Technology advancements have led to gaming’s current popularity as a form of entertainment. However, in addition to the advantages of gaming, addiction to video games also develops into an issue that many people are concerned about. How therefore can we balance gaming’s advantages and disadvantages? Read on to learn the need-to-know-benefits and harms of playing online games.
Benefits
Mental benefits
Numerous studies point to a connection between engaging in one’s preferred pastime and improvements in mood as well as an expansion of good feelings and emotions. For instance, players will entirely relax, hence reducing their levels of worry and stress when playing simple, easy-to-play games such as word games, puzzles, and other similar activities.
Helps improve reflexes
Recent studies have shown: word games with logical thinking requirement like phoodle or shell shocker will improve the player’s reflexes. The fact that you have to respond to circumstances that call for accuracy as well as dexterity when engaging with other players and games also makes eye-hand coordination more adaptable.
This will help increase reflexes when you play outdoor sports or handle cases that need extremely fast reflexes in real daily life.
Improve thinking
The positive and negative effects of gaming are highly dependent on the type of game being played. There are several games that offer difficulties that range from being as simple as eating porridge to being so difficult that they require players to think clearly and strategically. And then, using that information, devise realistic techniques and plans to “knock down” all of the challenges that the game presents. In point of fact, this serves as a method for practicing critical thinking and strategic planning in the context of actual work.
Harm
Depending on how you play the game, gaming can either have positive or negative effects on you. However, it is impossible to deny that playing video games will have detrimental impacts on one’s life and health, such as the following:
Increased risk of obesity:
The cause of obesity is that children who play games too much often sit still, are sedentary, and use fast foods and soft drinks in an uncontrolled way.
Joint damage:
When playing video games, repetitively pressing your finger on the keyboard or control button increases the risk of injury to the extensor tendon of the thumb. Sitting for a long time and being too lazy to exercise increases the damage to the spine, cervical bone degeneration, disc herniation…
Myopia, astigmatism:
Focusing on the screen for many hours to play games will cause eye strain because the eyes have to adjust a lot. In addition, factors such as the distance from the eyes to the screen are not guaranteed on benefits and harms of playing online games … making players see blurred, squint, eye pain. In the long run, causing myopia, astigmatism…
Hallucinogens:
For game addicts, playing online games is the main daily activity. They usually spend more than 8-10 hours a day playing games. When they cannot play games, they will think, imagine, or daydream about the game instead of doing other activities. Many people get stressed and frustrated when they can’t play games. In some cases, hallucinations and increased violent behavior appeared.
Negative effects on quality of life:
Spending a lot of time playing games makes players lose interest in other recreational activities and neglect daily mandatory tasks, which leads to a decrease in learning, working, and taking care of yourself.
How to Balance the benefits and harms of playing online games
How to balance the benefits and harms of online gaming to increase the quality of life? Here are some tips you can take:
Limit time to play online games
The amount of time spent playing video games has been demonstrated in a number of studies to have a direct bearing on the likelihood of developing an addiction to the activity. Therefore, the first step in achieving a balance between the benefits and the hazards of gaming is to place limits on how much people can play.
Those who are addicted to video games should not stop playing all of a sudden. You have to give yourself some time to adjust to the new circumstances. You shouldn’t just stop playing the game all of a sudden; instead, you should progressively cut down the amount of time you spend on it over the day. In order to play the game and take it seriously, you are free to establish your own time rules. Time gradually lowers till you feel like you can control your gaming.
Play sports
To keep a balance for themselves, every game player needs to know how to control their own gaming behavior. You may take breaks from playing the game for too long or stop playing if your body is tired. Besides, instead of playing games, you should participate in other sports activities. Because playing sports is also high and low, and will give the winner a feeling of excitement. At the same time, playing sports helps to increase endurance, flexibility and health for the body.
Support from family
Parents and loved ones have an important role to play in reducing the harmful effects of gaming with their children. They need to understand need-to-know-benefits and harms of playing online games. Instead of arguing, scolding your children when they play games, try to experience them in the virtual world to temporarily become their “allies”. From there, parents can increase closeness with their children and they will easily accept the rules parents set about playing games.
