Whether you’re a casual gamer or spend every evening immersed in your favorite MMO, you may be surprised to hear that what you are doing is beneficial for your health. Gaming, for many years, was seen as a mindless way to pass the time. It was looked down upon by many people, and those who gamed regularly were often perceived as being lazy. With the advent of casual games, however, this view has become rather outdated. A lot of people who wouldn’t touch a console have now started gaming on tablets and mobile devices, and this has helped to normalize the industry.
But how exactly does gaming benefit your health? Let’s take a look at just three ways that may improve your view of the hobby even further.
They Can Help You Break Bad Habits
No matter whether you spend your spare time-fighting Daedra in the ESO dungeons, or you prefer playing puzzle-style games like Candy Crush, you’re probably well aware of how much your brain needs to engage with the screen. Gaming isn’t mindless; it takes a lot of concentration to do and do well. This is what makes it such a great activity for people who are trying to lose weight or stop smoking, for example. A 2014 Brown University study found that people who played multiplayer games could reduce their nicotine cravings. The reason for this is that the achievements earned in games boosted the reward centers in the brain in the same way that nicotine does. So, if you’re struggling with cravings, consider booting up a game instead!
They Provide Pain Relief
A study performed at the University of Washington found that games can help to relieve pain levels. The study was made up of people suffering from severe burns. They were given virtual headsets and asked to play a virtual game based on Snow White. 92% of the patients who played the game said that their pain was lessened during the experience, even while they were given painful treatments by caregivers. After gaming, all participants reported a 30-50% reduction in the pain too; a result that is more powerful than morphine. You don’t need to have a virtual headset to receive the same results. Whether you log on to an only slots lobby on Unikrn or focus on a mentally demanding game like Temple Run on your phone, the effects are the same.
They Reduce Anxiety
Finally, games can also help to reduce anxiety. The reason for this is a shift in the mental spotlight. As mentioned above, games really are immersive. They encourage players to shift their attention from what is happening (or worrying them) in the real world and focus it on the game experience. A study performed by the New Jersey Medical School’s Anesthesiology department proved this point. They discovered that children who were given a mobile device to play games on prior to a surgery felt virtually no anxiety. Rather than focusing on what would happen to them in the future, they were more focused on building mega-mansions in Minecraft. When you think about it, it makes sense. Who has time to feel anxious when you have a whole new world to build?
So, the next time someone tells you that gaming is a mindless activity, you can ignore them. The studies above prove that it is much more than that.