Can Gaming Be a Source of Mindfulness?

<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">Mindfulness is often associated with meditation&comma; but it can actually be practiced through doing activities that you enjoy and that helps take your mind off other stresses&period; Gaming is a source of entertainment and relaxation that is enjoyed by many&comma; and a lo<&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">t of people choose to kick back and zone out by playing video games&period; In this article&comma; we’ll explore how different types of games can have a positive influence on your mood&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; center&semi;" aria-level&equals;"2"><b><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">A Source of Enjoyment<&sol;span><&sol;b><&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">The main attraction of playing games for many is that it is an activity that they enjoy doing&comma; as well as providing a sense of relaxation&period; Some p<&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">eople like to be immersed in RPG’s and have a wide selection of different console&comma; PC&comma; and mobile games to choose from&comma; whereas people who enjoy casino games have no shortage of options either&comma; with a variety of slots to choose from such as &OpenCurlyQuote;The Book of De<&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">ad’ and &OpenCurlyQuote;Starburst’&period; You can <&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;bonusfinder&period;com&sol;uk&sol;free-spins-no-deposit"><span data-contrast&equals;"none">click here to read the entire article<&sol;span><&sol;a><span data-contrast&equals;"auto"> from BonusFinder and see the range of casinos that offer players free spins on <&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">popular slot games&period; Of course&comma; different <&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">games appeal to different people&comma; but&comma; for gaming to positively affect your mood&comma; you need to enjoy what you are playing&period;  Certain types of games in particular have been associated with helping players relax and actively improving their moods&period;<&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&quot&semi;134233117&quot&semi;&colon;true&comma;&quot&semi;134233118&quot&semi;&colon;true&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; center&semi;"><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;incimages&period;com&sol;uploaded&lowbar;files&sol;image&sol;1920x1080&sol;getty&lowbar;160382211&lowbar;200013722000928071&lowbar;102768&period;jpg"><img class&equals;"aligncenter size-large" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;incimages&period;com&sol;uploaded&lowbar;files&sol;image&sol;1920x1080&sol;getty&lowbar;160382211&lowbar;200013722000928071&lowbar;102768&period;jpg" width&equals;"1920" height&equals;"1080" &sol;><&sol;a><b><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">Simulation G<&sol;span><&sol;b><b><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">ames<&sol;span><&sol;b><&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">Simulation games can be immersive for players&comma; which can help take your mind off things if you are feeling stressed&period; <&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;scan&period;lancastersu&period;co&period;uk&sol;2020&sol;05&sol;13&sol;finding-mindfulness-in-animal-crossing-new-horizons&sol;"><span data-contrast&equals;"none">It has been reported th<&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"none">at<&sol;span><&sol;a><span data-contrast&equals;"auto"> Animal Crossing&colon; New Horizons is a video game that can help relieve stress and promote mindfulness&period; In the game&comma; you find your character on an uninhabited island surrounded by some anthropomorphic companions&period; The goal of the game is to build up your isl<&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">and into a thriving community&comma; which can be achieved by crafting items&comma; harvesting plants&comma; and trading with other villages&period;<&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&quot&semi;134233117&quot&semi;&colon;true&comma;&quot&semi;134233118&quot&semi;&colon;true&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">The simplicity of performing tasks and creating and designing your island is what allows this game to be a good source of mindfulnes<&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">s for players&period; The pacing of the game is also significant&comma; as it uses a real-time system which means players aren’t rushed or overwhelmed with tasks to do&period; Animal Crossing isn’t a game series suited for everyone&comma; but it can be a truly immersive experience <&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">that can act as a welcome distraction from everyday life and provide a sense of peacefulness&period;<&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&quot&semi;134233117&quot&semi;&colon;true&comma;&quot&semi;134233118&quot&semi;&colon;true&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<h3 style&equals;"text-align&colon; center&semi;" aria-level&equals;"2"><b><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">Sandbox Games<&sol;span><&sol;b><&sol;h3>&NewLine;<p><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">Another popular genre that is known to encourage mindfulness is sandbox-style games&comma; with one of the most well-known examples in recent years being <&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">Minecraft&period; The beauty of Minecraft is that it doesn’t have a main specific goal to accomplish&comma; and it’s up to the players to make their own minds up in terms of what they want to do&period; The core gameplay of Minecraft involves gathering resources to build and <&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">craft new structures and environments&period;<&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;cdn&period;bagogames&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;04&sol;01191150&sol;minecraft-669310&lowbar;1280&period;jpg"><img class&equals;"aligncenter size-large wp-image-169394" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;cdn&period;bagogames&period;com&sol;wp-content&sol;uploads&sol;2021&sol;04&sol;01191150&sol;minecraft-669310&lowbar;1280-1024x542&period;jpg" alt&equals;"" width&equals;"1024" height&equals;"542" &sol;><&sol;a><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">With the freedom of choice that Minecraft supplies players&comma; it’s no surprise that many people find the game therapeutic and a relaxing experience&period; The official Minecraft Education website actually provides lessons and<&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"auto"> training regarding mindfulness within the game&comma; <&sol;span><a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;education&period;minecraft&period;net&sol;trainings&sol;mindfulness-in-minecraft"><span data-contrast&equals;"none">which you can read about here<&sol;span><&sol;a><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">&period;<&sol;span> <span data-contrast&equals;"auto">The truth is&comma; mindfulness comes from within&comma; and the type of games you may find cathartic may be different from others&period; However&comma; if you are looking for games that are known to give players a relaxing exper<&sol;span><span data-contrast&equals;"auto">ience&comma; then it could be worth giving Animal Crossing or Minecraft a try&period; <&sol;span><span data-ccp-props&equals;"&lbrace;&quot&semi;134233117&quot&semi;&colon;true&comma;&quot&semi;134233118&quot&semi;&colon;true&rcub;"> <&sol;span><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; center&semi;"><em>This article contains sponsored links&period;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;