(NAPSA)—It may seem sur- prising, but according to a recent survey, most people don’t spend enough time on themselves. In fact, 56 percent of men and 71 percent of women admit to being strapped for time—spending less than an hour a day doingactivities that are relaxing to them. However, in today’s harried and hectic world, taking time out for stress-reducing activities is no longer a luxury, but a 21st century necessity. Once considered a simple leisure pursuit, playing casual games—including puzzle, word andtrivia, card and board, action and arcade—is now recognized as one of the quickest and mosteffective ways to reduce stress and anxiety. In fact, the survey conducted for Microsoft’s MSN Games found that playing casual arcade-style games is the third most popular activity timestarved Americans engage in to de-stress and unwind, just behind outdoor activities and watching TV. “Stress can have a catastrophic effect on our mental, physical and spiritual health,” said Dr. Kathleen Hall, a world-renowned expert in stress and work-life balance and founder of The Stress Institute. “Reclaiming just 10 minutes of ‘me time’ each day can greatly improve your sense of Yellow Player No, In a recent poll, arcade-style gaming was named one of the top three ways to de-stress. well-being. Taking a break to solve a brain-teasing puzzle or take on a fun vocabulary challenge on MSN Gamesis a perfect way to clear your mindoftheclutter and stress that can pile up during the day.” Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents say they feel less stressed after playing a game than before they started, indicating arcade-style games are an excellent destination on the road to wellness. In fact, more than 13 million people each month play arcade-style games on MSN Games, such as the numeric logic game “Sudoku”; virtual aquarium “Fish Tycoon”; gem swapper “Bejeweled 2”; family favorite card game UNO! and more. For more information on the latest in arcade-style gaming or to find stress-reducing diversions, you can take back your time at www.msngames.com.
