Playing board games can be entertaining and relaxing. The results of an online survey reveal that of the people surveyed 53% played for stress release and 63% for relaxation. This speaks to the health benefit potential that playing board games can have on players. How can playing board games help reduce stress? By enlivening the players’ state of being through laughter and camaraderie.
- Playing board games may spark laughter, thereby reducing stress.
Board games may incite laughter while playing. A good laugh stimulates the efficient functioning of vital organs in the body, relaxes muscles, improves blood circulation, and calms down stress hormones. Laughing can help alleviate a person’s restless mood, enhance a feeling of personal satisfaction, and produce natural pain killers in the body. A good laugh may help to relieve stress and reduce the sensation of body aches and pains.
- Playing board games can help people overcome loneliness and isolation.
Playing board games like the known Travel the World Board Game brings individuals closer and reinforces connection. As board games are intended for playing in groups, regular meetings to play board games may help people suffering from depression as players develop positive connections with each other. Engaging and sharing experiences with others while playing board games can help people alleviate feelings of stress and fear.
- Playing board games can help families come together.
Playing board games can help strengthen relationships, and they are often designed with this goal in mind. Nowadays, however, family members rarely get together to share in an activity because of busy and conflicting schedules. It is common for people to spend their free time doing activities that can be done on their own such as watching TV or using mobile phones, thus reducing face-to-face interactions. But this lack of proper interactions with loved ones can have negative effects as relationships become weaker. Playing board games can provide families with an opportunity to come face-to-face and improve communication and social interactions with each other.
- Playing board games can bring happiness.
Playing board games may trigger the release of endorphins in the body. Endorphins are the neurochemicals that maximize the feeling of well-being and pleasure. Endorphins, commonly called ‘Happy Hormones,’ motivate an individual to keep going while feeling stress. Endorphins reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, and boost self-esteem.
