Video games have been a part of people’s lives for decades, and there is no sign that this will change. It’s an industry worth over $100 billion dollars in the United States alone. There are pros and cons to video games, but they can be addictive if played too much. Some say it takes away from time with family or friends, others claim it promotes social skills because you get to talk with others while playing (it also has the ability to promote violence). Does the question then become how much is too much?
How does your family feel about video games? Do you think they should be viewed as a hobby or something that takes away from time with family and friends? Should we regulate the number of hours people can play them to prevent potential addiction?
The benefits of playing video games
Standard benefits:
– Playing video games can be an escape from everyday life.
– Video games are a way to learn new skills and improve on old ones.
Emotional benefits:
– You can make new friends while playing video games.
– Games help you figure out how to solve problems in the real world.
– Video games can help you express yourself and your feelings.
Mental benefits:
– Games help to keep your brain active and healthy.
– This will help slow the process of memory loss as you age.
Physical benefits:
– Playing video games is a great form of exercise that provides both physical and mental challenges.
The consequences of overplaying
There is no denying that they can be addictive if played too much which has the potential for negative effects on health, relationships with family or friends, and physical problems like obesity or back pain. The problem is that people who overplay video games often don’t know they are addicted until it’s too late. Signs someone may be addicted include:
– Using video games as a way to escape problems
– Lying about the amount of time spent playing
– Feeling irritable or anxious when you can’t play
– Choosing playing over necessary situations like work or school
– Not being able to stop playing even if you want to
Ways to avoid addiction
One of the best ways to avoid addiction is to make sure you take breaks from playing video games. You should also be mindful of how much time you spend in front of a screen.
Try not to exceed two hours for children, four hours for teens, and six hours for adults. It’s also important to limit your time spent on individual games or don’t play at all by putting limits on them. Make sure to play video games that have a limit on how long they can be played for.
When you start feeling like gaming is taking over your life and interfering with other activities, it’s time to put the controller down and do something else (sleep or exercise come to mind). Lastly, play games with others because playing alone will make it easier for you to fall into the trap of spending excessive amounts of time in front of a screen.
Why it’s okay if you don’t want to play at all!
If you don’t want to play video games at all, that is okay too. There are other activities that can be done in your free time; like reading, watching TV, or volunteering. Find something that you enjoy doing, even if it’s just relaxing after a long day of work. It is important to enjoy the activities you do in your free time because this will make them feel less like “work”.
Do I Play too Much Video Games Test
The answer to that question is not as simple as yes or no. It goes beyond how long you play each day, or what games you play. The amount of time you spend playing video games is only one factor in the equation. Head to Game quitters if you would like to take a short test to help determine if you are spending too much time gaming.
Conclusion
Whether or not you choose to play video games in your freetime is up to you. There are both positives and negatives to playing video games. It is important to play video games responsibly by limiting the amount of time spent on individual games or not playing at all, taking breaks every once in a while, playing with others, making sure to get plenty of exercise outside of gaming, and putting limits on how long you can play specific games for. If you start noticing that you are becoming addicted or spending excessive amounts of time on video games, it is important to limit them or stop playing them altogether.
Sources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/27/game-addiction_n_4163519.html
http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/how-video
Leah Johnson
May not look like but definitely a big tech addict. Tech blogger since graduating in her home town in Esbjerg. Loves long bike rides across the country.
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