Mindfulness and How It Enhances the Gaming Experience

What does it mean to be in the zone? To some, perhaps it means being hyper-tuned-in on the screen, while others take it to mean switching to auto-pilot and ignoring the sounds and smells around them. For gaming, being in the zone can supposedly make someone better at gaming, but you can make it even better by incorporating mindfulness practices into the mix.

Perhaps a good portion of the readers out there think mindfulness is simply one of those new-age buzzwords that hippies, yoga fanatics, or frenzied CEOs use and do. However, it’s actually a practice that anyone can do to achieve a state of focused yet alert relaxation, including gamers. As gamers have learned over the years, mindfulness enhances the overall gaming experience. Let’s take a deeper look at what it means to be a mindful gamer.

What Is Mindfulness? Let’s start off with the basics. You can find a number of different interpretations of what mindfulness means and its range of benefits. Psychology Today defines mindfulness as being actively aware of our surroundings by paying attention to the here and now. Mindful.org offers a more idiomatic and thus more applicable meaning: it is the ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. In essence, mindfulness helps us cool our thoughts and teaches us to live in the present by not giving negativity full-control over our actions.

How to Practice Mindfulness Being aware of your surroundings and not dwelling on negativity is good and everything, but how does one achieve it? Mindfulness experts say we can start by incorporating simple mindfulness practices into our day-to-day lives. Consider it as a way to train: while training for an upcoming gaming event, gamers can spend weeks or even months perfecting their build orders, mastering mechanics, and even improving their reflexes. The same applies to mindfulness practices. The traditional approach for practicing mindfulness is usually done in conjunction with physical activity, such as yoga or meditation. Regardless of what form of exercise you perform, the primary goal is to achieve total focus on the present. Here’s what you can do:

1. Focus on breathing. Count to two slowly and repeatedly, inhaling on one and exhaling on two.
2. Take in the surroundings. Actively notice of what your senses pick up in your environment.
3. Pay attention to how your body functions. Make a mental note of how your entire body works, from your fingers gripping the controller to your eyes moving rapidly across the screen.
4. Let your thoughts exit your mind as they come. Do not dwell on new thoughts as they enter your mind; let them go without offering judgment.

How Mindfulness Applies to Gamers Mindfulness can help reduce stress levels, increase concentration, and enhance episodic memory. Hardcore gamers might also be excited to learn that achieving mindfulness can enhance cognitive abilities (moving back and forth from a state of openness and in-the-zone concentration). Practicing mindfulness can help overcome the inherent stresses of fast-paced online games. It teaches us how to not fall victim to negativity and anxiety when things don’t go our way and, instead, to focus on the positive and our presence. To further relax your mind and maintain focus on the present, we suggest taking a look at these calming games on Gammicks.com.