Are videogames a unhealthy habit?

[Blacksheep]

Anyone here stopped played videogames and noticed any improvement?

Ive been working on some aspects of life, like getting rid of social media, improving eating habits, etc. But I still used to play video games on free time.

Is it really that bad as some places say about messing with dopamine system just like other instant gratification stuffs?

 

[Modern Man Advice]

Anyone here stopped played videogames and noticed any improvement?

Ive been working on some aspects of life, like getting rid of social media, improving eating habits, etc. But I still used to play video games on free time.

Is it really that bad as some places say about messing with dopamine system just like other instant gratification stuffs?

I believe they are. Many are complex, but there are an array of issues that I can briefly discuss.

Health: Depency on simulated and free dopamine releases (you don't have to earn it or work for it). Physically speaking, sitting down for long periods of time creates dystrophy in your muscles and to some extent your skeletal structure. Stress in your eyes, looking at a screen regardless of whether you dim the brightness or use reading modes. It takes time away from you, time that you can use towards your health like working out, sports, aka being physically active.

There are other health side effects but you get the gist of it.

Mindset: Video games are designed to accomplish something, a task/mission/etc/etc. Humans, and especially men, are wired to feel the need to win and accomplish. When video games act as a form of winning, it replaces the need to actually accomplish goals and aspirations in life. Many men rely on video games to feel like they are winning in virtual life when in reality they are losing in real life. Time, video games are time-consuming. Valuable time that you can use for actually winning life. This means you start creating this comfort that time is not important. Lastly, they are a form of distraction and escapism. When your life is in shambles or you don't have a purpose, having a way to escape your reality takes form in vices like video games.

I don't go into detail about this specific vice, but I do see it as part of the many modern distractions society has implemented to oppress men (and women) into becoming anything in life. The same reason they don't teach you about money in school. They don't want you to amount to anything, they need you numb, exhausted, and distracted.

Here is the article I recently re-published:

The Biggest Problem With Men Today | Modern Man Advice

We live in a world that makes comfort easy. The biggest problem for men nowadays is not being challenged. Plain and simple.

www.modernmanadvice.com

Modern Man Advice

 

[EyeBRollin]

No. In moderation video games are fine. There are far worse vices. I actually try to play more video games, as my therapist identified it as a de-stressor habit. My goal is to get to an hour of play on most days of the week.

 

[Blacksheep]

I believe they are. Many are complex, but there are an array of issues that I can briefly discuss.

Health: Depency on simulated and free dopamine releases (you don't have to earn it or work for it). Physically speaking, sitting down for long periods of time creates dystrophy in your muscles and to some extent your skeletal structure. Stress in your eyes, looking at a screen regardless of whether you dim the brightness or use reading modes. It takes time away from you, time that you can use towards your health like working out, sports, aka being physically active.

There are other health side effects but you get the gist of it.

Mindset: Video games are designed to accomplish something, a task/mission/etc/etc. Humans, and especially men, are wired to feel the need to win and accomplish. When video games act as a form of winning, it replaces the need to actually accomplish goals and aspirations in life. Many men rely on video games to feel like they are winning in virtual life when in reality they are losing in real life. Time, video games are time-consuming. Valuable time that you can use for actually winning life. This means you start creating this comfort that time is not important. Lastly, they are a form of distraction and escapism. When your life is in shambles or you don't have a purpose, having a way to escape your reality takes form in vices like video games.

I don't go into detail about this specific vice, but I do see it as part of the many modern distractions society has implemented to oppress men (and women) into becoming anything in life. The same reason they don't teach you about money in school. They don't want you to amount to anything, they need you numb, exhausted, and distracted.

Here is the article I recently re-published:

The Biggest Problem With Men Today | Modern Man Advice

We live in a world that makes comfort easy. The biggest problem for men nowadays is not being challenged. Plain and simple.

www.modernmanadvice.com

Modern Man Advice

Thats a good point man! Thanks for that.

I think its time for giving a new step forward and observe the results.

There is something inside me telling that I should do it... Like its one of the things that were holding me back. Just like alcohol, caffeine, social media and sugar. Maybe it can make me will even stronger.

