Posts

11 Reasons Gaming is Healthy

/0 Comments/in , /by

11 Reasons Gaming is Healthy

We have all heard about the debates about the negative and positive effects of gaming. It is true that video games cause more health troubles than benefits. That is caused if you spend too much time sitting while playing video games. Even so, we should all be enjoying with right kind of games in our free times. If you try to limit your game playing time to 1 or 2 hours a day it can have a lot of good impact on your lives. Check out how video game play can be part of a balanced, well-rounded life with the 11 reasons below!

 

  1. Helps develop a sense of identity and characteristics

It is no surprise that longtime gamers often have some common characteristics. Does that sound familiar to you? There is a reason for it if your answer is yes. Games you play affect your characteristics through the years without you realising [1]. Furthermore, gaming becomes a part of your identity at the same time. It is true that some people depict gamers in a very negative stereotypical manner. Most of the time people consider gamers as the contemporary nerd group. They spend their days and nights in their closed room, eating only chips and energy drinks. That is not true at all! In the recent years, this title has managed to break this stereotype. Nowadays, it defines a broader gaming community and culture. And it is not only about the group’s idiosyncrasies, traditions, and social practices.

  1. Improves motor skills, visual abilities, and hand-eye coordination

Studies suggest that gamers have a superior reaction time and decision making skills. A recent research published in Psychological Science, can explain the reasoning behind it. Playing action-packed video games has an immense effect on your visual motor skills. This skills are especially useful for driving and similar activities [2]. Further benefits to your visual abilities include sensitivity to contrast and visuospatial attention.  Gaming is also a great way to improve your hand-eye coordination. Most of us could use some gaming activity to improve their hand-eye coordination. As we all know, many adults spend time in front of screenon their free times. Instead, by gaming, enjoying in front of the screen also can help you improve at same time!

  1. Keeps you happier and healthier when you’re old

We all have one thing in common: Aging. Being older and mature has a lot of benefits but it comes with a lot of natural problems and health issues over time. We are all recommended that a healthy diet and exercise routine to help our bodies stay younger when we get old. Gaming is the same for your mind! Playing games for 10 hours through five to eight weeks can slow the decline by several years [3].
3D platform, strategy and puzzle games can help to prevent many old age health issues. Mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease is some of them. Furthermore, there’s even the potential that video games could provide seniors physical exercises. Modern consoles can help keep both body and mind in shape. Now, it is a great opportunity to include your older relatives into your gaming routine!

 

  1. Reduces stress and depression and generates positive feelings

Most gamers report that playing video games is a way to relieve stress. Video games can provide us with a safe and fun outlet for developing our emotional awareness and coping skills. A new study from the U.K. found that playing video games helps young people better cope with stress and life [4]. It is true that many studies disagree and claim the games increase violent thoughts and tendencies, there is a fine line to both sides. It matters how much you play and what you play. For example, it is best for casual gamers to consider games with simple challenges, short matches of game-play or single player games. Such games can offer a quick break, a challenging-but-not-stressful experience, and a change in focus.

If you are looking into socializing while gaming , you can look into cooperative games. This way you can create your own network of gaming friends.  There are also games created particularly to help players learn to manage stress. With these games, you can apply the information or techniques given in the game in your life to cope with your daily stress. Most importantly, try to spend your free hours for the games you love and enjoy the most. It is the best solution to feel more positive and reduce your stress [5].

 

 

  1. Improves decision making and helps to make faster decisions

Video games help a great deal on your decision-making process. Games act as an interactive training exercise together with traditional training methods. Furthermore, playing action video games trains people to make the right decisions faster. The researchers found that video game players develop a heightened sensitivity to what is going on around them. It improves a wide variety of general skills that can help with everyday activities like multitasking, driving, reading small print, keeping track of friends in a crowd, and navigating around town [6]. Studies also state that strategy games can be very useful to train your brain. This way, you can become agiler and improve strategic thinking at the same time.

 

 

  1. Improves teamwork ability

Yes, you haven’t read it wrong! Online games, help you develop your teamwork ability, improve the sense of strategy, concentration and leadership skills [7]. Cooperative games, are perfect because they involve challenges that can be completed with other players. Working together to achieve a common goal with your friends can be comforting and empowering. Not only that you can game to spend time with your real-life friends, you can also start new friendships with people you have teamed up with.

