Video Games are a great way to blow off steam after a long day of working and escape for a few hours. You can enter a virtual world and not have to worry about responsibilities. Online games are even better since you can play with other people and participate in matches.
However, many people spend too much time on recreation and multiplayer campaigns. Online matches can take hours in games like WoW and other MMOs. Therefore, it is important to look at how much time we can invest in our sessions.
Increase in time due to pandemic
The Covid-19 lockdown proved to have a big impact on how people lived. The way they spent their time daily changed when there were restrictions on going out. In a survey conducted by Forbes, sixty percent of people reported playing online games. There was also a marked increase in average expenditure worldwide on online video games. Also, Greenville Roblox. People craved social interaction since everyone was locked inside for almost a year. They could only get it through online video games and virtual reality chatrooms. Additionally, working from home meant an increase in recreation as well. Therefore, more and more people gravitated towards online gaming.
This trend was also apparent from the sales of multiplayer games like Call Of Duty and Fortnite. There were significant percentage increases in sales in the US and Asia-Pacific region from last year.
Harms of online gaming
Studies show that players spending too much time on online games experience poor physical and mental health. Moreover, they also suffer from symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. Addiction to these games can cause you to have high blood pressure and elevated heart rate.
Competitive matches can often last for long periods of time and have a lot of excitement for both squads. As a result, these game sessions can encourage violence and aggression in their players. In addition to this, games are known to cause irregularities in sleep cycles and REM sleep. Once you begin to be sleep-deprived, your body’s immune system weakens.
Spending too much time on these games is addictive and leaves you feeling unsatisfied or on edge. Prolonged exposure to these conditions causes unnecessary stress in life and unhappiness on an average day. Stress and worry have serious consequences for your heart and your appearance. Therefore, here are some things to keep in mind.
How much time should I spend gaming online?
Firstly, identify how much online games are interfering with your life. Check if your performance in school, college, or job has gone down lately. Check-in with your relationships, and work on recognizing which ones are in a bad state due to your addiction. Log off for a bit and talk to your loved ones about what they think of your gaming habits.
Most importantly, take a look at your habits. Have you been experiencing any negative thoughts, difficulty concentrating, or feelings of dread or fear? If the answer is yes, then you should consider cutting down on gaming time.
Different studies have different figures for how much time you should spend on online games. While some say five hours are too much, others state that seven to eight is exceeding the limit. Numerics aside, we believe it is up to you to decide how much time works for you. The important thing is not to let games interfere with your life.
How to cut down on an addiction
As with any other addiction, users can deal with gaming, and it wouldn’t take too much of an effort. Start with smaller steps, and accumulate till you reach your goals. Begin by cutting down on one of the many games you play, and you’ll feel better already. Slowly and gradually, pick out the ones you enjoy most and cut down others.
Setting smaller goals and taking time for your hobbies helps greatly. Go out with your partner, or hang out with your friends. Pick up a new project for yourself, like creating a garden or restoring a bike. Keeping yourself engaged in other activities is a great way to lower interest in online gaming. So go ahead, step out and find a new skill to learn!
Conclusion
While games are a great way to relax and entertain yourself, playing too much is a double-edged sword. No one gets addicted knowingly, and thus, it is smarter to know the difference between recreation and addiction. Unlearning habits is tough, and the pandemic has made it harder to let go of self-destructive habits. However, a little bit of effort goes a long way in improving the quality of life and happiness.
If you have been struggling to deal with your gaming habits, this guide should help you get through the tough times. Comment below if you learned something new, or share your experience with us!