 

[Blacksheep]

No. In moderation video games are fine. There are far worse vices. I actually try to play more video games, as my therapist identified it as a de-stressor habit. My goal is to get to an hour of play on most days of the week.

Thats true man! I used it as a way to avoid another addictions. The problem is that I cant play only for an hour and I think Im waisting too much of my free time, since I should be working on some project that could give me a better future rather than my actual job.

Im gonna make that as a challenge to observe how it would be to stay without it for.a while. If it doesnt work or make me vulnerable to worse vices, I will try to put some discipline and not play more than an hour.

 

[AureliusMaximus]

There are positive sides to it too @Modern Man Advice :

The Effect of Gaming on the Brain

The brain is the most important organ in the human body. This is because it controls all functions and activities the body carries out.

www.sciencetimes.com

Frontiers | Evidence for Narrow Transfer after Short-Term Cognitive Training in Older Adults

The degree to which “brain training” can improve general cognition, resulting in improved performance on tasks dissimilar from the trained tasks (transfer of...

www.frontiersin.org

How video games affect the brain

Video games are often mentioned in the same sentence as aggression and violence, but how do video games affect the brain? Medical News Today investigate.

www.medicalnewstoday.com

but as with everything it is in modest doses that it should be applied. Also not all games apply to this category of brain boosting effects .

Too much of anything is bad for you. But there is science out there that some types of games (I wont go deep into this), sharpens your brain to work more efficiently. The biggest downside of gaming is that it is/can be very time consuming which will have an negative impact on your life if you do not limit your play time. Plus of course that most games are very addictive for the brain too. But you already mentioned that part.

So if you do choose to game now and then it must be in restricted form. Not everyday and not for a longer period of time.

 

[EyeBRollin]

Im gonna make that as a challenge to observe how it would be to stay without it for.a while. If it doesnt work or make me vulnerable to worse vices, I will try to put some discipline and not play more than an hour.

First, reframe the narrative on video games. Video games are not bad and there is no need to associate shame or laziness with it.

Second, instead of quitting first I’d do the opposite. Give yourself free reign to play and observe your gaming habits. Observe how often you play, how long, why you chose to play, and what else in your life is going on when you play.

My story was I am a busy, reasonably successful 32 year old. I’ve been gaming since I was 12. Even as an adult sometimes I would go on binges of 6-7 hours in a day a few times a week for up to a couple months. In working with my therapist, we noticed my gaming habits were directly correlated with personal and professional stress levels. The higher they got, the more I played. The light bulb went off when every time my PTO vacation weeks that could have been 100% devoted to gaming came, my desire to play would dissipate. Gaming in my life is a stress coping mechanism.

Fast forward to now- I play about an hour per night on weeknights. No desire to play on weekends. My stress level is constantly low. I ditched the shame and come to terms that playing a bit is relaxing for me.

 

[AureliusMaximus]

The problem is that I cant play only for an hour

That is the thing...
You must learn yourself to control it. Self control and discipline in other words is what you must learn to master.

Set up when and how much if you chose to game now and then. Like only Sundays and only for one hour. etc. It is just like watching TV which is a complete waste of time (in general). So you need to be very selective with your time and chose how you spend it well.
just like watching TV and selecting TV programs that you want to watch, you should be very selective in what games you choose too.
Some are real time wasters as you already know...

 

[DonJuanjr]

I wish I could go back in time, and not play video games in my pubescent adolescence. I should have been playing with girls not games.

 

[zekko]

I tend to agree that they are fine in moderation. The only thing is some of them are so difficult that you really have to get obsessive about it if you are going to beat them. That's been my experience anyway.

My interest tends more towards chess and other board games (many of which can be played on the computer). People tend to look at chess as healthy because it requires thinking and problem solving. But it shares a lot of the downsides with video games IMO, and there have been some chess champions with mental problems.

 

[Kotaix]

Games are a bit of kryptonite to me. But I like games that are at least challenging. I can't abide games that just waste my time.

It's fun, but in the end it's time you'll never get back

 

[eli77]

unless you can get paid for it very over rated !!

