The Importance of Healthy Habits as a Gamer

by Jessica Campion

Virtual games are an increasingly relevant part of daily life. With the advance in game technology and the internet, people have easier access to a variety of games than ever before. Virtual games offer a unique opportunity to invest time and resources in building skills and acquiring knowledge that can be applied in all sorts of practices. Games such as strategy, simulation, and role-playing can provide valuable insights into complex systems and decision-making processes.

In addition to its potential as a form of investment and learning, games can also provide a source of leisure and entertainment, an important part of the whole concept of human well-being. They offer an escape from daily stresses and provide a sense of achievement and satisfaction. As virtual reality technology continues to improve, the potential for immersive and interactive gaming experiences is expanding, allowing for even more opportunities for learning, investing and leisure.

In today’s digital age, the virtual world has become an integral part of our lives, present in our work, in entertainment, communication, and education. However, the constant insertion of virtual technology in every minor part of our daily life comes with a range of consequences to physical, mental, and social health.

The secret to a successful integration of virtual and real world is to establish a balanced relationship between enjoying and being a part of new technology of our time while making sure we are minimizing its possible negative implications in our health. Some habits can help to mitigate the negative effects of technology and promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

According to Global Games Market Reports, by the end of 2023, there will be 2.7 billion gamers worldwide. Gaming has evolved unimaginably, it became a legitimate career path, with professional gamers and streamers making a living through sponsorships and content creation. With this growth, many studies and professionals started to take measures and expand research regarding the habits for better health of those involved in the practice.

According to The Ultimate Guide to Healthy Gaming, developed by Esports Healthcare, some habits are fundamental to establish the balance between well-being and virtual leisure, here are some of them:

1. Warm-up

The belief that warm-ups include only static stretching (aka stretch and hold positions) are the best option to any sort of physical activity, but in the case of gaming habits, static stretching can decrease your performance. A dynamic warm-up routine is ideal to avoid latency of movement, with consistent dynamic movements for fingers, hands, wrists, forearms and even your eyes.

2. Posture

Good posture is the foundation of a healthy balance for any activity that is executed while sitting. A good posture is the number one enemy of back and neck pain, as much as the ergonomics.

The ergonomic design of chairs and accessories used by gamers are very important while they provide forearm support, appropriate bent angle and back support while moving.

3. Take Breaks

While taking a break, it is important to perform antagonist movements from the ones you usually perform while gaming, such as standing up, walking, breathe deeply and don’t forget to blink! That’s right, sometimes we forget to blink while playing!

4. Snack Healthy

The tendency of snacking on unhealthy, easy to ingest food and over-stimulating beverages is huge while gaming, but it is important to eat healthier for a better performance and life! Try to choose and prepare healthier snacks that do not spike insulin easily many times a day, eat fruits, salads, organic and nutritional snacks, you will not regret it! Being hydrated is also an easily neglected habit when we hyperfocus on playing games, and to avoid that it is always good to keep an always filled bottle close to you.

Adjustments can be done to increase considerably the quality of time you spend playing and resting, inside and outside of the game practice. The mentioned habits, associated with a healthy diet, sleep routine and exercise are the most effective ways to avoid the negative outcomes of gaming life. By prioritizing healthy habits in our digital lives, we can reap the benefits of technology while also protecting our overall well-being.