There are plenty of mindfulness apps out there to help reduce stress, and they really are growing apace. So much so that there are estimates that place them at around 32 million dollars per quarter. However, many opt for video games over relaxing applications, and they could be right. A new research suggests that there may be a less useful, but more effective way to relax: video games on your phone.
Video games, mindfulness apps or spinners?
The study was published JMIR Mental Health, and included the participation of 45 university students who had to take a 15-minute math test to cause a higher level of stress, then they were divided into three groups. One group played a shape-fitting game called Block! hexa puzzle, the second used the mindfulness app Headspace, and the third played with spinners. Each group participated in the activities for 10 minutes.
Those who played the video game reported feel energetic. But those in the other two groups had the opposite reaction; they felt more tired and even exhausted in some cases.
In a second part of the study, 20 working professionals were also divided into groups, but this time they were asked to play video games, listen to the mindfulness app, or use the spinning device for 10 minutes after they got home from the hospital. worked. They did this for five days and reported how they felt afterwards.
Those who played the video games said they felt more relaxed at the end of the week than those in the other two groups. In fact, during the course of the study, game volunteers reported that they his level of relaxation increased every day.
So rather than just being a waste of time, even the most common and simple video games can have the potential to be helpful in reducing work stress and more effective than a mindfulness app. The difference is probably related to the four factors necessary for a recovery after stress or a day at work: psychological detachment, relaxation, mastery and a sense of control.
Why do video games seem better?
Logically, mindfulness apps can cause relaxation, but video games tend to have a plus. And it is that people feel that they are developing skills when playing a game, giving them that feeling of mastery. Also, that detachment means you're not thinking about work, which is something that may not fully occur when doing some mindfulness exercise.
According to previous research, games that are immersive and with strong narratives, with some degree of action, that feature a story or are played together with multiple players, can be very useful for multiple recovery components. So now you know that spending a little while playing on your mobile may be just what you need to eliminate stress from your work. Although do not forget that practicing physical exercise also fulfills that function.