It’s hard to deny that video games can be both fun and addicting. But while many people are quick to dismiss the positive effects of playing video games, you might be surprised to learn about the scientific evidence that shows how gaming in moderation can actually improve health and well-being! If you’re still unconvinced, read on to find out more about the positive effects of playing video games.
Video games are designed to make you feel a sense of accomplishment when you complete them, and that feeling can carry over into your non-gaming life. This sense of achievement will help motivate you to keep at it and reach your goals as well. Gaming allows you to be social: Gaming is an activity that’s typically best enjoyed in groups or with friends, so it encourages social interaction.
If you’re feeling stressed out and are trying to find a way to relax, take a break from gaming. Studies have shown that excessive gaming can actually trigger stress-related disorders such as depression and social anxiety. However, if done in moderation, research shows that moderate gamers have lower levels of stress than those who don’t play at all. Moderate gaming helps you focus: Gamers don’t get distracted by things going on around them.
The American Optometric Association estimates that 70% of Americans suffer from computer vision syndrome due to long hours in front of a computer screen. Excessive video gaming can worsen symptoms and slow recovery time.
Games don’t have age limit.
Gaming can help you recover: You’ll avoid visual fatigue and optimize your visual health by taking frequent breaks while playing video games. Additionally, certain types of games offer peripheral vision training, which may also help alleviate symptoms associated with computer vision syndrome.
Studies have shown that people who play games on a regular basis keep in touch with more people and have more friends than those who don’t. Not only does gaming give you someone to talk to, but video games are so diverse that they offer limitless opportunity for communication with other gamers. Whether it’s playing Call of Duty together or teaming up in an MMO, there are thousands of ways to communicate with other gamers—and get social benefits along the way.
A study from Stanford University found that gamers tend to be better at understanding patterns than non-gamers. The ability to see patterns in complex systems is vital for success in many fields, including science, politics and business. If you’re a gamer, apply those skills to data analysis or your career field for an advantage.
What motivates us to play video games?
Playing video games can be a great way to set and achieve goals, whether that’s saving more money or learning more about another culture. Goals help us focus on what’s important in life, and they can also improve your productivity when it comes to other projects. For example, if you’re raising funds for charity by playing video games, you might end up raising twice as much as someone who doesn’t have an external goal to motivate them.
This goes without saying, but video games are an excellent way to hone your problem solving skills. When you’re working your way through a difficult game level, or figuring out how to defeat a particularly tricky boss, that’s all problem solving in action. This can translate into increased productivity and sharper focus in day-to-day life.
Doing well in a video game requires hand-eye coordination, so playing video games actually improves your ability to complete tasks that require eye-hand coordination, like sports. And with improved hand-eye coordination comes better fine motor skills and increased intelligence—both helpful skills in almost any situation.
Have you ever watched a toddler learn to walk? One day they’re struggling to stand up straight, and a few weeks later they’re skipping across rocks. Chalk it up to video games: The coordination and eye-hand skills that come from playing action games makes children better at sports, hobbies, and other physical activities. (Scientific American)
If you’re planning on being a professional gamer, then reaction time is an important skill to practice. Reaction time is how fast you can respond to stimuli and can help with reflexes or even how fast you can process information. You could increase your reaction time by playing action-based video games for a few hours each week. Training yourself in action video games will give you more control over your movements and faster reactions, which in turn might improve your ability to learn other physical skills as well.
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