Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Why Play Card Games ?

 In the age of the internet, there are a lot of ways to pass the time. Just having a smartphone and a WiFi connection gives one access to a plethora of “time-killing” possibilities. However, since smartphone use has been linked to poor mental health, it may be wise to look at alternative leisure time activities.


Before high-speed internet and handheld devices, many people resorted to card games to while away a few hours. These activities have been neglected in the past decade, especially by the younger generations.


Card games are more than just a way to ward off boredom. They may provide the players with numerous mental health benefits, which I will discuss in the following paragraphs.


If you want to learn how picking up a deck can be good for you, here are 7 surprising mental health benefits of playing card games. Read on.


Card Games Are Great Exercise for the Brain

Similar to chess, go, or other traditional board games, playing cards works your brain. Individuals of all ages can benefit from this, but the elderly will probably get the most out of it.


Our brain ages along with the rest of our body, which often results in cognitive decline. It is vital to keep the mind active if you want it to remain sharp in old age.


Card games require strategic thinking and problem-solving, which challenges one’s cognitive abilities. In other words, cards put a good kind of strain on your brain and help maintain mental hygiene.


Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that playing cards can prevent the formation of diseases like Alzheimer’s. According to Keith A. Josephs of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, cards, board games, and puzzles may only delay the onset of symptoms.


The bright side is that such a delay helps a person function on a higher level for a longer time.


Card Games Help Fight Loneliness

Loneliness is a phenomenon that’s growing more prevalent each day. Research by a global health services company Cigna suggests that three in five Americans feel lonely. Loneliness goes hand in hand with conditions like depression and may even accentuate them.


While some card games like Solitaire can be played alone, most require several players. This means that while you are playing, you will also be socializing. The card game makes conversation flow naturally and easily, which can be a great way to develop new or strengthen old friendships.


It’s also a good opportunity for shy individuals to enjoy a casual chat, which may help boost their confidence.


Card Games Help You Relax

I’m sure I don’t need to convince you how day to day life can be stressful. Work, chores, exercise, family activities – these are just a few things on almost every adult’s daily to-do list. Sometimes, people get worn out by their routine, which can have a negative effect on their health.


An old saying goes, “You should relax as hard as you work.” This is where cards can help. While card games are not the only way to unwind, they are a great choice.


The game will take your mind off of its usual concerns and make you focus on playing your next move right. It will put you in the “flow state” as coined by Dr. Csikszentmihalyi, which is connected to heavy concentration, clearheadedness, and happiness.


Aside from that, if you play with a real deck instead of using a computer, you will be sparing your eyes from the harmful screen light.


Cards definitely will not make all your stress go away, but they will help you relax and rejuvenate after a long day.


Card Games Make You Acquire New Skills

What many people don’t realize is that it takes skill to play certain types of card games. Bridge is perhaps the most famous example of this, but there are many others too.


Each time you learn a new card game, you’ll be learning a new skill. As you may know, such learning stimulates the neurons in the brain and creates new neural pathways. Besides this, CCSU Business & Development claims that practicing a new skill increases the density of the white matter in one’s brain. This should result in improved performance on a number of tasks.


But you don’t have to try a new game every time you pick up a deck. Playing old favorites allows you to hone your craft and figure out new tricks. The more you play, the better you’ll get, and the progress is what’ll keep the game interesting.


Card Games Help You Become A Better Loser

Some people find it hard to deal with losing, whether it being in a game or other aspects of life.


In extreme cases, the shock of losing is so great that it makes the person aggressive and even violent. Due to this, it is vital to learn how to cope with the emotions that come with being defeated.


Cards are the ideal platform to make peace with not being a winner all the time. Aside from making you learn how to deal with negative emotions, losing presents an opportunity to figure out your mistakes and become a better player in the future.


Elevation Behavioral Health

Card Games Help Develop Patience and Discipline

Card games require extreme focus, especially when playing with contenders of equal or higher skill level. The players need to concentrate on every single hand played if they want to maximize their chances of winning. It’s not uncommon for players to spend hours in such deep concentration. The benefits that one reaps from this are increased discipline and patience. Without those two traits, a player would likely make poor decisions and end up losing.


Card Games May Help Improve Memory

Many of the popular card games require memorizing, so if you play them often, you will be working out your short-term memory. As a result, you may improve your memorizing capacity, which can have a carry-over effect in real-life situations.

