Chromebooks are an often affordable and easy way to access digital technology. However, the scope of their abilities is often misunderstood or mischaracterized. While they may lack the computing power of a high-end desktop setup, they are very capable of providing work functionality while also facilitating relaxation.
In fact, Chromebooks have several advantages over traditional computers that are worthy of consideration. Built with speed and security in mind, they will allow you to confidently access enjoyable online content, secure in the idea that your data will be safe.
That’s a lot of power. You just need to know what to do with it.
Find Fun Games
Chromebooks are not strongly associated with the world of online gaming, but they can perform surprisingly well. Chromebooks can:
- Access games at high speeds.
- Protect your data on unfamiliar websites.
- Run gaming platforms like the popular STEAM.
You can even use it for adult entertainment, like an online casino. Online casino games are particularly good for Chromebook use because they don’t have extremely complicated graphic requirements. While an MMO might require a pretty fancy graphic card, most online casinos will look great and play smoothly on your Chromebook.
Stream Baby, Stream
Streaming is an easy way to keep yourself busy on a Chromebook. Its high-speed browsing ability will allow you to access all of your favorite services without encountering the lag time commonly experienced with traditional laptops.
You can also make streaming content yourself, uploading live videos through platforms like YouTube.
Weave Your Computer Into a Mindfulness Routine
Health and wellness are big buzzwords these days, to the point that they are almost cliches. Here’s what’s true: certain activities trigger chemical reactions in your brain that will reduce stress and promote happiness. When these behaviors are practiced regularly, they can strengthen your overall emotional baseline.
Mindfulness behaviors increase the grey matter in your brain which can improve your focus, enhance your emotional regulation, and generally change the way you see the world.
Mindfulness behaviors include:
- Meditation: While the core concept of meditation is to clear your mind, many people struggle with the steps required to do it correctly and in a focused manner. Mindfulness meditation videos from trusted sources are a good way to develop your skills properly, with a focus on the fundamentals.
- Yoga: Yoga focuses on the connection between your body and your mind. Though commonly incorporated into mindfulness routines, yoga is often inaccessible to beginners who aren’t ready to pay for in-person classes. There are thousands of yoga classes available for free online, allowing you to practice safely.
- Reading: Reading releases serotonin in your brain. That’s one of your “feel good,” chemicals responsible for experiences of peace, wellness, and comfort. There are many ways to read online, including popular e-reader applications like Kindle.
With sustained practice, these habits will reduce cortisol in your brain, literally diminishing your personal capacity for stress.
Screen-time and mindfulness are often viewed as opposites but it really depends on how you use your devices. An hour spent scrolling through social media will not improve your long-term mental health, while an hour spent reading and meditating will.
Be Creative
There are also many ways to indulge in your creativity. Self-expression produces many of the same mental health benefits described in the last heading and can be an important part of a mindfulness routine, depending on how you do it.
Even if your goal is not to look endlessly inward, your Chromebook can be used for:
- Drawing: There are many art applications that allow you to bring your ideas to life in the form of vibrant imagery.
- Writing: Writing, like reading, produces serotonin in your brain. Chromebooks are naturally good for using Google’s free Google Doc wordprocesser. You can write creative fiction, or simply use the documents as a journal, organizing your thoughts and experiences on the page.
Ultimately, the potential creative opportunities are limited only by your imagination. You could make videos, produce podcasts, and connect with friends for online “Tabletop,” games, that require only your imagination to enjoy.
Get Social
Chromebooks have built-in cameras and microphones that make them easily equipped for communicating remotely with friends and family located anywhere in the world.
Social interactions are not only a good way to pass the time, but they also release dopamine in your brain. Dopamine is another “feel good,” chemical reaction that could potentially improve your mental health over time.
Conclusion
We live in an age where it is absurd to be bored. There are so many ways to keep yourself busy, many of them just a click away. The best thing about all of the recommendations in this article? They can be done for free.
Of course, the list is far from comprehensive. To cover all of the fun things you could do with a powerful, internet-capable device would take all year. Go out and find the activities that delight you the most. There is so much to do!
