Posts Tagged ‘mind’

An Anecdote About Mind Sports

The argument has long existed about whether or not certain competitions or games qualify as sporting events.

For example chess is considered by some to be a sport whilst others cite its lack of any real physical challenge as an affront to this assertion. The question of the World Series of Poker being a sporting event has also come up in recent years.

I have read many an anecdote about players attitudes regarding this question,  in chess and poker events. In both categories participants have maintained that the physicality of these events come by way of endurance through physical fitness. They have also added that mental stress can affect one’s stamina and actual muscle strength.

It is an interesting question with good arguments on both sides. As far as I am concerned I will be happy to class these types of competitions as mind sports. However it must be said that these events can put just as much strain on the body as some other more typical sporting events.

Walking for Life

I’ve always enjoyed a good long walk. Now that autumn is knocking on our door, it is even more present in my mind. The days are a little cooler and the air slightly more crisp. This allows for a more comfortable walk and in my view a more enjoyable one.

In this age of TV, computers and many more people working from home, our lives have become far too sedentary. I live at my computer screen and find that time goes by so quickly, it is dark outside before you know it. So this Fall I am committed to setting up at least half-an-hour each day to walking.

Studies have shown that it does not take a lot of walking for you to see and feel the benefits. You do not even have to walk that fast. Just getting out and about is sufficient to make a difference to your well being.

There is another benefit to walking. It can help clear your mind and refresh it – allowing you to ready yourself for any tasks that lie ahead. So if you are like me and somewhat in a rut or have come up against a wall, put down tools and go out for a quick stroll. You will come back feeling less stressed and more focused.

Let me know your thoughts on this subject and I will be certain to let everyone know how my daily scheduled walks work out.

Cheers!

Keeping a Clear Head

A lot can be said for keeping your mind clear and free from clutter. In life we are bombarded everyday by circumstances and issues that can clog up our thinking and other cognitive processes.

By simply taking time to relieve our minds of all this extraneous “junk” can help in reducing stress and making our minds work better. Much like a computer’s memory works more efficiently when we do a clean up or delete some unused program and files.

There are several methods one can use to accomplish this task which are very easy and well worth doing.

Meditation – There are many methods, so you are bound to find one that works for you and it can be done in a matter of minutes. You basically just need a quiet place to start.

Mindfulness – Similar to meditation, this study can be beneficial to those who are extremely busy. It calls for one to slow down rather than stop completely. Clearing out a room or organizing some books would be considered effective mindful exercises.

Expressive Writing – Putting to pen to paper and just letting your thoughts flow out can be a very good mind clearing process. Keeping a diary on hand or a journal can be a helpful way of examining your problems and assist in overcoming them.

Distraction – By allowing your mind to change its focus, from negative issues, you can give it time to address the situation and reduce the magnitude of the dilemma. Try tai chi or judo. Both activities will clear the mind and allow you to refresh and refocus in on the difficult task ahead.

By utilizing these tactics you will give your mind healthy boost of energy and allow it to become stronger and work more efficiently.