Social games hold a certain charm. After all, playing with friends is better than playing alone! They also open room for conversation and bantering, which makes them a great pastime and fantastic way of strengthening bonds. Whether you are a fan of online co-op campaigns or into old-fashioned board games, you may still feel the need to prove that you are a skilled player—a winner. This can unfortunately ruin the whole experience. Because ignoring the pressure social games might put you under is easier said than done, we’ve come with a comprehensive strategy that should do the trick. Check out the next 3 ways you can eliminate stress when partaking in social games.
1. Keep the Mood Light
The best way to stop stressing out about social games is to keep the mood light. This is why it is always better to play with loved ones since you will be able to joke around without feeling too awkward.
On the other hand, playing a game that has high stakes with strangers can fuel your competitive streak, putting you under unnecessary pressure. If you are the one hosting a game night for your friends and family, you should go out of your way to make your house comfortable. This includes getting food and beverages when it is time to take a break. Pizza and finger food are amazing choices for a game night since they do not require fancy cutlery. You can also get non-alcoholic beverages to keep your companions hydrated. That said, alcoholic drinks can help you set the mood because they allow you and your friends to keep it fun.
To ensure that you are not stressed, forgo setting penalties for losers, as they might make you and your company on the edge. Instead, the winner may dare the loser to do something silly like prank-call their neighbor or take an extra shot. If you are playing online, you should keep plenty of snacks within reach and take frequent breaks to avoid worrying too much about losing.
2. Practice
If winning your favorite game is so important to you and you generally become even more stressed and competitive when you lose, you should practice more to hone your skills. Many great online resources and how-to videos can help you master any game. For example, the creators of Unscramble.me point out that winning dictionary-based games like Scrabble can become extremely easy if the players use an online word finder. Such a tool can help you see all the possible combinations you can make with a specific set of letters. They are also wonderful for people who like anagrams but struggle to solve them.
Of course, this does not mean you should use these tools when it is time to actually play with others, as this will be considered cheating. Nonetheless, these online resources can be a great help if you want to improve your skills and impress others. The same applies to online games as well. To expand your skill set, try competing with different players every time since this will enable you to become better at expecting your opponent’s next move.
3. Focus on Enjoying Yourself
Social games are all about the company, not winning; this is what you need to remember. In fact, these games were originally designed to enrich human interactions, not create rifts between people! Undeniably, the rise of the online variety of social games has made people take these fun, mindless activities too seriously. It is not uncommon to see players throwing a fit of rage because they lost a game! However, this kind of mentality might be the source of your stress. To avoid being a sore loser, you should congratulate the winner right away. It might also help to ask them for tips for your next game. If you are playing in a group, you must be a team player.
This entails celebrating your achievements together instead of bringing your teammates down by claiming that you are the one doing all the heavy lifting or complaining about their lack of skills. Furthermore, joking about the ineffective strategies or the mistakes you have made during a game can relieve stress and help you lighten the mood.
Most social games are competitive in nature, which is why you might be feeling stressed out whenever you start a new round. Yet, by making some small changes here and there, you can eliminate that pressure for good. It helps to keep the mood light and focus on what’s important: having a good time with your friends. Online resources and tools might also come in handy if you need to quickly master a game or remember its rules.