The holiday season, for so many of us, is the perfect opportunity to sit back, relax, and get some good quality gaming time in, but there can also be a lot of stress and those feelings are being overwhelmed. It becomes critical to find those all-important moments of calm to bypass the stresses that come with the holiday rush. So if you’re feeling like there’s too many people in the house or you’ve done one too many social events, you need to remember that taking a step back and spending a bit of time by yourself with the right solitary practices will help you stay grounded and calm during the holiday season. Let’s show you some practices:
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Relaxing Gaming
Gaming is certainly a double-edged sword, especially when we’re talking about relaxation. It can be almost too stimulating and this is why we’ve got to find the right practices that can take us away from our thoughts and feelings, but also give us the right type of engagement. Online Sudoku is a perfect solution because you get to engage your mind and focus on the logical challenges presented by the game, which will boost your concentration and problem-solving skills, which then diverts your attention from stressors, resulting in a calming mental space. The satisfaction of completing a puzzle can be a rewarding and meditative experience. But even for those people who are looking for something a bit more like a traditional video game, there are a number of amazing relaxing video games available, such as Tetris Effect and Terra Nil.
Journaling
There’s been a greater focus on gratitude practices in the modern world because they bring about so many benefits. Some of the positive effects of practicing gratitude can be reduced depression and anxiety, but also improve your sleep, and could even support your heart health. Combining gratitude practices with journaling allows you to reflect on the positive aspects of your life and engage with pen and paper so you can jot down the things that you are truly thankful for. It is such a simple act, but acknowledging gratitude in this form can shift your focus from the stresses that are swimming around your head to the goodness in your life. We have to remember that the holiday season is always more good than bad, but we can certainly feel like it’s the opposite on occasion! Instead, let’s cultivate a more grateful mindset and we will naturally reap the benefits of being calm and content. If you’re looking for a way to build a gratitude practice you can check out this link for a comprehensive way to get started.
A Digital Detox
Amid all the messages, WhatsApps, emails, and everything else you’re exposing yourself to have you considered just how it’s affecting your ability to focus and stay calm? We live in an era where even opening up our social media opens the door to a wave of stimulation that could be too much to recover from. We should all spend some time stepping away from connectivity. When we do a digital detox it doesn’t just allow us to use this time to engage in activities that don’t involve screens, for example, listening to music or indulging in a hobby, but it can help to reclaim our time and attention. If you find your concentration is not what it once was, don’t feel like you are on your own because this is a very common path of what modern life is like and we can trace it back to the fact that we are using more screens than ever. Start by setting aside a small amount of time to not use your phone or if the temptation is too much, lock it away somewhere and turn it off for a bit! After a while, you may be able to see what this is doing for you.
Walking in Nature
One of the more powerful ways to recharge our minds and bodies. Taking solitary walks in a nearby park or just around your neighborhood can contribute to a serene experience. There’s a number of things that can help us to feel calmer, such as what we see as well as the fresh air and even the rhythmic sound of our footsteps. If you can venture outside for a bit you will experience a number of benefits, such as lower stress, better mood, and even improved attention. This isn’t just anecdotal but studies have shown that spending time in nature can be a soothing solution for our busy brains.
Being Creative
One of the major benefits of being creative is that it acts as a therapeutic outlet for stress. Whether it’s painting, drawing, or writing, you can express yourself. This is not just a stress reliever but can provide you with greater insights into yourself. And this can be a very wonderful anchor during the chaos of the holiday season. Christmas is a time when we are meant to stop, take stock, and reflect on the year that’s passed but these days Christmas is arguably one of the more stressful times of the year, and this means we end up hurtling into January feeling like we haven’t rested or recovered at all. If you start now you can benefit from taking the time to feel more centered in yourself and as you reflect on the challenges and the benefits of the past year you can see out December with a far more enlightened approach to life.
Meditative Practices
Learning to relax when you’re feeling stressed and strung out is not easy, but this is why meditation is one of those things that we need to practice. Gaming can be a type of meditation because it acts as an outlet for our stresses and takes us away from modern pressures, but if you are going down the digital detox route and are finding it benefits you, all you need to do is to carve a few minutes out each day to focus on your breath and let go of racing thoughts, immersing yourself in the present moment. Meditation has a host of health benefits on mind and body, and this is one of the best approaches if you are struggling to stay calm in anticipation of the holiday season.
Categories: Health And Mental Talk Stuff
