Gaming is not just a fun pastime, but it is also a way of life for many people, which requires you to sit in one position for a very long time. However, staring at the screen for hours and leading a too sedentary lifestyle might be detrimental to your physical and mental wellbeing.
If you quickly feel drained, experience a lack of energy throughout the day, difficulty concentrating on simple tasks or feel like you’re stuck at a particular rank, this can be a first sign that you spend too much time in front of your PC, Xbox or Playstation and ignore the importance of taking care of your body. Luckily, all of these symptoms can be reduced or even eliminated with some simple lifestyle changes that will not only improve your day-to-day life but will also help to bring our on-screen play to another level. Here are eight healthy gamer tips.
Fuel Your Body With The Right Food
Nowadays, gaming is commonly associated with drinking lots of sugar-rich and energy drinks and eating a variety of junk food and unhealthy snacks such as chips and cookies. While this broad generalisation is simply not true for many gamers, if you also tend to eat unhealthy snacks and forget about regular physical activity, you are more likely to increase some of the health risks triggered by an unhealthy diet and spending too much time in a sitting position.
To avoid this, try consuming junk food in moderation and replacing candies, popcorn and cookies with natural, nutrient-rich snacks such as fresh fruits and veggies, frozen grapes, hummus, pita bread or different types of nuts such as hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios.
Maintain Good Posture
Good posture not only keeps you healthy but also helps you look professional. Make sure to sit up with your back straight and keep your head above your shoulders.
A quick trick here might be to purchase a decent chair. Not necessarily one of those specially designed for gaming with all the bells and whistles, but just a nice, sturdy chair that offers good back support and allows you to sit upright.
Drink More Water
If you ever have found yourself staring on a screen all day and drinking just a couple of glasses of water, that means you are not even close to the proper water intake. Thus, try to keep a water bottle of fresh, clean water near you and drink it every half an hour.
Daily fluid intake can help to prevent dehydration and decrease the likelihood of headaches and fatigue. Protein powder shakes can be an alternative method of maintaining your energy without adding unhealthy, processed ingredients or consuming a lot of calories.
Take Regular Breaks
When you are completely immersed in your video game, you may even forget about what is happening around you. As we have mentioned above, sitting for hours in one position can have a negative effect on your health; therefore, you need to set small, regular boundaries.
Today’s games give you enough time to take a short break, stand up, move around a bit and get the blood running while you are waiting for screens to load or for queues where you expect others to join the multiplayer game. Plus, waiting for the respawn also offers you some free time, so try to put that crucial time to good use.
Stretch & Stay Active
During quick breaks, make sure to stretch every body part that feels sore, including your back, neck, wrist and your fingers. Since strain and tension on your body have a similar effect as intense physical activity, it is essential to incorporate stretching sessions into your daily life to help to relieve that tension.
You may also go for a walk in the fresh air, take a brisk jog or do some push-ups to sustain a decent form and avoid an extremely sedentary lifestyle.
Try Out CBD Products
Whether you choose CBD gummies, vapes or traditional tinctures, this natural supplement can help you be a better gamer and enhance your gaming experience. Due to positive effects on different receptors as part of the cell-signalling endocannabinoid system,
CBD is able to help reduce anxiety and stress, boost energy and concentration, reduce pain and various aches and even promote more restful sleep in the night.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is considered generally safe and tolerated to most people, so it can bring you a much-needed boost to stay focused and energised without compromising your gaming routine. However, it is advised to visit a licensed physician prior to taking any CBD infused products and choosing only reliable companies if you decide to
buy CBD oil.
Sleep Well
Lack of good quality night’s sleep can have a serious impact both on your mental and physical health. Increased blood pressure, hallucinations, a drop in body temperature, hormonal changes and even seizures – all of these are possible symptoms of prolonged sleep deprivation.
Make sure to get enough sleep every day to take care of your body and mind and also be able to play better and longer. In case you are planning on taking a marathon and having a gaming session for more than a full day, don’t overlook the power of a quick nap. Try to have at least a few hours of sleep in the middle of a game to help restore energy levels, keep your brain sharp and improve your reaction time.
However, falling asleep right after you go to bed can be difficult after looking at the computer screen for hours, even if you are tired. Try to stop playing at least an hour before bed to allow your eyes to rest and your body to relax.
Keep Socially Active
If you love gaming, you are likely to spend most of your time playing online multiplayer games with other people or your friends, especially if they are into the same genre of video games as you are.
Whether it is to watch movies, play cards or go on a hike, you should arrange to meet up with your friends, and close ones face to face, at least once a week. While you can simply play alone, it’s definitely nice to see your friends and socialise in person from time to time.
