i still find games to be great for my mental health, even more so now as an adult than as a kid. they are a place where i can make uninformed decisions based on my gut, and experience no negative consequences to my life. i treat every game like a sandbox. dont get sucked into the idea that anything you build or create, or skills you develop, in the game is meant to last.
For example, in an RPG game when I find a powerful 1-time use item - I use it as soon as I can.
There are many factors to optimal decision making, and optimized results are just 1 factor. Games help me explore trade-offs with quick vs long decisions, side effects of over planning, stress and panic effects on decisions, etc.
It carries over into the rest of my life, even work, where I am better able to manage things, like diminishing returns on my efforts, in ways that are very personal to me and my natural tendencies.
For example, in an RPG game when I find a powerful 1-time use item - I use it as soon as I can.
There are many factors to optimal decision making, and optimized results are just 1 factor. Games help me explore trade-offs with quick vs long decisions, side effects of over planning, stress and panic effects on decisions, etc.
It carries over into the rest of my life, even work, where I am better able to manage things, like diminishing returns on my efforts, in ways that are very personal to me and my natural tendencies.