Sports Then and Now

Are you interested in getting into gaming? We’ve heard a lot of people say that they are interested in this, but the fact that it has such a negative reputation puts them off. The media over the years have made so many claims about gaming, a lot of them showcasing the bad side or the dangerous side more than anything else.

However, there is a slight level of risk with pretty much any hobby that you have. Anything can become addicting, and too much of anything can make you sick, so it’s just a balancing act. Gaming is no more harmful when done properly and carefully than other hobbies, and we think it’s time that more people knew that.

So, we’ve written this article to give you an idea of some of the positives surrounding gaming. Down below, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the ways that gaming can actually be helpful to people, rather than harmful. If you are interested in finding out more about this topic, then read on down below!

Working On Social Skills

The first thing that we’re going to say is that for some people, gaming can help develop their social skills. Let’s say that you are someone who is painfully shy, not very outgoing, and you don’t really do well with social interaction. Even if it’s not a reality for you personally, it is for a lot of people and it’s important to acknowledge that. But, there are games online where you can play with others that you don’t know, communicate and go from there. Now, we know that this can be dangerous for younger kids, but they should not be on open channels like this in the first place.

Adults however, are a little more aware of strangers online and can exercise caution. But, it’s the communication and the teamwork that can really help to work on social skills. You have to work with all of these different people that you play with, and that can really boost the confidence of many people. Some people even find that their leadership skills massively improve as they take a more active role leading the team.

Assisting With Relaxing

While not everyone finds gaming relaxing, there are many people that do, contributing effectively to mental health. Now, we know that there has been a lot of talk about games being bad for mental health, but it doesn’t have to be this way, and it’s certainly not for everyone. Whether it’s video games, mahjong, solitaire, word puzzles or so many more, if you find them relaxing or you find that they help you to feel calm, then there’s nothing wrong with that. 

Everyone deserves to have something that helps them to unwind and that is what gaming provides to a large number of people. Anyone who takes issue with this needs to get their own relaxing hobby and stop worrying about those who are not in any danger from video games.

Giving You An Escape

This one is a tricky one because some people see it as a good thing, and others see it as a bad thing. However, we would argue that reading does the same thing for lots of people, and nobody is saying that reading is a bad hobby. A lot of the time, people get immersed in their games and they get an escape from all the stresses and the daily life that they are struggling with, helping them to feel better in themselves. Sometimes we all need a little escape from the life that we lead, and if you find this in a video game, if you find this in a board game, it doesn’t matter. 

Due to the fact that there are so many different types of games, it’s easy to get lost in your escape, and that’s when it starts to become an issue. However, if you limit the time that you are gaming for each day and you stick to your limit, then you should be absolutely fine.

Helping Your Problem Solving

There are lots of games out there that help people with their problem solving skills. We don’t even just mean the ones that were designed to do this, but you find with a lot of video games specifically, you have to work out what you’re supposed to do. Sure, you can look up a walk through online to cheat and get the answers, but the majority of gamers don’t actually do this (…unless they get really stuck!).

For example, if you are in a game where you have to collect certain materials and then do XYZ to complete the mission, you have to work out where they are, how to get there, how to get out of where you are and so much more. Chances are that on the way you’re going to have to do something else, and it’s all helping you with your problem solving.

Even in games where you fight bosses, you have to figure out the best way to beat them. In a lot of games, there’s only one way to do it, and you have to work out that exact right way if you have any chance of defeating the enemy in front of you. So, even when it doesn’t seem like someone is getting anything out of this, they may well be.

Making You Feel Happier

The point of a lot of hobbies is to simply make you feel happier, right? Well, gaming does this for people, not everyone, but those who enjoy it. Surely that’s enough of a reason for people to do it. There are lots of hobbies out there, and people are always talking about the things that they do that make them happy, so we don’t see why gaming should be demonized any more than some of the other hobbies out there. If it makes you happy, you should do it without fear of judgment or anyone having issues. Of course, this is for as long as it’s done in a safe and healthy manner.

Improving Your Decision Making

Decision making can be tough sometimes. Have you ever been in a situation and you’ve had to make a choice but you just couldn’t do it? It seemed impossible, even if it was only a small thing that you were trying to choose, and that is hard. When you really don’t know what to do, you feel as though whatever you do you’re going to be wrong, and it can lead to you not making a choice at all, losing out on whatever it was.

Gaming can really help with decision making in some individuals. In lots of games you have to make choices fast, and you have to make the right ones or your character isn’t going to meet a nice end. You have to learn to think on the spot, to make decisions fast with the information that you’ve got, and a lot of the time this completely alters the path of the game. Of course, in things like shooting games this isn’t the case, but there are games that follow stories based on the answers and decisions that you make along the way. This often gives people different experiences, and you tend to find that people trust their gut more.

Critical Thinking And Noticing Small Details

You’ve got to keep your eyes peeled when you’re playing games. You want to look for small details that will give you answers, you want to see patterns in certain games that help you work out what is coming next, and you don’t want to miss anything that could help you move forward or win. Gaming teaches you to watch out for these small things, as if you miss them it could mean the difference between winning and losing.

Using all of the information that you gather, you have to use your critical thinking skills to advance in pretty much any game, so the more that you play, the more these develop. We’re not saying that everyone who plays games is going to be the next genius critical thinker, but it does often help with this aspect of life when it comes to job performance and anything that requires a high level of attention to detail.

Hopefully, you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the ways that gaming can actually be helpful to people, rather than just focusing on the negatives all of the time. If you are thinking about taking up gaming as a hobby there is no reason not to, as long as you know how to stay safe when doing so. We’re sure that you know all about this already, and if you don’t, there are plenty of places online where you can get the information that you need. But, this is the same with everything, and you shouldn’t let it put you off pursuing a hobby in gaming if this is something that you want to do.