The Health Benefits of Playing Card Games

Playing a game of cards isn’t just a fun way to pass the time; it has a positive impact on several areas of your cognitive and mental health.

Whenever you get together with friends for a weekly game of Bridge or Texas Hold ‘Em, or play baccarat at LeoVegas when you’re on your own, you’re developing and building skills that can help you in the short term and for years to come. These are just some of the health benefits you can enjoy from playing cards.

The Cognitive Benefits of Playing Card Games

Exercising our brains, like other muscles in our bodies, is crucial for making them stronger and keeping them sharp. Most card games require players to:

■ Strategize and think on their feet during gameplay.

■ Revise strategies and problem-solve.

■ Remember played cards (and who played them) and do mental calculations.

■ Concentrate and think logically.

In other words, playing cards and games that require these skills is both fun and good for you! As we age, getting daily mental exercise by playing cards, learning a new language or taking up a new hobby is vital in preventing memory loss and dementia. The key is to vary your activities and challenge your brain by attempting things you aren’t good at.

Playing Card Games to De-Stress & for Better Mental Health

It’s no secret that stress contributes to numerous physical and mental ailments as government agencies and healthcare professionals emphasize the need for stress management and work-life balance. Exercise, leisure activities and socializing are just a few of the things you can do to decompress and maintain perspective after a stressful day.

While many of us love a good movie or bingeing the latest must-watch series, playing cards with friends is a more productive way to unwind because it forces you to focus on the game, get your mind off of stressors and be present in the moment. You also get the added benefits that come with spending time with friends like companionship, laughter and building relationships and interpersonal skills.

Card Games Teach You to Exercise Patience and Discipline

In any game that requires strategy, there is a right and a wrong time to make your move and go for the win. In a card game, not only do you have to adjust your strategy based on the skill and plays made by an opponent, but you’re also reacting to the randomness of the cards you’re dealt. Until you have the right cards, all you can do is bide your time and keep yourself in the game.

The patience and discipline you need to be a good card player can help you in other aspects of life. Whether it’s knowing when it’s the right time to speak up at a meeting, having the discipline not to snack between meals or helping your kids with their homework, like other skills, the more you practice patience and discipline, the better you get at them.

Other Benefits of Playing Cards

Shuffling and dealing cards is also good for exercising both fine and gross motor skills, like hand-eye coordination. To a lesser extent, the simple act of examining cards and playing the right one can also help improve your hand-eye coordination and reflexes.

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