Breaks are an important part of gaming for any healthy gamer. We can only do the same, repetitive motions for so long before we begin to wear our body down. The best way to improve longevity is to take short breaks to let your body rejuvenate.
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This of course doesn’t apply to anyone playing Dark Souls. No pause button, No breaks.
2. Stretch Regularly
Sitting in an old desk chair, bent over your desk staring into the computer for hours can be hard on the muscles. Basic stretches help make your gaming experience a happier and more productive one.
3. Have Healthy Snacks
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A healthy snack will grant temporary stats to stamina and intelligence and permanent stats to fortitude in the long run
Sometimes when I’m gaming, I don’t even know what I’m eating. All I know is I’m hungry and I have to get the hell out of Ravenhold. But making simple changes, like water over soda, make big differences. Most importantly, eating healthier makes you feel better about yourself and in change makes you a better gamer.
4. Maintain a Good Posture
Sitting up straight may seem like something your nagging mother would say, but it actually can help. Slouching can cause back pain, especially when you sit in a chair for hours on end. Good posture helps prevent that leading to a healthy gamer.
5. Maintain Good Hand Posture
Hand Posture is as simple as this: If you’re lazy about it, you’ll pay for it later. Being an offender myself I know how easy it is to lay your hands flat on the keyboard, especially with a laptop. Keeping good posture saves you from wrist pain and eventually carpal tunnel syndrome.
6. Get Enough Sleep
Staying up late to play a game just makes you more tired the next morning to play it again.
The most important thing in a gamer is their mind. Sleep allows the mind to relax and process the information of the day. When you get inadequate amounts of it you wake up exhausted in the morning and you aren’t fully prepared for the day ahead of you. Sleep is the best way to keep your mind sharp and ready.
7. Learn Stress Relief
Stress is at the base of every game ever and learning to deal with it will make you a more successful gamer. If you are able to recognize that when you play Zelda you’re going to struggle, you won’t be as mad when you do. Going into situations accepting the circumstances makes it easier when they come true.
8. Manage Your Time
Unfortunately we don’t all get paid to sit around and game all day so we have to manage our time effectively. Setting aside time in your busy life for your passions is important but make sure it’s the only thing on your mind. Scheduling your life (school, work, etc.) makes sure you get the most out of it and helps that when you play games, that’s all you’re worrying about.
9. Manage Your Anger
For some people this may be the hardest. Frustration is a natural reaction when you have struggles, but sometimes it gets out of hand.
If you find yourself getting angry (or perhaps even throwing things at your monitor) take a deep breath and remember what’s going on around you. Put things in perspective- If I don’t beat it now, it’s not the end of the world.
10. Listen To Your Body
Even if you follow these rules perfectly, you might still ache. The truth is that sometimes hands, backs, or even necks are going to hurt. The most important thing is to listen to your body and never push it too far.
