Tips and cheats on how to curb online gaming addiction

As a fellow gamer, I can understand your pain on trying to stop gaming, however. enough is enough. I was an avid gamer myself, it was more than just a hobby to me. So, here are some tips on how to curb your addiction.

1. Limit the amount of game time weekly and lower it gradually. As weeks go by, decrease the duration of your gaming sessions and take your mind off gaming. Doing this can help to take your mind off gaming and find a new hobby.

2. As mentioned from the first point, you can look for a new hobby to engage yourself in. Indulging yourself in a hobby that has no relation to technology can really help. For example, getting yourself into a sport is a good way to stop yourself from gaming. For example, football, basketball etc.

Whats your excuse?

3. Only play games to reward yourself and put your commitments first before games. By doing so, you can feel a sense of accomplishment after every responsibility and gaming can become a recreational activity to you instead of an addiction.

4. Lastly, socialising with your friends and hanging out is the easiest way to stop addiction in my opinion. True friends will always be by your side no matter the circumstances. Go to a park together or play a sport together.

My tips are sure to help you in curbing your addiction. If you're addicted, feel free to share your experiences in the comments section. Or if you've tried the tips, comment down your views on it and if there's a need for improvement, comment too.

Once again, thank you for your support!

Symptoms of gaming addiction

Do you ever tell yourself '1 more game before I sleep'? Or 'Just another game'? Well, if you do, you are probably addicted. Once again thank you for tuning in to my blog and if you're new, feel free to check out my previous posts.

If you're still unsure about your addiction, it's time to face REALITY. Keep on reading.

A fellow gamer, Ong Ming Jun, was an addict years ago. Fortunately, he managed to change for the better and was fit for an interview from my group and I.  

Ming Jun claimed that he was an addict since 8, when he played his first computer game. He was hooked from then on, till recently. Throughout the years, he showed different symptoms of his addiction. Mainly, 3 prominent symptoms.

First of which, he recalled that he used to be so glued to the computer, that he lied to his parents about the use of the computer. He used to tell his parents that he was using the computer for school work, but that wasn't the case. Eventually, as his addiction rose, his grades fell.

His parents ultimately caught him red handed as he was playing his game. He displayed signs of defensiveness when confronted. Denial was all he could display, he had no other emotions, like a robot programmed to play games. Whenever his parents interfered with his game, he would rage and tell them to go away. Insisting that he was not addicted, he lied to his parents and ultimately, himself.

During his last year in primary school, he had to take the PSLE. Unfortunately, he was still addicted to gaming, just different games. Instead of paying attention during class, he would daydream about his game and get distracted. Fortunately, he managed to get a hold of himself the week before PSLE and studied as much as he could.

After PSLE, he went on to secondary school and eventually realised that the workload is more than primary school. He then forced himself to stop playing and focus in school. "My life now is way better than it was back then!" as quoted from Ming Jun.

Do you think that you are spending too much time gaming? From the graph above, if you're in the purple ore yellow range, you're probably addicted and experiencing the symptoms that Ming Jun had. It's not too late to change! If he can change, so can you! Instead of asking yourself '1 more game before I sleep?" tell yourself "1 more Mathematics question." That is all for this post, stay tuned for my post on tips on how to curb. Once again thank you all for your support.

Source: Interview with Ming Jun

Eye Excercises

Similar to my post on the social consequences, I will be sharing tips on the physical consequences as well. Firstly, you can take breaks in-between your gaming sessions and do some exercises. There is an eye exercise that you can do. The steps are below:

Vision-Boosting Workouts and Breaks
Eye Breaks
Give your eyes frequent breaks with the following techniques for eyesight longevity
1. Blinking
Make a conscious effort to blink on occasion while gaming.
Benefit: One of the leading causes of eye strain for gamers is caused by vision fixation, blinking helps with this.


2. Focus Break
While gaming, take a few seconds break every 5-10 minutes and focus on an object around the room, choose a different object each time. If you're playing for over an hour, get up and walk around
Benefit: One of the leading causes of eye strain for gamers is caused by vision fixation, vision breaks where you change focus helps with this.

3. Palming
Cup your hands over your eyes with your elbows on your desk or knees. Concentrate on your breathing for 2-5 minutes, depending on how your eyes feel.
Benefit: This is an easy way to rest your eyes and take a relaxing break.


Eye exercises
Want to flex your visual muscles? Check out these simple eye exercises you can do to actually strengthen your eyesight.
1. Eight Tracing
Imagine a figure 8 on its side 5 meters in front of you. Now trace along the figure 8 with your eyes slowly. Do this for 2 minutes in one direction and then 2 minutes in the other direction.
Benefit: This exercises your eye muscles and increases their flexibility.

 
2. Focus Switching
Hold out your arm with your fist in a thumbs up position. Breath in as you focus on your thumb, then breath out and focus on an object 5 to 10 meters away. Repeat this for 2 to 5 minutes.
Benefit: This will strengthen the muscles in your eyes over time and improve your vision overall.


3. Zoom Focus
Stretch out your arm with your fist in a thumbs out position. Focus on your thumb, now bring your thumb slowly closer to your face, all the time keeping focus on it. Stop once your thumb is 5 inches in front of your face. Then move your thumb slowly back. Repeat this for 2 minutes.
Benefit: This exercise will strengthen your focusing and your eye muscles in general.

Taking a break for eye exercises will not just help your eyesight, but improve your reflexes for future games as gaming for extensive periods of times without a break will fatigue your eyes and slow your reflexes. Gaming lesser and with break will help reduce physical consequences of gaming and also improve your gaming performance! This is killing two birds with one stone! Do not succumb to the temptation to game for hours at a time. Till next time, stay tuned. And most importantly, be the predator, not the prey. 

 
Source:http://www.vitalityforgamers.com/Vitality-Challenge/Gamer-Health-Good-Eye-Sight.php

Physical consequences of gaming addiction

If you are reading this, thank you for dropping by. You may know that my previous post was about the social consequences of gaming addiction. Today, I'll be sharing about the physical consequences of gaming addiction. 'Wait whaaaaat? There are physical consequences as well?' Yes, there are. In fact, the consequences of gaming addiction outweigh the benefits.

Gaming for long hours can lead to several medical conditions such as backaches, eye strain, headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome (numbness, weakness or pain in the fingers or hands). These conditions can affect you in the long run and should not be taken lightly. My cousin suffered from severe back pain and eventually went to a doctor. Eventually, his spine was curved abnormally due to bad sitting postures. Although he wasn't addicted. Now you may be wondering, 'how is his back pain related to gaming?' Well, the fact that he contracted this problem without an addiction proves that it can happen easily. He was an avid gamer but not on an addicted level. 

 

In addition, gaming addiction can cause obesity as well. Researchers found out that gamers eat an extra 80 calories after gaming for an hour, as opposed to those who rested for the same amount of time. The research showed that those who gamed burned an extra 21 calories but overcompensated for those calories with the food they eat. This means that those who play for 3 hours a day eat an extra 180 calories a day! That is almost 66 000 calories a year! If this keeps up, you can easily gain 9-10kg in a year. Obesity will pose a completely different set of health risks for you. Such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes and cancer. You can't respawn in this world, what is done cannot be undone.

Make the right choice.

Source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/278074-negative-effects-of-video-game-addiction/
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1389096/Playing-games-encourages-obesity-teens-making-hungry.html

11 Horrifying Cases Of Video Game Addiction

Here's a video about real cases that happened due to gaming addiction. Watch it at your own risk! 0.0

Social consequences of gaming addiction

So you might be wondering, 'What's so bad about playing video games all day?'. Well for starters, you may be subconsciously ignoring your friends and family, simply put, YOUR social life. You might have experienced the urge to play games instead of going out with your friends when they invite you, this is a sign that you may have an addiction. Gaming can indeed help us to escape reality, however, is indulging to the point of addiction really worth it? Well, I do not think so. Games may entertain you for hours, but your friends and families are much more important because they can achieve something that a game cannot. Which is being your companion, your listening ear, or even your best friend.

If you do not believe me, I personally know a friend who suffered from addiction and had many friendships broken. He was introduced to a new game by his friends and eventually got hooked. His friends did not expect him to be engrossed to the extent where he found them annoying when they tried to invite him to a movie. Eventually, his friends gave up and ignored him. After 2 years, he realised that it was not worth it as he treasured his friends more. Unfortunately, he does not have their contacts anymore.

Fortunately, I have some tips for you on how to curb your addiction and stay socially healthy! Firstly, you can assign a family member to remind you to stop playing once you exceed your initial playing duration. Secondly, you can try a reward system for everyday that you do not play. For example, buying a chocolate bar when you accomplish a certain number of days without gaming. Lastly, when your interest for games decreases, try to find a new passion or hobby. This can drastically help you keep your mind off gaming and you won't even remember your addiction.

This is how far gaming addiction can affect you, AND this is a real example of a social consequence, other cons of gaming addictions will be in the other posts. Stay tuned!

Source: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/video-game-addiction-in-teens-what-is-too-much-and-how-to-curb-the-problem/