 

[T_Rex]

Anyone here stopped played videogames and noticed any improvement?

Ive been working on some aspects of life, like getting rid of social media, improving eating habits, etc. But I still used to play video games on free time.

Is it really that bad as some places say about messing with dopamine system just like other instant gratification stuffs?

the thing is that you'll waste time on it while your brain gets tricked to understand you're achieving something. It's important for you to understand it is a waste of time, and the less time you waste while you're young, the better your life will be in the upcoming years.

Now, it's impossible to go about your life only doing productive and serious things. You will need some sort of release. Our brains need entertainment otherwise you'll feel miserable. The dopamine system is there for a reason, that's not the problem. It's better if you play some sport or practice something you find entertaining and useful (an instrument, maybe? Shooting? Books?). If you exercise any ability one hour/day will give you amazing returns in one year time. Maybe jiu jitsu?? Talking to your family members? Idk. I'm sure there's something more useful for you to do with your time.

 

[Blacksheep]

There are positive sides to it too @Modern Man Advice :

The Effect of Gaming on the Brain

The brain is the most important organ in the human body. This is because it controls all functions and activities the body carries out.

www.sciencetimes.com

Frontiers | Evidence for Narrow Transfer after Short-Term Cognitive Training in Older Adults

The degree to which “brain training” can improve general cognition, resulting in improved performance on tasks dissimilar from the trained tasks (transfer of...

www.frontiersin.org

How video games affect the brain

Video games are often mentioned in the same sentence as aggression and violence, but how do video games affect the brain? Medical News Today investigate.

www.medicalnewstoday.com

but as with everything it is in modest doses that it should be applied. Also not all games apply to this category of brain boosting effects .

Too much of anything is bad for you. But there is science out there that some types of games (I wont go deep into this), sharpens your brain to work more efficiently. The biggest downside of gaming is that it is/can be very time consuming which will have an negative impact on your life if you do not limit your play time. Plus of course that most games are very addictive for the brain too. But you already mentioned that part.

So if you do choose to game now and then it must be in restricted form. Not everyday and not for a longer period of time.

Those are good points man! Thanks for sharing! =)

For me I got to a point where it was being detrimental the way I'm using it. Basically I work and when I finish workout and them play videogames.

My try will be to put other meaningful habits on those times that have more benefits. Like reading books, learning to craft something, connect with good people, work on a interesting project.

 

[Blacksheep]

the thing is that you'll waste time on it while your brain gets tricked to understand you're achieving something. It's important for you to understand it is a waste of time, and the less time you waste while you're young, the better your life will be in the upcoming years.

Now, it's impossible to go about your life only doing productive and serious things. You will need some sort of release. Our brains need entertainment otherwise you'll feel miserable. The dopamine system is there for a reason, that's not the problem. It's better if you play some sport or practice something you find entertaining and useful (an instrument, maybe? Shooting? Books?). If you exercise any ability one hour/day will give you amazing returns in one year time. Maybe jiu jitsu?? Talking to your family members? Idk. I'm sure there's something more useful for you to do with your time.

Thats true man! I'm coming with something in mind that I should be living in the reality, and doing real stuffs.

About release, I'm finding a great joy into doing calisthenics and walking/running in the evening. I'm following the mini-habits idea to do even it only push-up, but do it everyday. It's amazing how doing those things slowly can start to change your body. And this is quite pleasurable.

I also would like to learn some crafting skills, I'm learning to write fiction and hope to be able to write some book sharing my experiences with a tone of fiction... Just like "The way of the peaceful warrior" by Dan Millman.

I think it's something like sex. You could get this pleasure with porn or you can get it with real women. First one is artificial, it give pleasure but it's not like getting it from real stuff.

 

[Blacksheep]

Like anything, if done in moderation, then I don't see an issue with it.

It also depends on the quality of the game you're playing.

Contrary to popular belief, there are many games out there, particularly multiplayer ones, that aren't mindless.

For example, Call of Duty can be very dense and leave you in a trance-like state where you're just shooting opponents because you've been conditioned to do so.

