Not Only For Children, Bricks Toys Become Relaxation Therapy For Adults

Illustration of ricks toys. (Freepic)

JAKARTA - So far, Lego has been synonymous with the world of children. But in recent years, this small, colorful beam toy has become increasingly popular with adults. Not only as a new hobby, but also as a way to relieve stress and calm the mind.

It is not surprising that Lego offers many benefits of learning, both for children and adults. In addition to general benefits such as cooperation and communication, more and more research highlights its impact on mental health.

Reporting from the Happiful page, Play Well Report 2022 of Lego Group, 93% of adults admit to feeling stressed often, while 86% say playing helps them relax.

Spending an hour after returning from work just to arrange small, colorful beams, it turns out to give unexpected happiness. Playing Lego is an effective tool to manage stress and help exclude boredom in life.

More and more adults turn to Lego as a way to relieve stress since Lego released a special set of 18+ in 2020 and the reason does make sense. So what are the real benefits of Lego for welfare and how can it help us feel better?

1. Train Mindfulness

In the midst of busyness, mindfulness is often neglected. However, practicing it through hobbies can make it easier. When compiling Lego, try to pay attention to what your hands are doing. Pay attention to the color and shape of each piece. Feel how you feel when compiling it.

If you want to learn more, the book Build Yourself Happy: The Joy of LEGO Playkarya Abbie Headon offers more than 50 activities designed to help you find mindful moments through the game.

2. Improve Relaxation

As with painting or handicrafts, playing Lego has a calming effect. In an article on Well+Good, psychotherapist Melissa Lapides explains that she focuses on creating something that helps the mind stay away from disturbing things.

This activity makes the brain enter a meditation-like condition, so that excessive thoughts can be reduced and anxiety also subsides.

Lego released a soundtrack titled LEGO White Noise, in the form of typical Lego sounds designed to provide relaxation effects. Starting from soft clicks when the beam is installed to the sound of thousands of blocks poured out at once. You can listen to it on Spotify to find a moment of calm.

3. Increase Self-confidence

According to the 2018 Lego Play Report, 95% of parents think Lego is helping build their child's confidence. This makes sense, because being satisfied when completing a Lego set can provide a positive impetus for anyone, including adults.

Feelings of success in resolving something can remind us of the abilities we have, and slowly increase confidence. Lego is a real metaphor for what can be built when we do it little by little, one piece by one.

4. Trigger Feelings Of Happiness And Fastness

Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that triggers happiness and satisfaction. In addition to meditation and exercise, playing is also known to stimulate the release of dopamine. ThePlay Well 2018 report shows that playing together routines can create a more positive and healthy environment for families. The process of creating something together gives a sense of achievement that triggers the release of dopamine, so that the benefits are not only felt by individuals, but also the whole family.