➜ COVID-19, social isolation and mental health issues
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown and social distancing measures are taken to avoid the spread of the virus having had some unforeseen consequences. While strict regulatory actions were necessary to prevent the rapid spread of the coronavirus variant, it also meant that people had to come to terms with a new reality.
Social isolation and the lack of human contact became the norm as people were asked to work remotely and avoid going outside other than for the most necessary tasks. This new reality has not been an easy one to adapt to, especially for some individuals. Humans, at their core, are social animals. We require social interaction and human connection to thrive. There is a reason why humans are everywhere on the planet, regardless of culture, religion, and ethnicities, living in communities and groups. Be it the nuclear families as found in the West or the larger family structures of many tribal communities, individuals living in complete isolation are an exception and an outcome of deep religious or philosophical beliefs.
The lack of human contact and proximity with loved ones has had tremendous psychological effects. Individuals already suffering from various mental health conditions have experienced a worsening of the symptoms. What is more, many individuals who previously had shown no signs of mental health problems started experiencing anxiety, stress, and other issues, all of which stem from a lack of human contact.
A perspective that doesn’t get much traction but is even more relevant is the adverse impact of social isolation on physical health. Research indicates that isolation doesn’t just increase the incidence of depression, anxiety, and stress, but also heart disease, neuroendocrine disorders, and an overall diminished immune system.
It seems that while the coronavirus has the potential to spread quickly and take many lives, the loneliness and isolation it has imposed kill more subtly.
➜ Combatting isolation and loneliness
It goes without saying that to maintain a healthy mental state and overall improved well-being, it is necessary to combat this isolation and loneliness. These are difficult times, it is true, but one can overcome this by being a little creative.
Modern technology has helped. Connecting via video calls has helped bring families together despite the distance. Be it grandparents seeing their newly born grandchildren or parents attending their children’s wedding, cell phones and digital applications have made it possible for individuals to connect over long distances.
Aside from these superficial connections, many people have discovered the amazing benefits of board games and puzzles. Spending time inside the house and unable to go outside has resulted in individuals taking up new hobbies, like cooking, gardening, stitching, knitting, and even reading. There has been a rise in people playing board games and completing large puzzles with the help of others, all in a bid to beat the depression and loneliness.
Playing games or adopting a new hobby distracts from the reality of the current situation. It relieves stress and increases cognitive abilities by challenging the mind, and while it is difficult to exercise the body in these circumstances, you can exercise by playing board games and puzzles.
Aside from these superficial connections, many people have discovered the amazing benefits of board games and puzzles. Spending time inside the house and unable to go outside has resulted in individuals taking up new hobbies, like cooking, gardening, stitching, knitting, and even reading. There has been a rise in people playing board games and completing large puzzles with the help of others, all in a bid to beat the depression and loneliness.
➜ Take a Guess! explained
Usual mobile games are great, but many do not enable you to play with those you wish to since they select players at random. Also, not everyone can navigate and play mobile games; people in the older age group, for instance, find them hard to play. On the other hand, people in any age range can play and enjoy a board game. This is why Take a Guess! is so special. It is a fun way families can connect and communicate and enjoy their family time over the phone. While it is fun to talk to loved ones, there are times when you simply have nothing, in particular, to talk about. There may be moments of awkward silence since it is hard to find something interesting to say. Especially considering how mundane life under lockdown has become. With Take a Guess! you are continuously interacting and exchanging thoughts about the game.
The game itself not only gives a chance for people to connect, regardless of their location, it also proves a source of fun way you can connect via video call.
Take a Guess! comes with stands for the mobile device used to connect different players. The mobile device stand matches the material of the board game and looks aesthetically pleasing as well as being highly functional. The stand lets you rest your device at an angle and view your opponent clearly while your hands are free to play the game. The idea is to give the feeling of playing a traditional board game, but across large distances and among groups of people who are not physically close together.
➜ Going back to basics
If this pandemic has shown us anything is that we rarely value the things we have. Before social distance, we took social contact for granted. It wasn’t until we were denied the ability to truly recognize just how essential it was for our general well-being.
There is a need to step back and examine our priorities. We rarely give credit to social relationships and the role they play in shaping us and keeping us healthy. Simple things like greeting a stranger or chatting with an acquaintance over coffee are small yet significant aspects of life.
Companies like playfuul are truly proving to be game-changers by introducing creative products like Take a Guess! to provide some semblance of normalcy and helping people connect with loved ones. Who knew a humble board game help someone with depressive feelings? But this is exactly what we are witnessing. It is the silver lining the people desperately seek in these uncertain times.
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