Puzzles and board games have been around for well over two thousand years. In fact, the oldest known puzzle game was referenced by Archimedes around 250 B.C. Puzzles of all difficulty levels, be they easy puzzles, hard puzzles, or very tough puzzles, can all be mentally stimulating, but so can board games. There are numerous varieties of board games, from sports board games, to strategy games, to children’s board games. There are a number of health benefits that can be gained from playing board games on a regular basis and this article looks at a few of them.
- Reduce Stress: As with any game or puzzle activity, board games provide the benefit of reducing stress. By focusing entirely on playing the game, like a sports board game where you have to remember all of the rules of the game, you’re going to forget about any stresses currently going on in your life and your brain will subconsciously relax. Board games are also relaxing because many times the game is simpler than whatever complex issues you’re currently dealing with and it’s more relaxing to focus on the game instead.
- Helps Improve Memory: Another health benefit that comes from playing board games is that it can help improve your memory. Memory comes into play because when you’re playing a game, you have to consciously remember the rules as the game progresses. This can be especially true in sports board games, which tend to replicate the rules of various sports and can be somewhat complicated depending on the game. Playing games on a regular basis and recalling the rules can improve your memory retention skills since you have to consciously focus on remembering specific details.
- Helps Your Immune System: It’s a known fact that negative feelings and stress can have a detrimental effect on your immune system over a long period of time. By contrast, positive feelings, which you can experience when playing a board game you enjoy, can help to boost your immune system and help it fight off infections.
In conclusion, there are a number of health benefits that can be reaped from playing board games on a regular basis. These include reducing stress, helping to improve memory, and helping your immune system over time. All of these benefits show that playing board games really is good for you.
