Video gaming is not usually thought of as a hobby that can actually be good for your health. We are constantly bombarded by stories in the media of the dangers of too much screen time and we’re given almost daily warnings about the affects a sedentary lifestyle can have on our health.

However, we’re here to present another side of video gaming – the positive side. Yes, we should all be more physically active and no, we shouldn’t spend all day playing games, but that doesn’t mean that choosing video gaming as a hobby is all bad. There are plenty of health benefits that come from gaming, some of which might surprise you.

Brain Fitness

Our brains are like a muscle, the more you use your brain the fitter it becomes. Many people do the daily crossword puzzle or play memory games on their phones for this very reason. Video gaming also acts as exercise for the brain. Most games require you to complete missions in order to progress to the next level. While playing through each mission, players must learn new skills, solve problems and negotiate new surroundings. Multiplayer games are excellent for brain training because with so much activity to keep track of players are required to remain focused and concentrate for long periods of time.

The same is true for casino card games like poker and blackjack; if you don’t stay on the ball, you’re likely to lose money and what greater incentive is there to stay alert and focused than that? You can find plenty of multiplayer games to play on PC, such as Overwatch and Fortnite, or you can visit https://mrcasinova.com/casinos-canada/ to find all the information you could ever need on where to play casino games. Put the work in now and hopefully you’ll ward off dementia in later life.

Pain Relief

Those who suffer from chronic pain have found that playing video games can be used as a tool to help manage the pain. The mind is a powerful weapon and when it comes to pain it can either work for or against you. If you allow your mind to dwell on your pain, it becomes impossible to think of anything else and usually that makes the pain worse. If you can redirect your mind to focus on something else, you’ll most likely notice that your pain decreases significantly. Video gaming provides an excellent distraction for the mind. Whether its online slot games, quiz games or fantasy games – as long as it draws you in and holds your attention it’s going to help you avoid thinking about your pain.

Social Skills and Team Building

One of the biggest misconceptions about video gaming is that it promotes anti-social behaviour. However, the same could be said for reading a book or watching a movie. Time spent alone is not necessarily a bad thing; especially if it helps you relax. But many video games actually encourage interaction with other players. Friendships are often forged through shared passions, and gamers are passionate people – the fact that these friendships use a digital medium does not mean the feelings are any less real than those of friends who meet up for coffee. With some video games you have to work as a team in order to complete a mission. Teamwork helps players to improve their communication skills and diplomacy skills. Video gaming can also be used as a tool to help players develop crucial leadership skills because gameplay often requires players to make both long-term plans and quick decisions.

The benefits that we’ve mentioned are just some of the many benefits that come from playing video games. We don’t recommend that you sit down and play games all day, but we do recommend finding a game that you like and devoting a small portion of your day to mastering it. At the very least, you’ll have fun while you play.