How you are playing the game is more important than how much you are playing it or what you are playing to help you build this skill and your relationships. If you are playing competitive rather than cooperative gaming, it may not be very easy to improve your teamwork or leadership skills. Gaming is also a very good activity for couples, as it creates another activity to end boredom. It also helps to improve your relationship if you are trying to succeed a task together.

 

 

  1. Supports self-confidence

Computer games help raise self-esteem. Some games are designed for this particular reason, but many other games can be useful too! Many games can help you realize your intelligence and abilities. For example, researchers from the Brock University found that adolescents who play sports video games show enhanced self-esteem and confidence and are more likely to get involved in athletics. The study’s authors attributed these gains to the safe environment sports video games provide children to experience success and to develop and master sports-related skills.

The games created to improve confidence is focused on thought patterns. They try to create a setting where the player can focus on positive thoughts such as smiley faces. This way, the players can realize the people who appreciate or support them in real life and try to not be worried about negative opinions. If you are one of these people struggling with a low self-esteem, you check out EyeSpy: The Matrix, Wham!, Grow Your Chi. [8]

 

 

  1. Enhances problem-solving skills and creativity

Playing video games may help every person from any age group to develop problem-solving skills. They are especially effective for children in early ages. As reported in many types of research and also by gamers, puzzle games and role-playing games help people improve this ability by a lot. The reason behind how these games can achieve such a result underlines a very simple factor. Flexibility. Video games create great opportunities to practice flexible thinking and creative problem-solving.

Almost all the video games involve some degree of critical thinking, adaptability and the capacity to learn from one’s mistakes. These skills are all a part of the Flexibility thinking skill. For example, if you keep repeating the same mistakes, you will have a hard time progressing, not only in the game but also in real life. The flexibility helps the player to adapt to new game conditions or come up with different methods to achieve the aim in the game. There are many ways to practice these skills. For example, you can try to beat puzzle games with different approaches you haven’t used before, doing some ‘trial and error’ [9].

 

 

 

  1. Improves concentration and attention

Games can be used as perfect tools to improve your concentration and attention, especially if you love multitasking! Although many people would consider playing video games as a single task, most games actually involve a lot of multitasking properties. Compared to other activities, games can help with concentration and attention better. Because, the multitasking activities involved in the game are linked with each other and are required to progress in these games. This way the player can focus and concentrate on each task but also must select the most important task required at that time.

Gaming can also help a lot to children with dyslexia. The research results show that dyslectic children who have tried games for a certain amount of time scored better on tests of visual attention. Their reading speed has increased without any loss in accuracy. Further, their gains exceeded the amount of spontaneous, developmental improvement that kids make over the course of a year [10].

 

 

  1. Gaming can be great for inspiration

Anything can be an inspiration and so is gaming one of them. We have all heard many times about the tragic events and concerned people discussing the violent tendencies gaming could create for the gamers. It is true that in extreme cases, some games could result in these unwanted scenarios. Yet, proper games with limited play times definitely help more than harm for yourself and others. For example, a study that took real-time functional MRI scans of 57 people assigned to either play the game or watch it being played has found that those who played exhibited increased activity in the brain’s positive motivation circuits, while those who observed exhibited no increase in activity.

Gaming creates inspiration with a real sense of optimism in our abilities and our opportunities to get better and succeed. It also gives us more physical and mental energy to engage with difficult problems increases school or workplace productivity. You should check out Jane McGonigal’s speech, Gaming Can Make a Better World to learn more about this topic and be inspired as I am by it [11].

 

 

  1. Video Games Can Help You Stay Fit

Games are no longer involving children and adults only sitting in front of a screen for endless hours and completing missions. If you think of it, computer games have come a long way since they were first invented. We have many gaming consoles that involve a physical aspect, like the Nintendo Wii. Games such as Just Dance, Guitar Hero, the Wii Fit and many more are creating perfect for staying fit. These kinds of games can help you build your muscles, improve posture, and keep your weight under control. They involve you moving around in the room a lot so be careful to create a wide enough area to play!

Moreover, even for people who don’t enjoy this kind of games, sports games could make them get interested in sports outside of the home and practice their skills in real life as well. Interestingly, unlike it is depicted in media, if you are focused on your game enough, your mind will be completely off the thought of snacks! But, of course, do not forget to eat and drink healthy after you are done with your gaming session. Furthermore, make sure your posture is proper while gaming, do not forget to take breaks and stretch from time to time!

