you’re playing solo.
Boosting cognitive powers
One of the best reasons to play games as a form of entertainment or a hobby is to boost your cognitive powers. If you enjoy puzzles like Sudoku or card games, such as Chess, your brain goes into overdrive, plotting moves and figuring out which numbers or pieces to put where. Sudoku, a number-based game, can help you enhance your memory, improve concentration and focus, and encourage you to think logically.
Studies show that playing games regularly can help you maintain high levels of concentration. When you play games, tackle challenges or solve puzzles, you exercise your brain in a similar way to working the body through physical activity. Doing crosswords, for example, can have a positive impact on memory and clarity of thought.
Focusing can be difficult in a fast-paced world where we’re bombarded by stimulants and harangued by distractions. If you find it hard to concentrate, it can impact everything from your performance at college or work to your personal and professional relationships. You might also struggle to feel present. Playing games and doing puzzles can help you improve your focus. A good game will engage you and lock you in, encouraging you to maintain tunnel vision throughout. As you play more, you should enjoy better levels of concentration, which will translate to other aspects of your life and environments. For people who find it hard to switch off, having a go-to game is a great idea. Perhaps you find that Sudoku gives you 10 minutes to shut off all other distractions or that playing Solitaire offers a simple, effective way to close multiple mental tabs down, for example.
Reducing stress
Stress levels are rising globally. In 2024, over 40% of Americans admitted feeling more stressed and anxious than in 2023. Stress is a natural human reaction to certain situations and scenarios. It can be a force for good, but often, it’s harmful. If you don’t manage stress effectively, it can spiral and become more severe and impactful. There are many ways to lower stress levels and reduce risks, including taking up hobbies and finding activities that enable you to relax, unwind, and forget about things, people or problems that cause stress.
Playing games, solving problems and doing quizzes can help you manage stress. When you’re in the throes of battling an opponent, you’re trying to beat the clock, or outsmart a rival, you’re not thinking about work, strained relationships or money worries. Your mind is fixed on the task in front of you. Gaming provides a distraction, and it can help you relax and forget about things that are affecting your mental health negatively. In addition, quizzing and playing games is fun. We all need fun in our lives. Even if you only have a few minutes, doing something you enjoy can lift your spirits, help you reset your mind, and boost energy levels, enthusiasm, and motivation.
In a world where stress is rife, it’s hugely beneficial to have easy, quick access to stress-busting activities. Most people have a phone, a laptop or a tablet. Games are available in an instant, offering rapid relief for stressful, long or difficult days. If you’ve had a tough exam or a tense exchange with clients or colleagues in a meeting, you may need to let off steam or switch off for a moment. Playing a game is an excellent way to refocus your mind, take a break, and refresh, ready for the rest of the day.
Boosting confidence levels
Feeling confident is amazing, but it’s not easy to achieve. It’s estimated that over 80% of the global population battles low self-esteem. Boosting confidence can help you unleash and fulfil your potential, enjoy better mental health and well-being and feel comfortable in your own skin, but it’s often challenging. There are many self-help techniques you can try, including trying new hobbies and testing yourself. It may seem simple, but playing games is a brilliant way to enhance self-confidence. Solving a problem, winning a competition or smashing your personal best time gives you a sense of achievement. There’s also the benefit of developing new skills and learning to play or perform better.
Playing any type of game can make you feel better about yourself. From card games and board games to puzzles and video games, there are opportunities to win contests, beat previous high scores, learn new things, and climb the rankings. You might not feel like you’re a great player every day, but quizzing is an easy, effective and accessible tool for increasing self-confidence.
Social interaction
Playing games is not just about testing your brain and seeing what you can do. It’s also about building connections and enjoying social interaction. Many of us like to have time to ourselves, but we also thrive on being around others. Today, we’re more connected than ever thanks to social media and digital communications, but more people feel lonely. Getting into quizzing or playing games regularly can help you meet new people, lower the risk of isolation and develop new relationships. Even if you play games alone online, you can meet fellow enthusiasts via forums, social media groups and website membership schemes and communities. You can celebrate common ground, share tips and strategies, and create leagues or splinter groups in your local area.
One of the main benefits of playing online games is feeling like you’re not alone. In the past, you had to have an opponent to play a game of Chess or a card game. Now, you can challenge people in different cities or countries or take on the computer. You can also reach out and chat to others via safe communities that focus on gaming or specific games.
Stimulation
Our brains need stimulation like our bodies need movement. If you have time to kill, it’s great to relax and unwind, but you may also crave excitement or want to work your brain. Games and puzzles stimulate your mind, giving your brain something to do. Playing games is a constructive use of your time. It encourages you to think, find solutions to problems and stay engaged in a single activity. There’s no risk of getting bored when you have a library of games at your disposal and you can flit between titles that energize and test you and those that enable you to wind down and chill out.
Gaining transferable skills
Learning new skills is a major advantage of quizzing and playing games, but it doesn’t just benefit your performance in board, video or card games or online puzzles. There are many transferable skills you can use in daily life. From problem-solving and thinking on your feet to managing stress and thinking logically and rationally, you can implement these skills at work, at home and in social environments and scenarios.
Gaming has become one of the most popular hobbies, with millions of people hooked on card games, video games, and puzzles. Playing games and doing quizzes is fun, but there are myriad other reasons to jump on the bandwagon. Games and puzzles can help you de-stress, learn new skills, boost your cognitive powers, gain transferable skills, meet new people, and beat boredom. Thanks to technology, it’s easier than ever to enjoy the brilliant benefits of playing games and solving problems and puzzles. If you’re looking for a new hobby that will improve your memory and concentration, help you unwind and relax and stay connected with others, why not play a game today?