But then you'll have some games that require you to think a bit more strategically to outwit your real-world multiplayer opponents, like Age of Empires or Total War. This is the aspect of gaming I personally enjoy.

Fun fact, I went to Vegas a few years ago to play Street Fighter & Tekken competitively at EVO. I met many cool people there, including...you guessed it...women. Anyone who plays fighting games will agree with me when I say it's a modernized version of Chess.

Some evenings after work, and BJJ training, I'll take an hour or two before bed to decompress with a few matches. I don't see an issue with it.

Agree with that man! If you can have discipline on that, it wont cause any problem. Just like drinking some beer once a while.

In my case I just have to be careful, cause it doesn't seems to work well for me. At least in this moment as I'm recovering from some difficult situations. Maybe in the future in can become easier and I will just set a time and not overdo it. =)

 

[FlexpertHamilton]

It totally depends on the game, and why you play it. Is it for genuine enjoyment, in the same way you'd watch a film? Or is it for escapism and distraction? I think certain types of games are far worse than others, namely ones that have no end (which includes online games). The most addicting and destructive games tend to be MOBAs, RPGs, and any games that use the Free-to-Play model with microtransactions. I always avoided these types of games out of genuine disinterest, but I can see why they're an issue for a lot of people.

Playing fixed length single player games that you can beat in a week or so? I don't really see any problem with them, in fact I think they should be respected as a genuine art form, and some of them have stories and world-building that rival great novels and films (such as the Dishonored games).

 

[Who Dares Win]

I strongly believe that on a pros/cons ratio, videogames should be avoided when possible.

I've been an hardcore videogamer in my teens and needless to say I accomplishen nothing back then...I had no interest in socializing, getting laid or join a sports club cause I was playing day and night.

The worse anyway were the strategical ones like those total war games and work on both macro and micro setting (you manage your civilization on the world map but also fight battles on the local).

Didnt experience neither of that with fps like call of duty which in many cases allowed me to play online with friends and have some laughts here and there.

I agree with those who say that they hijack the male brain for the fact that they allow a pattern of work--succeed--win that is hardwired in us unlike women that get the same effect on social media being them herd creatures and not task achiever.

 

[Blacksheep]

It totally depends on the game, and why you play it. Is it for genuine enjoyment, in the same way you'd watch a film? Or is it for escapism and distraction? I think certain types of games are far worse than others, namely ones that have no end (which includes online games). The most addicting and destructive games tend to be MOBAs, RPGs, and any games that use the Free-to-Play model with microtransactions. I always avoided these types of games out of genuine disinterest, but I can see why they're an issue for a lot of people.

Playing fixed length single player games that you can beat in a week or so? I don't really see any problem with them, in fact I think they should be respected as a genuine art form, and some of them have stories and world-building that rival great novels and films (such as the Dishonored games).

The question on why we play it is a good point to think about. If the why is not a healthy approach, then it can become a negative habit.

 

[Blacksheep]

I strongly believe that on a pros/cons ratio, videogames should be avoided when possible.

I've been an hardcore videogamer in my teens and needless to say I accomplishen nothing back then...I had no interest in socializing, getting laid or join a sports club cause I was playing day and night.

The worse anyway were the strategical ones like those total war games and work on both macro and micro setting (you manage your civilization on the world map but also fight battles on the local).

Didnt experience neither of that with fps like call of duty which in many cases allowed me to play online with friends and have some laughts here and there.

I agree with those who say that they hijack the male brain for the fact that they allow a pattern of work--succeed--win that is hardwired in us unlike women that get the same effect on social media being them herd creatures and not task achiever.

Good point man!

For me its a way to escape from reality. Used it on school when I was fat and weird because people only beat on me and did bully. Also with abusive family... My mind used games as a way of protecting myself from that painful reality. And this is not good in my adult age.

I wont say it was good or bad, it was the way it should be in that time. As a younger boy I didnt have the knowledge I have today.

So being able to understand it can give us the possibility to choose the best direction. For me I can see the best is to avoid in any way possible, since it triggers that desire to turn me off from reality and live on a fantasy world.