 

Conclusion

Gaming can be a lot of fun, and there are a lot of positive things which it brings to your life. It can tell great stories, bring people together, and really improve a day. Gaming can be very beneficial for your health, relationships and surprisingly even for your wealth. Make sure you are doing your gaming in the proper way. Perhaps you will see that it is not limited to the 11 reasons identified above! Still, it is important to check out and optimize your gaming habits accordingly, as otherwise many negative effects of gaming can surface. Remember to eat healthy, spend time with your friends, engage in physical activities while gaming and have fun.

 

Do not forget, winning at life is winning the most important game of all!

 

 

Written by: Ece Karel

 

References

[1] Fraser, J., Gupta, R., & Rank, S. (2013). Youth identity, science learning, and gaming experiences, front-end research for the NSF funded leveling up a research project. (NewKnowledge Publication #NSF1.5152.03). New York: New Knowledge Organization Ltd

[2] Li, L., Chen, R., Chen, J. (2016). Playing Action Video Games Improves Visuomotor Control. Psychological Science, vol. 27, 8: pp. 1092-1108.

[3] Wolinsky, F., Weg, M., Howren, B., Jones, M., Dotson, M. (2013). A Randomized Controlled Trial of Cognitive Training Using a Visual Speed of Processing Intervention in Middle-Aged and Older Adults. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0061624.

[4] Bailey, G., (2018). Playing video games is a key strategy for coping with stress, study finds. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/video-games-stress-playing-strategy-key-gamers-study-a8202541.html.

[5] Scott, E. (2018). How Video Games Relieve Stress. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-video-games-relieve-stress-4110349.

[6] Morewedge, C., Yoon, H., Scopelliti, I., Symborski, C, Korris, J, Kassam, K., (2015). Debiasing Decisions: Improved Decision Making With a Single Training Intervention. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Vol 2, Issue 1, pp. 129 – 140. https://doi.org/10.1177/2372732215600886.

[7] Badatala, A., Leddo, J., Islam, A., Patel, K., Surapaneni, P. (2017). The effects of playing cooperative and competitive video games on teamwork and team performance. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, Volume 2; Issue 12; December 2016; Page No. 24-28.

[8] McGill University (2004). http://selfesteemgames.mcgill.ca/research/index.htm

[9] Agents of Geek (2017). How Video Games Can Help to Improve Problem Solving and Creativity. https://www.agentsofgeek.com/2017/07/how-video-games-can-help-to-improve-problem-solving-and-creativity/.

[10] Cardoso-Leite, P., Kludt, R., Vignola, G., Ma, W. J., Green, C. S., & Bavelier, D. (2016). Technology consumption and cognitive control: Contrasting action video game experience with media multitasking. Attention, Perception and Psychophysics, 78(1), 218-241. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.3758/s13414-015-0988-0.

[11] McGonigal, J. (2010). Gaming can make a better world. https://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_gaming_can_make_a_better_world.

 

 

 

Why would you not travel? The beginners guide to finding your work life balance.

/0 Comments/in /by

Most of the people find travelling relaxing; it’s their getaway from the stress of normal life or just willingness to explore something new, something they haven’t experienced before. We do it, because we like it, that’s clear. However, why does it happen? Why is getting out of one’s comfort zone bring so much joy and energy?

Hey everyone, I’m Weronika and I’m the new Premium Blogger of Why Not 3! The topic of travelling is amazing to me. Originally from Poland, moved to the Netherlands for studies, currently working for pm2am – a Student Travel Company in Germany. Let’s be honest. Travelling is my passion, I’m totally hyped about this topic and I enjoy it to the fullest. But why?

I found the answer in a research paper carried out with the help of over two hundred students from different German universities.

 

It’s scientifically proven that the great getaway travel actually influences and changes our personality. Julia Zimmermann and Franz Neyer from Jena University in Germany established this fact in the fascinating paper “Do We Become a Different Person When Hitting the Road? Personality Development of Sojourners’” issued in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology[1]. Their aim was to research the impact of international experience on personality and examine the connection between life events and personality development.

 

They did so by carrying out an experiment on the university students. There were three groups of both short-term and long-term travellers along with control students who stayed at their current place of residence. The assessment based on Big Five Personality Traits: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism (which is also referred as Emotional Stability).

 

Personality

Let’s start with the explanation of personality itself. According to Cambridge Dictionary personality is the type of person you are, shown by the way you behave, feel, and think.

The Cambridge definition is quite simple and understandable. Seems self-evident.

 

The Ancient Times of Personality

It took much more time than expected to reach this explanation, though. The history of the personality research already dates back to ancient Greece and can be divided into several parts.

