author: Adam Belda
Purpose – Stardew Valley. Game therapy – 7 games to combat depression
Table of Contents
It's hard not to have a goal. And I'm not saying that video games can give your life a meaning, but there's no denying that they do imitate purposeful actions. When everything around you seems futile, it's good to have instant feedback for completing defined tasks. Such as experience points or specific achievements. This may help you remember that goals can be achieved.
SMART GOALS
What goal is best? A smart one, of course. According to the SMART system, the challenges that we give ourselves should be:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Achievable
- Relevant
- Time-bound
"I'll visit doctor Tokaj in the shelter "Glory" is somewhat more specific than "I'll visit some doctor sometime." I know, I just referenced a game that even its developers would rather forget, but, as the classic said, "the poet remembers";
"I'll get four levels in Dark Souls" is better than "I'll grind for a while";
Rather than deciding to become the master of South Korea in Starcraft II, you might want to opt for something like completing the tutorial, or just trying out an online game;
If the goal of getting higher education is simply "getting the diploma," it may not be worth the effort. Well, what's it supposed to be? Why, a milestone of self-betterment and increasing competence;
You wouldn't be reading it this article if I hadn't decided one day: "I'll finish the piece by 2 pm today," rather "than "I'll do it eventually."
First, I was going to suggest a sandbox like Far Cry 5, as games like that give you a map full of very specific activities to complete and goals to meet. All that is great, but then you have to remember that a dynamical shooter doesn't cater to an important ingredient of meeting goals – safety.
Goals should serve a purpose. Create a certain framework, tell us what to do. If certain actions don't bring us closer to any goal, then why do them at all? On the other hand, unpredictable challenges don't have to work either. Yes, they may cause short-term excitement, but if they're given without a bigger context, they will also tend to lose meaning in the long run.
The quiet routine of rural life, where there's always something to get done, and small activities bear plentiful fruits, seems to combine challenge with relaxation in the right way. That's why I propose Stardew Valley.
