Being a work from home can be very rewarding, but there are times that the stress can really get to you. When the pressure becomes too much, it is not healthy to keep going. It is best to breathe and take a break from all the tasks. Otherwise, you are going to end up with burnout, sacrificing your work or your motherhood role. One way to relax without leaving the house is to turn to online games. Playing solitaire online does give me a momentary pause from my daily routine.

• Related: Practical Ways to Manage Stress

Growing Up with Card Games

I discovered the card game solitaire through my parents. We had a deck of cards at home and they would alternately play during their spare time.

There were two games:

• The 8 piles, drawing one card from the draw pile at a time; and
• The 7 piles, drawing three cards from the draw pile a time

If I remember correctly, my father used solitaire as a way to find answers to his questions, like if he is praying for something. It was like letting the cards tell him the outcome of his prayer. While he did not rely on the cards for his luck, it seemed like adding a different dimension to the game.

So whenever the deck of cards was free, I would play it, too.

When I first got my personal computer, the default game that came with it was solitaire. I enjoyed playing the digital version because that meant, I did not have to shuffle the cards nor do I have to be careful with arranging the cards. Sometimes, when the electric fan was on, the cards would fly away and I would have to re-arrange everything.

Playing Solitaire Online

Now, I am discovering that playing solitaire online is an even better thing. That is because there are so many variations to the game that I am discovering only now. Besides, it would be very difficult to keep track of different versions using the actual deck of cards. And the best thing is, the games may be played for FREE. No need to download them, too. I can just switch tabs and play a game to clear my head before going to the next task.

Another online option is Solitare Bliss, which includes over 30 solitaire games. There are popular ones like Klondike, Spider, and FreeCell, among others. You also get classic graphics so it might not feel as much like you’re playing online. If you register for free on the site, you can compete for the top spots on the leaderboard each day to see if you’re getting better. There’s even an app if you want to download that for free and play out of your web browser.

In all the games, you have the option to submit your score to the worldwide leaderboard or keep it for yourself.

The Ace of Hearts

For a relaxing time, I would highly recommend the Ace of Hearts, primarily because it comes with very melodious and blissful background music. Plus, you first have to complete the heart series before you could proceed with the rest.

This game has 3 levels, with each level having less time allotted. The first level gives you 10 minutes, the second level 8 minutes, and the final level has 6 minutes. So far, I have only completed the second level.

The Flower Garden Solitaire

I have to admit that I was attracted to this game primarily because of its name. Being a plant lover tending a small city garden, my little green oasis keeps me sane in this urban jungle.

Despite its name, I find the Flower Garden Solitaire rather hard because you can only move one card at a time. So even if the cards are already arranged chronologically per suit, you cannot move them around easily. This was quite challenging for me, especially that the background music is also upbeat.

There are many other games on the site that you can check out. It’s a nice way to pass the time, especially after we have done our household chores and we are staying away from social media.