Now that the season has slowed and the colder weather has moved in, I find myself slacking off all those things I wanted to do when I didn’t have the time, and instead just playing computer games. (Specifically, the old Zoo Tycoon)
The sense of urgency to ‘catch up’ seemed to die with the first frost, and I’ve begun to allow myself to sleep in, play games, and find other means of distraction from what’s been happening with the world lately. It’s cold and it’s time to chill. Check out. Rest.
Letting my mind wander allowed me to think about the types of games we play; not just for survival, but those labeled ‘for fun’ or a ‘waste of time’. Lately I’ve just been calling them ‘one giant distraction’. All these things are true, but what I realized was they are necessary and actually preparing us for the bigger society yet to come.
We can’t deny that the current way of life is crumbling at our feet. The news is bleak and horrifying. We can turn it off, but it’s still happening to us. Which is why our brain needs the video game break, because it’s a world we can control and free of changing rules. Did you die? Restart. Build something wrong? Undo. There’s patterns, strategies, and a sense of accomplishment.
These game breaks are great for our mental health. But there’s more to it.
By doing these actions, we’re actually exercising a part of our brains that uses problem solving for survival. We’re building fictitious worlds and testing them out, using our logic and critical thinking skills to meet goals or succeed at an objective.
We’re practicing, not checking out.
We’re focused, not distracted.
We’re doing something productive with our time while we while we wait.
Take a step back and look at your daily actions. Do you find ways to distract yourself from what they call ‘the real world’? Do others demand you ‘do something’ or be productive? If so, don’t think you’re lazy or failing at real life.
You’re just playing a smarter game.
My friend Rudolph, who was never allowed to play in the reindeer games with the others. Now he chills at our local Winter festival with Santa. I adore him.
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