Yahoo News A simple new way to tackle stress in the office has just been revealed
We’ve just been provided with a very real reason for your boss to fork out for an office games console – they’re effective at combatting stress.
A new study, published by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, has revealed that playing video games at work could be effective in dealing with the stress, frustration and anxiety that we’re all prone to in the office.
The study was led by Michael Rupp, a doctoral student at the University of Florida, who designed a computer-based task that would induce cognitive fatigue in 66 participants.
They were then given a five minute rest break, in which they either played a simple video game called Sushi Cat, participated in a guided relaxation session, or sat quietly without access to a phone or computer.
During the break, researchers measured the stress level of participants and discovered that it was only the video game players who reported feeling better after the break.
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Those who took the silent rest reported feeling less engaged, while those in the relaxation session saw reductions in distress.
Describing the findings, Rupp told NewsWeek: ‘We often try to power through the day to get more work finished, which might not be as effective as taking some time to detach for a few minutes,” said Rupp. “People should plan short breaks to make time for an engaging and enjoyable activity, such as video games, that can help them recharge.’
Earlier this year, scientists were also able to pinpoint the part of the brain that is known for causing stress-induced heart attacks and strokes.