 

Hippocrates came up with two poles on which temperament could differ: moist vs. dry and hot vs. cold. The combinations within – hot&moist, hot&dry, cold&moist, cold&dry – were called humours that had impact on both personality peculiarities and health issues.

 

Later on, Aristotle (basing on Plato’s findings) explained personality by dividing its types into iconic (or artistic), pistic (common sense), noetic (intuitive) and dianoetic (logic).

 

The Curious Case of Phineas Gage

But it was Phineas Gage who was the person that (totally accidentally) proved the connection between personality and physical brain. This railway construction worker suffered a horrible accident when premature detonation of explosive powder impaired his brain. There were only two visible injuries. One where the iron rod went into his cheek and the other was the blindness in the left eye. Nevertheless, the personality of Gage changed dramatically. His friends recorded that he was not able to keep appointments anymore, showed little compassion or respect to others and, consequently, lost the social inhibitions. This was an interesting discovery for psychology.

 

The Id, Ego and Superego of Freud

Then comes Sigmund Freud – the father of psychoanalysis -– where in one of his theories he divided the human mind into three parts: the id, the ego and the superego.

The id is the instinctual and primitive part of the mind that aims for survival at all costs. The superego performs as a moral conscience representing humans’ higher qualities. The ego is the connector between the desires of the id and moral framework of superego.

 

The theory of Freud supports the fact that the behaviour of people, their thoughts, motivations and attitudes are, in some cases, unconscious.

 

Abraham Maslow and his Hierarchy of Needs

Abraham Maslow reverted to the theory of Freud proving that some of the personality drivers are led by the unconscious mind. He organized the set of needs each human has into hierarchy, known as Maslow’s pyramid.

 

The Big Five Theory

What we base on in this article is the Big Five Theory built off on the previous personality findings.

There are five primary factors of personality:

 

  1. Extraversion
  2. Openness to Experience
  3. Neuroticism (which is also referred as Emotional Stability)
  4. Agreeableness
  5. Conscientiousness

 

Let’s slice and dice these traits and the outcome of the research.

 

Extraversion

People with the traits connected to extraversion: sociability, energy and social confidence seek out for interaction with people. Except for being known as “the life of the party” they are more likely to act rather than overthink.

 

There is no surprise that people higher in extraversion choose to spend their weekend getaway on travelling and interacting with people. However, what is amazing in travelling is the fact that the introverts tend to bring themselves out of their peaceful and cozy shell, challenge to communicate and get to know other cultures, beliefs and ideas. With realizing that “Hey, this guy from India is pretty damn cool” engaging into conversation the next time seems not only less scary but also more exciting.

 

Openness to Experience

Sometimes called imagination or intellect, openness to experience is the measurement of one’s experience and mental life. It entails the willingness to try out new things, think outside the box and it’s connected to your imagination, creativity and preference for variety.

 

While travelling a person has no other choice but to get oneself out there, interact with people and look for connection. Even during your weekend getaway you will find yourself in a situation that you have to ask for help, for direction or simply would like to have a chat with another person. Go for it, get out of your comfort zone and feel the joy life has to offer.

 

Neuroticism

Neuroticism entails the emotional stability, general temper and, straightforwardly, the measurement of being comfortable in one’s own skin. In contrast to the previous traits not the high, but low level of neuroticism means that you’re good. The ones who score on the low end of neuroticism are prone to feel more confident, adventurous and less self-doubt.

 

The neuroticism trait explains how the individual deals with both subtle and dramatic life changes. Even the weekend getaway can expose you to new experiences and put you in unfamiliar situations.

 

Agreeableness

This trait explains the way people treat others. The ones with high level of agreeableness are usually well liked, very much sensitive to the needs of others as well as sympathetic to the problems of strangers.

 

Let’s look at agreeableness from the perspective of the traveler. You are on your great getaway travel, in completely different geographic location, surrounded by the culture and language you are most probably not used to. You simply cannot be a douchebag. You depend on the mercy of local person, so be nice!

 

Conscientiousness

People with this tendency to behave in socially acceptable ways usually work according to the rules, plan effectively and organize themselves efficiently. Most of them are ambitious, persistent and self-disciplined.

 

The essence of consciousness while being on your great getaway travel is to find a balance between a loose plan and to-do queue. In the end you don’t want to arrive at the airport to catch you flight to St. Petersburg without valid documents nor exhaust yourself with racing from every major and minor landmark the city has to offer.

 

The Influence of Travelling

After the academic year the tested group of students returned to their homeland. When they underwent the survey and answered the questions, the results were obvious.

