Gaming is always going to be popular, and as technology gets better, it’s likely more and more people will be doing it, and for longer amounts of time. Gaming can be a good thing – it can teach you how to be strategic and work in a team, for example – but it can also be unhealthy if you don’t take care of yourself. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to be a healthy gamer so you can enjoy your games and look after yourself at the same time.
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Eye Care
For gamers, having good eyesight is always going to be important, but long gaming sessions can lead to eye strain, dry eyes, and, if you play for long enough without proper precautions, even long-term sight damage.
To avoid this, make sure you take plenty of regular breaks to give your eyes a rest. Although it’s easy to get immersed in a game, stopping every fifteen minutes or so for one minute and focusing on something further away is a good idea. You should also adjust your monitor settings so the light, brightness, and colors aren’t too harsh.
If you do find your eyesight seems to be getting worse, see an optician for advice. It might be that you need some reading glasses from Just-glasses.co.uk to help you with close-up text. You may need computer glasses! Once you get their advice, you can purchase what you need to help your eyes.
Use The Right Chair
How do you play your games at the moment? Do you lie in bed or on a sofa? Do you sit on a hard chair or perhaps a soft armchair? Do you sit on the floor? Although any of these are possible, and you can certainly play your games this way, they’re not ideal if you want to take care of your health, and they can lead to pain in the neck, hips, knees, back, and even headaches.
The best thing you can do is invest in a proper gaming chair that has been designed using ergonomics. In this way, you’ll be comfortable but also properly supported while you play, and you’ll find you end up in less pain. Plus, with the right chair, you can play for longer (although breaks are still important). These chairs can be expensive, but it’s well worth the money when you find you’re healthier as a result.
Healthy Snacks
When you’ve decided to spend the day playing games because you enjoy it and it helps you relax, you might not feel like stopping to cook a healthy meal from scratch, but you’ll still need to eat (skipping meals is unhealthy). Most of the time, this can lead to gamers grabbing unhealthy snacks that don’t need to be cooked and are easy to eat – chips and cookies are good examples. Or they might order pizza and other unhealthy junk food.
It’s far better to have proper healthy meals, but if this is not possible, then you’ll need to re-think the snacks you’re eating. Opt for healthy versions like vegetable chips and low-calorie health bars, and try to drink water instead of soda. This might take some getting used to, but you’ll be more easily able to maintain a healthy weight, and you’ll feel less sluggish and tired too.
