It’s important to embrace activities that stimulate imagination and develop skills. People found ways to entertain themselves well before television, video games, computers, and Wiis.
Here are a few activities people can try when taking a break from technology. Taking a break from technology is a way to stimulate thought, save money, use electricity, and perhaps even improve relationships.
Reading to Stimulate Thinking
As readers read a book, they imagine the setting, the people, and the action described using words. Nonfiction provides the opportunity to learn something new. Fiction, while primarily entertaining, can also bring awareness to readers that they may not be inclined to accept or even consider in other formats.
Books open new worlds to those who read them by transporting readers to places they may otherwise never get to experience. A good book can be every bit as entertaining as a television show or surfing the Internet.
Board Games Instead of Video Games
Playing games stimulates problem solving skills, imagination, provides practice with math skills, and can lead to bonding. Games like Chess and Risk encourage strategic thinking.
Dominos, Yahtzee, and Rummikub are fun ways to exercise math skills. Monopoly exercises both strategic thinking and math skills. Pictionary engages the imagination. Trivial Pursuit exercises memory. Cranium combines many of these skills in one game. Most games have some crossover in the skill sets utilized. They all provide players an opportunity to talk to one another and laugh together.
Exercise the Mind With Card Games
Card games are a good way to relax with other people because they allow for friendly competition, laughter, and conversation. Card games also exercise math skills and strategic thinking. Many card games teach people to work as partners. Card games like Hand and Foot promote both teamwork and competition. Card games require little in the way of equipment, the cards and paper and pen to keep score.
Card games can fit many situations because there are games that require team play, individual play, and solitary play.
Stimulate Imagination With Storytelling
Storytelling nourishes the imagination. Parents can tell children stories or encourage their children to tell stories by asking questions to help children develop their storytelling skills. Problem solving is enhanced by strong imagination skills. Adults can also enjoy storytelling though they are more likely to tell stories about their lives rather than to create fiction for fun.
If a group of adults is willing, storytelling can be an interesting exercise to stimulate the imagination and have a few laughs. One way is to begin a continuing story where someone starts a story and stops after a set amount of time leaving the next person to pick up where he/she left stopped. These stories tend to becomes outrageous and hilarious. Another way is to utilize the concept of “ghost stories” as told around a campfire.
Solve Puzzles to Exercise Spatial Skills
Putting together a puzzle creates a challenge with a set outcome. As the picture takes shape, it becomes increasingly interesting. Puzzles should present the appropriate level of challenge for the puzzlers in order to avoid boredom or frustration. Finding the right pieces can be a starting point for conversation or a way to be quiet together in a room. Puzzles appeal to all ages and are good for the memory as well as spatial recognition.
Conversations to Strenghen Bonds
It often seems that people have forgotten how to have a conversation. During a conversation people both talk and listen. As two or more people share the events of their life as well as expressing their feelings, they grow closer. Essential to both aspects is the ability to listen. Having a conversation with another person with no distractions provides an opportunity to relive stress, laugh , and bond. Relationships wither when conversation ceases. Relationships heal as people talk to one another.
People have become so dependent on technology to fill the gaps they grow apart without even knowing why. Maybe if people occasionally turn off the technology that is prevalent in life, family life, friendships, and other relationships would become stronger.
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