Taking a break from a harder level you are getting frustrated with to play an easier level also gives your brain a break. The anger many people get from video games isn’t usually linked with the game content but instead the frustration. A lower level can also help you to find what made video games fun in the first place. While playing the lower level, focus on the music or graphics.

Take a stimulating breath by breathing in and out quickly through your nose with your mouth relaxed but closed. Do three sets in about a second and then rest with normal breathing. You can do this for up to 15 seconds to give yourself a quick rejuvenating boost of oxygen. You can also try the 4-7-8 exercise. This starts with breathing out completely through your mouth, and then closing your mouth to breathe in through your nose four a mental count of 4 seconds. Now hold it in for 7 seconds and finally breathe out for 8 seconds. Repeat these steps for a set of 4 reps.

One example of a calming mantra may go as follows: while visualizing a swinging door, say out loud, “Thoughts and feelings come in and out like people. Be the door not the doorman. ” Another example may include: with your eyes closed repeat, “imagine with each breath you are melting into an ocean of light and space. ”

Taking a walk outside will give you access to fresh air, allow you to use more of your senses and also give your eyes a rest. For some people really working out hard and sweating has a cleansing feeling and can also be a boost since it releases chemicals to your brain that change your mood for the better.

Something as simple as hearing from your best friend that he or she didn’t like that part of the game or found it nearly impossible helps to tell you it’s not your fault.

Prolonged video game play has been linked to several conditions that are tough physically on the body like obesity and heart disease. It may even be keeping you up at night; so catching up on your sleep is a good break from the game. [5] X Research source

As mentioned above, video games can also negatively impact your health so healthy eating combined with sleep will help.

Tell yourself you won’t play for a full day, and stick to it.

Make trial and error a fun part of learning instead of something you dread. If you approach it more like a science experiment, it becomes fun to try something to see what happens. You may find some of your biggest discoveries start out as a failure.

Tracking your performance in a journal can help you to see the progress and may even show you patterns that you need to beat the game. Write down each trial and error, you never know which move will be the winning one.