5 Good Habits Video Games Can Teach

A guide to healthy gaming

Before getting started, it is essential to recognize that excessively playing video gaming CAN be unhealthy. To be more specific, playing video games can be unhealthy when it is not done in moderation. That said, video games have taught me a number of healthy habits over my several years of playing them. If playing while consciously keeping a desired habit in mind, video games can be powerful tools for building habits. Here are a few examples of good habits that video games can teach you.

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1. Don’t Take Shortcuts (unless you need them)

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You’ve heard the phrase “don’t cut corners” plenty of times, and you can also apply this to video games. In the game The Last of Us, you will often run critically low on supplies. You can choose to bolt through an area past all enemies, and narrowly escape. However, What you may not know is that if you managed to neutralize all 5 enemies of the room, you would find a janitor’s closet laden with loot. In your situation, this would be very helpful in the next room. However, if in this example you do not possess the means to take down the baddies, the “run for my life” strategy may be the only option.

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2. Finish What You Start (From the Start)

I’m a bit of an oddball when it comes to single-player games. No matter how many people tell me to play God of War 2018, I refuse to play it (for now). This is because I have not yet played God of War 2 or God of War 3. 2 other fantastic games from the early 2000s. I choose to do this for a few reasons. If I play the new game from 2018, I will be spoiled by the ultrarealistic graphics and have little desire to play the old games. In doing so, I cannot see how the franchise came to be and evolve over time. This practice has also taught me to see everything out to completion, leaving no job half-finished. I now apply this habit to many other areas of my life.

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3. Accountability

Near the beginning of the pandemic, I had taken up World of Warcraft and quickly became enchanted with raiding, the game’s ultimate end-game content. In raids, groups of 15 to 30 people assemble a party and work collectively to take down large bosses. I found my way into groups that raided regularly, at the same time with the same people. This experience was both fun and challenging. However, raiding could be frustrating. when a group of 30 people all commit to the same time, it is only natural that sometimes you get no-shows. This means that everyone will have to focus their efforts far more to succeed. With this in mind, I learned over time that since I commit early on to be present regularly at that time, I had to build the habit of holding myself accountable and showing up to not let my friends down.

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4. Be Humble, Even in Defeat

I’m a League of Legends player. I have played the game on and off since shortly after its release, and have found much joy in the game. Online games; however, are often known for their hostile communities. It is not uncommon to win a game only to have an enemy player hurling insults at you or other teammates. Each time this happens, I often lean back and hear out what everyone has to say. after the dust settles, I then write out a short message reading something along the lines of “Your feelings are understandable. You did well. Oh well, better luck next game.”, and move on. Rather than gloat or complain at the end of a game, it is better sportsmanship to be neutral, and wish your opponents or teammates well before moving on. This courtesy online can then be adapted to regular everyday life.

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5. No Matter How Hard Things Get, Don’t Give Up

If you have played Dark Souls, you already know what I mean. If you have not played Dark Souls, first of all, play it. Secondly, let me explain. You may have heard about Dark Souls because of its punishing difficulty. Dark souls pits the player against hordes of enemies, numerous hidden traps, and seemingly unbeatable bosses (I’m looking at you, Ornstein & Smough). Playing and beating Dark Souls is my single most rewarding and impactful experience in gaming. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone interested in video games. Dark Souls taught me not only to try my best at everything I do but also actively embrace challenge.

Searching For Good Habits From Video Games

If you are an avid gamer trying to build some good habits, turn to some of your favorite games and see if there are any habits they can teach you. Fan of RPGs? Try organizing your inventory. Do you like management games? Try to apply the management strategies you use in-game to your everyday life. Gaming is packed with opportunities to make you a better person if you take the time to look for them. Try it out! Additionally, see how a Vanta coach can help you build or reinforce some healthy gaming habits.

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