 

The students who spent their semester abroad experienced the rise in their levels of Extraversion and Conscientiousness. Since they were on their own in a totally different place, they had no other choice but to engage themselves in a conversation with other people. As well as, being responsible for finding their own accommodation, filling in documents or planning their budget. It was their responsibility, so they had to become more organized and attentive.

 

Those who decided to study for the whole academic year improved the score of their Openness to Experience and got to be more curious about the world.

Both groups of students were associated with a decrease in Neuroticism and increase in Agreeableness and Extraversion.

 

Last but not least, one of the most important influences on the personality change was them gaining new international relationship support.

 

The Other Side of Great Getaway

Except for gaining new friends, new experiences, new stories, travelling has a few other positive side effects as well.

 

Travels put one’s life into perspective. After one year spent in a different environment one is no longer anxious or uneasy about the situations that deviate from the daily routine. Life is what it is, and your reaction determines your course and mood. Instead of getting derailed, keep your head up, embrace the obstacles and find a solution that will benefit you in the long run.

 

Furthermore, travelling enhances your senses. Learning to adjust yourself to the culture you are surrounded by encourages your mind to learn faster, which is an indication of stimulation, and also creativity. Galinsky is a professor at Columbia Business School who carried out numerous studies on the connection between travelling and creativity. According to his research “Foreign experiences increase both cognitive flexibility, depth and integrativeness of thought, the ability to make deep connections between disparate forms”. What it means is that living in another culture affects the psychological processes, which in turn enhances people’s creativity.

 

Last but not least, the weekend getaway is a perfect adrenalin rush that makes your life exciting. Think about the moment your plane is boarding and you’re setting foot in a new place or grabbing the map of a beautiful city ready to explore its marvels. Those are the moments that make sure you receive the right dose of energy and come back with a completely fresh mind.

 

The Correlation between Personality and Perfect Destination

Another interesting point is the choice of the getaway destination which tends to be closely connected to the type of personality you represent.

 

There is a difference between the perfect location for extraverts and introverts. While the first ones tend to go for open and flat regions, the latter prefer to live in mountainous locations.

 

According to the research of Shige Oishi, University of Virginia psychologist[2], some of the places ”have geography that is more accommodating for some people than for others”.

 

What is interesting is the fact that it also works the other way around. According to PNAS paper[3] certain personalities are more likely to flourish under certain conditions.

 

And the researchers didn’t mean different countries or even the cities. The survey was carried out with the help of 56,000 individuals living in London.

The Personalities in London

In the first stage of the study the focus was on psychological characters, residential information and demographic factors.

 

Further on, this data was used to establish the ratings of life satisfaction and The Big Five Personality Traits: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Neuroticism in specific neighborhoods of London. Ring any bells?

 

The outcome showed that different traits were connected to different districts.

High Openness to Experience and low Conscientiousness were associated with Central London, while southwest boroughs were characterized by high levels of Extraversion and Emotional Stability.

 

In some cases the personality traits were linked to particular urban characteristics. Higher life satisfaction was found in neighborhoods with high income, while neighborhoods with low income and employment rates had higher Openness to Experience.

 

 

Of course, when deciding on the place to settle down, one has to take other factors into consideration as well. It is important to be aware of the economic factors such as cost of living or the personal ones like proximity to family and friends and range of possibilities to fill your leisure hours.

 

But if you’ve always dreamt about living in a cottage house surrounded by the mountain range and wildlife, why would you limit yourself to this concrete jungle filled with smog and blaring traffic jams?

 

Conclusion

 

Travelling has become a part of our life.

 

Not many of us, however, realize how much impact it has on our lives. It is not only about discovering places, cuisine and culture, but also about discovering yourself and influencing your personality.

 

The travelers tend to be much more open to experience, agreeable and extravert. They draw their creativity from the environment and easily adjust themselves to new situations.

 

That’s why I wholeheartedly encourage you to get out of your comfort zone, try out something new, something exciting that may change the way you think and help you find a balance in your life.

 

Then, while settling down, it might be useful to bear in mind your personality and its perfect destination fit.

Cheers,

Weronika

Premium Blogger

Why not 3? Work Life Balance for Entrepreneurs

 

[1] Zimmerman, J. i Neyer, F. (2013). Pub Med. Do we become a different person when hitting the road? Personality development of sojourners.

[2] Oishi, S. (2015). Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Retrieved from Introverts Like Mountains.

[3] Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (2015).