11/01/2008 You should never have eaten the Christmas pudding. It was one step too far. Ridiculous really. It’s left you with bingo wings akin to the turkey; sprawled on the table like a corpse on a mortuary slab. You’re not much different, lying on that couch like a basking Walrus. Why do we do these things? Those ruddy trousers you received from your sibling are two-sizes too small now, and you wanted them for so god damn long. To top it off your finances are all over the shop, and counting the pennies hasn’t helped. Six-pound-and-thirty-four-pence; where does it all go? Still at least you’re on holiday. Yep, good old Saint Nick guarantees a holiday the same time every year. Oh, no… oh, fiddlesticks, you’re back to work tomorrow. Back to work, dear me; penniless, bloated and so stressed out you’ve turned to the bottle.
Alas, help is at hand for the ‘New Year Blues’ in the shape of CEO and founder of ‘The Stress Institute’ Dr. Kathleen Hall. You may have seen the revered Dr. Hall on such programs as Oprah and Friends or CNN. She’s also a ruddy good journalist, with columns featured in the New York Times and Washington Post. Yes indeed, the lady knows her stuff. Anyway, Dr. Hall believes beating the dreaded blues is dead simple. All it requires is some ‘me time,’ fun and laughter, and a little bit of exercise. So beating the blues is a piece of cake really… Actually, let me rephrase that. So, beating the blues is a walk in the park… literally.
It’s a hard time the New Year. You shove as much booze and as much food down your gullet as you can physically manage over the festive period, and throw your money about the place without a care in the ruddy world. But suddenly it all creeps up on you, like a bearded homeless fellow in the street; “sorry mate, no money, I spent it on a ruddy Cabbage Patch Doll and a DVD Combo for the kids.” According to online gaming site Pogo.co.uk, half the nation will be more stressed about having no money and returning to the same job. What’s more, women are affected more than men, with 51% of them tearing their hair out. 30% of Londoners alone are freaking out over money, whilst more than one in ten people in North England and Scotland  are uptight about piling on the pounds - not losing them.
“The new Year signifies a new start,” explains Dr. Hall. “But very often people are worrying about paying back their holiday bills, losing the extra weight they’ve gained or returning to the same routine they were looking forward to getting away from before the holidays. These things come together to create increased stress which can affect both your mental and physical health. Taking ‘me time’, exercise and play are simple and effective ways to beat the New Year blues.”
Here’s the scientific part about combating stress, because as we know, science cannot be disproved. Science holds the key to truth - it’s an inarguable fact! Basically, taking time to laugh and play, as Dr. Hall suggests, reduces stress hormones and releases endorphins. This is a really good thing, because as we release endorphins we get all happy and merry, and things start to seem a-okay. Too many endorphins spoil the broth, so to speak, so it’s good to kick the ruddy things into touch.
Furthermore, laughing boosts the immune system; aiding in disease prevention. So, if you’re suffering from a New Years bug or are feeling generally stressed out, stick on that Only Fools and Horses box set the old dear brought you for Christmas. You’ll be right as rain before long. It’s science. We can also release endorphins by doing a spot of exercise, even when you’re at work. Dr. Hall suggests chair-yoga. Gentle chair exercises are a hobby of the elderly, so if you’re young and fit there’s no excuse. Do a gentle thrust behind your chair, or move your legs up and down, keeping them straight whilst sitting, and you’ll be waving ‘ta-ra’ to stress and ‘hello’ to a beaming smile before the boss can shout: “where are those ruddy spreadsheets?”
Pogo.co.uk, which offers over eighty popular online games, including Poppit!™, Word Whomp™, and Bingo Luau, has teamed up with the delectable Dr. Hall who recommends gaming as a fantastic means of beating stress. Pogo’s Vice President of Marketing, Beatrice Spaine is delighted to have the good doctor on board, as she explained: “83% of Pogo™ players have said that the number one reason for playing on Pogo is to sit down, take a break and let the day’s stress wash away. I’m so glad that we can partner with Dr. Hall to spread the word about the connection between play and stress relief during the New Year.”
So put that bottle down, quit the comfort eating, and take your fist away from your colleague’s temple. Straighten your shirt, sit down and do some chair squats or leg-lifts. Then turn on your computer, head to Pogo.co.uk and play a few word games or a spot of solitaire. That’s better; you can feel the endorphins sliding away. Isn’t that fantastic? Before long you’ll have a smile from ear to ear, those trousers will slide on like a glove and the money will come flowing back. That’s if you’re not already obese, an alcoholic or have been charged with GBH for assaulting the guv’nor. Stress? Nothing to it really.
Pogo.co.uk is an online casual games service that offers over 80 free games including puzzle, word, casino, classic card and board games. The site offers players an easy-to-use chat feature where millions of people talk about their favourite games, best scores, or simply share stories about their lives. Don’t tear your hair out, visit Pogo.co.uk.
Words: Dave Dryden |
