Most people don’t plan to get addicted to gaming when they start. It is simply a way of passing the time for most, but it becomes an issue when you cannot do much in a day because gaming gets in the way. If you are in school and have to divide your time among things that matter, you may start realizing that your time in front of the screen could be used on assignments or general revision as you get ready for exams.
We do not want to insinuate that gaming is a bad habit if you can control it. Everything in moderation is okay, so we think you can game and get good grades if you learn to prioritize.
Here’re ways you can create a healthy balance between the two.
Plan your School Workload
Most people only realize how much they have in the form of work deep into the semester. At the beginning of your school term, look at what is expected of you and decide how much of it you can handle on your own. Some parts such as research and assignments can be outsourced to online custom writing services that charge leniently and conveniently to spare you time. When you let others help you, you are left with little on your plate that you can handle without getting overwhelmed. You also create time to play because of all work and no play…
Separate your Work Area from the Playground
Many people struggle with staying away from temptation, which is what happens when your workstation is also where you play your video games. Where you can, take your studies outside the house to minimize the chances of distraction. Go to the library or any other area that allows you some solitude. If you have no option but to study in the house, you will need loads of discipline to stay on course. Select an area in the room where you set up the study zone to allow you to read without rushing to play a quick game.
Set a Reward Period
You can choose to use gaming as a reward after accomplishing the more important things out of your study time. You can set it to be anything, from playing for 10 minutes for every hour you study to completing a competitive round after getting all the answers on your study cards right. The point is to have a guide on when you can play, but you also want to ensure you understand and are not reading to hit your milestone. When you get to the point where you can easily stop without a video game mid-round because you feel it’s time to get back to your books, you have unlocked levels of willpower that few possess.
Choose Games Wisely
Some games are more addictive than others, while some will have you thinking deeper and becoming a better person. Those that require you to go on for several levels for rewards are particularly time-consuming, and unfortunately, those are the ones mainly on the market. You may want to read reviews online of what others think about the game before you start playing. If it requires a considerable time investment on your end, you may want to leave it alone for a while since you cannot afford that kind of distraction while in college.
Learn when to Stop
Some people swear by setting alarms and timers as they are active reminders of what one should be doing. You can set a 15-minute timer for a round of games and stop as soon as it goes off. You want to remove yourself from the mindset after that and focus on your books for the next hour or so. Timers allow one to dedicate just enough time to what matters, and they can, over time, help you get used to efficiently timing things in your head. Even if your brain says a game has to end, you will be more productive when your internal clock tells you it is time to stop and focus on other things.
Pros and Cons of Gaming
As we said earlier, video games are not the enemy when you think about your studies. They can actually teach you how to manage your time, making you a better student or reader. You want to start by noting how much of your time is spent playing video games then you can decide whether or not you need to make changes.
Pros
- One could become more responsive to the minor details since it requires you to pay so much attention.
- If you manage to control how much you play, you could take lessons on time management.
- It’s a creative way to spend one’s spare time.
- It could take the edge off studying and long work hours.
- Specific games could help with anxiety and depression.
Cons
- They are addictive and can promote impulsiveness in people already prone to that.
- They can turn one into an unproductive person that only thinks of gaming.
- One could become unsociable and a loner since these are promoted by gaming.
Conclusion
If you are a gamer already, you do not have to stop simply because some people feel it isn’t the best way to spend your time. You may want the pros and cons list as above that shows you whether you want to keep at it or not. The critical thing is knowing how to divide your time sufficiently so you can play and study without dropping the ball. Of course, you want to prioritize your studies if they start suffering because games occupy your mind too much.