网络时代,打发时间的方式有很多。 只要拥有一部智能手机和一个 WiFi 连接,就可以让人们获得大量“消磨时间”的可能性。 然而,由于智能手机的使用与心理健康状况不佳有关,因此考虑其他休闲活动可能是明智之举。


 在高速互联网和手持设备出现之前,许多人依靠纸牌游戏来消磨几个小时。 这些活动在过去十年中被忽视,尤其是被年轻一代忽视。


 纸牌游戏不仅仅是一种打发无聊的方式。 它们可以为玩家提供许多心理健康益处,我将在下面的段落中讨论。


 如果您想了解如何拿起一副纸牌对您有好处,以下是玩纸牌游戏对心理健康的 7 个令人惊讶的好处。 请继续阅读。


 纸牌游戏对大脑来说是很好的锻炼


 与国际象棋、围棋或其他传统棋盘游戏类似,玩纸牌可以锻炼你的大脑。 所有年龄段的人都可以从中受益,但老年人可能会从中受益最多。


 我们的大脑与身体其他部分一起老化,这通常会导致认知能力下降。 如果你想在晚年保持头脑敏锐,保持思维活跃至关重要。


 纸牌游戏需要策略性思考和解决问题的能力,挑战人的认知能力。 换句话说,卡片会给你的大脑带来很大的压力,并有助于保持心理健康。


 不幸的是,扑克牌不太可能预防阿尔茨海默氏症等疾病的形成。 明尼苏达州罗切斯特市梅奥诊所的基思·A·约瑟夫斯 (Keith A. Josephs) 表示,纸牌、棋盘游戏和拼图可能只会延迟症状的出现。


 好的一面是,这种延迟可以帮助一个人在更长的时间内在更高的水平上发挥作用。


 纸牌游戏有助于对抗孤独


 孤独是一种日益普遍的现象。 全球健康服务公司 Cigna 的研究表明,五分之三的美国人感到孤独。 孤独感与抑郁症等病症密切相关,甚至可能加剧抑郁症。


 虽然一些纸牌游戏(例如纸牌游戏)可以单独玩,但大多数都需要多人玩。 这意味着您在玩耍的同时也将进行社交。 纸牌游戏使对话自然而轻松地进行,这是发展新友谊或加强旧友谊的好方法。


 对于害羞的人来说,这也是一个享受随意聊天的好机会,这可能有助于增强他们的自信心。


 纸牌游戏帮助您放松


 我确信我不需要让您相信日常生活会充满压力。 工作、家务、锻炼、家庭活动——这些只是几乎每个成年人每日待办事项清单上的几件事。 有时,人们会因为日常生活而感到疲惫,这会对他们的健康产生负面影响。



 俗话说:“工作之余,应放松心情”。 这就是卡片可以提供帮助的地方。 虽然纸牌游戏不是唯一的放松方式,但它们是一个不错的选择。


 游戏会让你忘记平常的担忧,让你专注于正确的下一步棋。 它会让你进入 Csikszentmihalyi 博士创造的“心流状态”,这与高度集中、头脑清醒和幸福有关。


 除此之外,如果您玩真正的牌组而不是使用计算机,您的眼睛将免受有害屏幕光的伤害。


 卡片肯定不会消除您所有的压力,但它们会帮助您在漫长的一天后放松并恢复活力。


 卡牌游戏让你获得新技能


 许多人没有意识到玩某些类型的纸牌游戏需要技巧。 桥牌也许是最著名的例子,但还有很多其他例子。


 每次你学习一种新的纸牌游戏,你都会学习一项新技能。 如您所知,这种学习会刺激大脑中的神经元并创建新的神经通路。 除此之外,CCSU 商业与发展部声称练习新技能可以增加大脑中白质的密度。 这应该会提高许多任务的性能。


 但你不必每次拿起一副牌时都尝试新游戏。 玩旧的最爱可以让你磨练你的技巧并找出新的技巧。 你玩的越多,你就会越好,而进步才是让游戏保持有趣的原因。


纸牌游戏帮助你成为更好的失败者

 有些人发现很难应对失败,无论是在游戏中还是在生活的其他方面。


 在极端的情况下,失败的冲击是如此之大,以至于使人变得具有攻击性,甚至暴力。 因此,学习如何应对失败带来的情绪至关重要。


 卡片是一个理想的平台,可以让你与不总是成为赢家达成和解。 除了让你学会如何处理负面情绪之外,失败还提供了一个找出错误并在未来成为更好玩家的机会。


 海拔行为健康

 纸牌游戏有助于培养耐心和纪律

 纸牌游戏需要高度集中注意力,尤其是与技术水平相同或更高的竞争者一起玩时。 如果玩家想最大化获胜的机会,就需要专注于每一手牌。 玩家花费数小时如此高度集中注意力的情况并不少见。 人们从中获得的好处是增强纪律性和耐心。 如果没有这两个特征,玩家可能会做出错误的决定并最终失败。


 纸牌游戏可能有助于提高记忆力

 许多流行的纸牌游戏都需要记忆,所以如果你经常玩它们,你就会锻炼你的短期记忆。 因此,您可能会提高您的记忆能力,这可能会在现实生活中产生延续效应。


No comments: