How Long Can You Safely Play for a Day?
With an estimated total generated market value of over $189 billion, the gaming industry is one of the biggest and most successful in the world. Here in the States, video gaming has been Americans’ favorite pastime for a few years now. It is estimated that around 60% of adults engage with video games at least once a week.
When we also add online and casino gaming into the mix, it isn’t difficult to see how this industry has become so popular and why we keep returning to it time and time again. But with this mass popularity, the question begins to arise as to how much is too much? In this article, we’ll take a look at how much you should be spending on gaming a day, before looking at some game-related alternatives that could help reduce your gaming time.
How Much Should You Spend Gaming Per Day?
There is no exact number to suggest how much we should spend playing video games a day, but there are some factors that we should consider. First, to maintain good health, we should limit sitting down to only six hours a day. This doesn’t mean we have six hours of video gaming to enjoy, but instead includes all forms of sitting, including sitting at a desk, sitting to watch TV, and sitting to eat a meal. It is also recommended that periods of sitting be broken up every thirty minutes with light activity.
You should also try to limit your gaming time if you personally feel as if it is taking over your life. If you are missing out on things you would usually enjoy in favor of gaming, then it might be time to step away from the console for a while.
Alternatives to Gaming
However, gaming is still a highly enjoyable pastime for many of us, and it is unlikely that you want to give up gaming entirely. Luckily, there are a few gaming alternatives that you can try to limit how long you spend seated, playing video games.
Online Casino Gaming
Online casino gaming has become highly popular in recent years. These platforms have the unique ability to blend classic games with modern technology, bringing us titles like crypto blackjack in a matter of seconds. The good thing about online casino gaming is that many of the games can be played in a short period of time. Meaning you could head over to the site, enjoy all the rewards and bonuses, increased security, and fast transaction speeds, then get back to your normal life in a matter of minutes, greatly reducing the amount of time you spend gaming.
Try a Standing Desk
If you are a PC gamer, why not make use of an adjustable standing desk? You can play seated at these desks just like you would any other, but after half an hour of play, you can lift the desk and your PC so you can continue playing from your feet, greatly improving circulation. Some gamers have even purchased walking pads, which are like mini treadmills that go under your desk, meaning you can keep active while gaming.
Play VR and Movement Games
This is not a method to reduce your gaming time, but rather to make the time you do spend gaming more physically good for you, so you can safely play for longer. Virtual reality games are growing in popularity, and make all manner of games more immersive than ever before. Although VR games are available in every genre, it is within horror titles that they really shine, placing the player in nightmare worlds that look and feel as real as their own.
Alternatively, many games focus on movement and getting active. Titles such as Just Dance and Beat Saber encourage players to break a sweat while playing, expertly blending video game time with physical workouts, making this hobby much safer for your physical health.
Conclusion
Many of us enjoy gaming and get a lot out of it. The industry wouldn’t be as popular as it is if this weren’t the case. However, most of us are also aware of the various risks to both our physical and mental health that arise if we game too frequently and for long durations of time. This does not mean that you have to give up gaming altogether, but rather that you should reduce the amount of time you spend sitting down gaming by swapping it with other gaming alternatives. Standing up to game, playing shorter games on casino sites, or making use of VR technology are all great ways to make gaming safer without compromising on the enjoyment of the hobby.