If you are a gamer, chances are you spend long hours sitting in front of your desktop, practicing your skills. This constant grind can put a lot of pressure on your body, leading to physical and mental ailments.
But contrary to the common myth that gamers are either overweight or sick from always sitting on the couch, gaming and good health can actually go hand in hand.
By incorporating a few simple practices every day, you can minimize the health risks and have a prolonged gaming life. In this article, we share five useful tips to help you stay healthy as a gamer.
If you want to enjoy video games for longer, you should start working on keeping yourself healthy in the future. And that’s the point of adopting these habits—to win your health along with those esports games.Â
The Right Posture & Ergonomics Matter
Posture plays an important role in reducing muscle aches and joint degenerations. Long gaming sessions mean sitting for multiple hours at a stretch – and that can put a strain on your body.
Ensure that you sit upright with your head and shoulders kept back. Avoid hunching or leaning towards your PC.
There are multiple gaming ergonomics to prevent hurting yourself from prolonged sitting. We recommend you follow at least a few basics to get started:
- Your monitor should be at your eye level, with your feet kept flat on the ground. Consider a chair with adjustable height so that you do not have to lean forward or look up to your monitor.
- Keep your elbows at the same height as your desk, bent at approximately 90 degrees while using your PC.
- Proper wrist posture while holding the mouse to avoid aches.
- Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!
Hydration is one of the most essential factors for good health. Sitting in front of your gaming setup, you may end up drinking way less than what you should be.
This can put negative effects on your body over a longer period of time.
Keep a bottle of water right beside your setup and make sure that you drink some of it every hour or so. You can also opt for other health drinks like coconut water, tea, or juice to replenish your body with minerals.
Staying hydrated keeps your energy levels intact and ensures that you do not binge eat unhealthy snacks during those gaming sessions.
Taking Breaks Is Important
You may easily get sucked into a game but giving yourself rest in between is essential. Holding your position for too long can cause aches and visual strain. It can also make your muscle slower, tending to reduced gaming performance.
Take frequent breaks between games and utilize the time to move your body. Play a level, go and eat fruits. Complete the next level and walk around for a bit.
Even a few minutes of break can revive your muscles and eyes that significantly boosts both your gameplay and health.
Stretch Those Aches Away
As we mentioned earlier, prolonged sitting can negatively affect your health. Following any gaming session, practice stretching to avoid muscle injuries. This helps both your body and mind revive from the previous activity and helps restore their balance.
There are multiple types of stretching that can help your body relax, some of which target specific muscles and joints for better recovery. You can also include different exercises in your daily routine to keep your body active.
This is especially important as you are more prone to be in a static position throughout the day.
Check On Your Mental HealthÂ
Mental fitness is as important as the physical aspects for your overall well being. Everybody is subjected to different levels of stress, and even though you may not feel it at the moment, many gamers have breakdowns due to stress factors piling up over time.
Indulge in activities that refresh your mind after an intense tournament. Talk to your friends and get some fresh air every now and then to reduce the stress.
Taking frequent breaks and having enough sleep is also essential to having a healthy gaming experience.
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Why Developing Healthy Habits Matter For Gamers?
When you play games for long hours every day, it’s easy to develop unhealthy habits. Habits like binge eating, lack of hydration, not getting enough sleep can lead to bad health and poor performance.
Just as professional athletes need a good warmup session for their match day, esports gamers have come to realize the need to stay fit for a better gaming experience. Even though esports do not demand physical fitness for becoming a pro in the field, having a healthy lifestyle surely helps you prevent physical ailments and focus better on the matches.
This can also significantly improve your form and help you play better during the tournaments. Whether esports is just your hobby or a career, staying healthy is uncompromisable in either case.
Final Thoughts
A study published by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, based on 1400 esports gamers from 65 countries, shows that the top 10 percent of players are physically more active than lower-level gamers.
This shows the potential benefits of healthy habits in improving your gaming performance. The study also highlights the increasing awareness among esports players to stay fit.
Following the simple steps mentioned in the article can help you overcome the physical and mental exhaustion that may come along with esports gaming —and accelerate your journey towards becoming a pro.
