For the longest time, people have been playing card games. And while these activities are often taken up because they are enjoyable, they can also have a number of positive effects on a person’s wellbeing too.
Before we delve into that subject though, it’s important to note that just like any other factor which influences someone’s health, the secret to reaping the benefits of card games is also moderation. As the saying goes, “Anything excessive is bad for your health.”
With those things out of the way, let’s discuss how the most popular card games today such as Poker and Blackjack contribute to holistic wellness.
In an article by The Federalist, it was explained how Poker creates the perfect avenue towards development in aspects such as cognition, decision-making, and emotion. For the most part, strategic thinking is required to be able to excel in Poker. In fact, studies cited in the aforementioned post that were conducted by various universities throughout the country showed that the strategies needed in Poker are comparable to important tactics in some sports. But that’s not all they found.
The phrase ‘poker face’ has been popularized over the years and it’s now used in everyday situations to describe a person who’s level-headed and not easily swayed by emotions. The game has long been helping players achieve a sense of emotional maturity. Needless to say, it’s a sign that you’re all well and have the ability to manage impulses in a positive manner and not act irrationally in pressure situations.
Similarly, playing Blackjack can be beneficial especially when it comes to memory. Health Status actually mentioned in a post that the most played card game in the world also provides short-term memory exercise, which is crucial to avoid – or at least delay – the onset of the deterioration of mental faculties.
Moreover, some interesting research published by the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis found that the game elevates happiness whether there are monetary bets or not. In the experiment relayed in the article, it was indicated that the stakes were only hypothetical.
It was also specified that the medium used was digital, which exemplifies that when it comes to the game’s effects on wellbeing, there’s no big difference between actual entertainment hubs and their virtual counterparts. In other words, technology has made it possible for developers to recreate the atmosphere inside such establishments. To get a clearer picture of the current landscape, reputable provider Slingo adds themes to its card games and ties them to popular casino hotspots like Atlantic City to give the user a familiar environment during their card sessions. Therefore, the emotional stimulation of games like Blackjack is essentially on the same level regardless of which channel a person is actually playing on.
Of course, both Poker and Blackjack involve interaction with other people, thus, your social wellbeing is also maintained. In certain instances, you even need to connect and work indirectly with other players, such as in Blackjack where the goal is not just to get a hand closest to 21, but to make the dealer go bust.
All things considered, it’s evident that card games can play a role in your wellbeing through enhancing various facets of your life. To learn about other topics which cover matters related to health and daily living, visit our Wellness Tips section on Psinergy Health.
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Article written by Thomas Wiggins