The Calming Power of Strategy Games: Mindful Moments for Moms

Every mom wants the best for her kids. But what do they want for themselves? For many, it’s a day off or at least a moment to themselves. This contradicts the lifestyle of most moms. You may be busy planning out meals for your kiddos or picking them up from soccer practice every day. When would you have time for a spa day? Even if you find time, you may not have the funds for a true self-care day. Luckily, there is an affordable and accessible tool that moms can use to relax: strategy games.

While many people may assume that games are reserved for family game nights, anyone can enjoy strategy games at any time. Since they require thoughtful strategy, these games enable you to practice mindfulness that can help you escape the demands of family life.

The Calming Power of Strategy Games

Even though the main priority of strategy games is to entertain, they can also help you relax. Here’s how:

• Promoting Mindfulness: Since most strategy games require you to focus entirely on playing, it can help preoccupy your mind, which may otherwise be busy thinking about what you’re making for dinner or when you’re going to find time to pick your kids up from school. This, in and of itself, is a mindfulness practice, which you can apply to other areas of your life.
• Reducing Stress: To play strategy games, you need to be engaged. The more engaged you are, the less time you have to worry about the little things that preoccupy your mind.
• Building Patience and Resilience: As a mom, you’re probably not unfamiliar with patience. However, games can reinforce patience when you need it the most.
• Enforcing Creative Thinking: Even though you need to play within the rules of most games, you still need to be creative to win. The more you think outside the box, the easier it will be to apply it to other areas of your life.

Examples of Calming Strategy Games

No strategy game is the same. Each one differs in rules, complexity, and principles. That said, most encourage you to practice mindfulness. Here are the most common ones:

• Mahjong: You can play Mahjong with others or you can play it alone. In the game, you need to hold a hand of four sets and a pair of tiles to win. By concentrating in the game, you can stay mindful, leaving you to meditate while focusing on tiles.
• Chess: Chess is all about focusing on your opponent and their next move. This shift in perspective can help you empathize with your kids – even if they’re driving you crazy.
• Sudoku: If you don’t have space for a board game, Sudoku is for you. All you need is a pen or pencil and a book of the grided. You can also pick it up whenever you have spare time – an essential feature for any mom who has a packed schedule.  
• Jigsaw Puzzles: Similar to Sudoku, you can pick up and drop off a jigsaw puzzle at any point. Many moms open up a puzzle on their coffee table and leave it open until they finish, which may take days or even weeks for more challenging puzzles. The meditative rhythm you spend completing each one will leave you satisfied.

For many of these games, you can share them with the rest of the family, sharing in the fun.

Making Space for Mindful Play

Finding time as a mom can feel impossible, but fitting in short sessions of mindful play is possible with the right approach:

• Start small. You don’t have to spend hours with games like Monopoly. Start with low-commitment games, and build your way up as your hobby grows.
• Choose a quiet space. You can’t reap the benefits of most games if you’re trying to play in a room filled with screaming kids. Instead, dedicate a small space you can call your own where you can play.
• Pick a time. It may be tempting to push off playtime with yourself on busy days. However, your time with yourself is valuable. Treat it as such by committing every day to a few minutes to games that will benefit you in the long run.

Despite media depictions, self-care isn’t about soaking for hours in a bathtub. As a mother, this simply isn’t sustainable or attainable. Instead, you may find time to finish a corner of a puzzle while drinking your morning coffee. Or, you may open up your Sudoku book after your kids go to sleep. No matter what your routine looks like, any effort can mean the most for your mental health.