Playing games may have once been a fun-filled hobby but today it’s a lifestyle for millions of players worldwide. Knowing casino tips, tricks and online roulette strategies is no longer enough. With the rise of online multiplayer games, casino games online and other types of gaming events, people are spending more time than ever glued to their screens.
This sedentary lifestyle can take a toll on your physical health if you’re not careful. You have to balance your gaming pastime with regular exercise and proper nutrition so that you incorporate fitness into your gaming routine to establish a healthy lifestyle.
Taking Breaks
Gaming demands a lot out of the player cognitively but generally, not physically. People who are playing digital games don’t expect to be physically active and, for the most part, are not. But health workers have known for centuries that sedentary behaviors affect the body negatively.
When you reduce your physical activity you increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and even some types of cancer. Additionally, when you sit for prolonged periods of time you change how your brain functions. Research shows that executive function (cognitive control of behavior) decreases after 2 hours of continuous gameplay.
Taking breaks is one solution but there are other things that you need to do to stay fit. In fact, it’s a cycle…..the more fit you keep yourself, the better you perform while playing games.
In fact, while numerous studies have shown that gaming actually increases executive function skills including improvements in decision making and problem-solving (Buelow, Okdie, & Cooper, 2015), Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue of the Department of Osteopathic Medicine at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine noted that executive function can be improved even more when you break up long sessions on a regular basis.
This is a crucial component of achieving success in gaming because a high level of executive function plays a big part in gaming achievement. You have to be able to anticipate the next move so that you can prepare to react in a way that increases your chances for achieving wins.
Gamers who get into “the grind”, where they sit glued to the screen for hours and hours on end, are actually sabotaging their efforts because, researchers have determined, they end up making more errors and being less accurate. If you want to maximize your gaming sessions, shorten your sessions -- DiFrancisco-Donoghue’s research determined that the best breaks involve short walks or some other type of exercise.
Active Games
Many video games encourage physical activity (Beat Saber, Just Dance, Ring Fit Adventure) and increasingly, casino games are incorporating elements that facilitate that same type of in-game movement. This is mostly due to the introduction of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) games where the game draws the player into the real world via digital environments.
By using a VR or AR headset the gamer can interact with the game’s immersive environment. Most online casinos don’t yet feature AR or VR games but the demand is growing which is putting pressure on the game developers to introduce such games to, hopefully, enhance the environment through physical challenges.
Work Outs
Ending a gaming session in order to work out may not be realistically doable but everyone can get some exercise in before they start their gaming session. If you make it a habit to work out physically before you start playing games, not only will you be taking steps to stay in shape but you’ll be releasing endorphins that can actually help you to focus.
Try gamifying your exercise by committing to wait until you unlock specific exercise achievements before you allow yourself to jump into a gaming session. Say, commit to a half hour yoga session or a specific daily walk or run before you open your casino app to start playing.
Standing Desk
A standing desk is a desk that allows you to work on your laptop or PC while standing comfortably, as opposed to sitting.
There are different types of standing desks for different goals -- standing desks designed for architectural drafting, gaming, web development, graphic design, making and receiving calls, digital content production and more. Some standing desks can only be utilized in one fixed standing position while others can be adjusted so that you’re able to sit or stand as needed at any particular time.
The use of standing desks have been shown to improve posture, reduce risk of contracting cardiovascular disease, lower blood sugar, reduce headaches, help reduce problems with carpal tunnel system by helping with wrist position, reduce back pain, improve circulation, boost productivity, reduce feelings of stress and fatigue, improve mood and energy levels and increase productivity and energy.
Getting a standing desk where you can move forward with gaming events is definitely something to explore. Other types of non-conventional gaming desks include desks for motion gaming and playing on your mobile while you sit on an exercise bike.
Nutrition
It’s easy to grab a snack before you start your gaming session but instead of reaching out for a bag of chips or a piece of cake, plan ahead by preparing slices of fruit and vegetables for your munching needs. It takes 10 minutes to slice up a dish of produce but it can hold you for hours. If you’re planning on playing for an extended period of time, take time out to eat a healthy meal.
Gaming in itself isn't a particularly healthy activity but you can make it so by taking these few simple steps.
