For many students, gaming is a means of entertainment and unwinding after hours of schoolwork. However, finding a balance between gaming and academics tends to be tricky.
If done well, gaming can be a constructive way to refresh the mind to enhance problem-solving and critical thinking. The question is, how can we work towards this goal while not hindering our studies?
The key is using gaming as an engaging break from academic demands like writing essays and the like. Short gaming sessions can be rejuvenating. We’ll leave some of the best games for academic breaks and how to apply them for studies below!
Table of Contents
The Best Games for Academic Breaks
If you need to practice thinking or planning ahead, strategy games like “Civilization VI” are a good find.
It’s similar to preparing for projects or exams, sharpening your organization and prioritization skills. Needless to say, these are things that you can integrate into daily academic life.
For problem solving, games like “Portal” or “Tetris” are excellent examples. These games require players to use logic (sometimes, even under pressure) and keep you thinking. Now, imagine how this can benefit you for long tests and exams.
We highly recommend story-driven games like “The Legend of Zelda” or “Life is Strange”. These types of adventure games foster decision-making, empathy, and immersion.
Readers can pick up skills from these games that could be used for understanding context, narrative, and character development. Psychology students or literature students could make the most out of this.
Bringing Gaming into Study Routines
Time is valuable, and it’s easy to lose track of it when gaming. Setting limits for gaming sessions is essential. However, we believe that using this as a rewards system works great.
After completing study goals, rewarding yourself with some down time to play is a great incentive. It prevents you from procrastinating to help you get through work.
Next, we found that choosing games wisely is also a thing to consider. To elaborate, calmer games like “Stardew Valley” should help you unwind opposed to a high-energy FPS game.
On occasion though, playing with classmates works fine as well. It helps with building relationships and communication skills. Working together to meet goals in games can certainly mirror group dynamics for tasks in college.
Similarly, gaming is a means of socializing as well. You can build networks with fellow students who have similar interests. This provides a sense of community and support. With this, you can even opt to set up study sessions with colleagues.
For demanding programs like nursing, finding time to relax can be challenging. If you’re overwhelmed with coursework thinking “PaperWriting can write my paper for me”, taking a break through games helps you destress.
Healthy Gaming Habits
First, we have mindfulness. Be aware of the time you spend while playing. It should work as a means of relaxation and not become a source of stress or procrastination.
Next is balance. Gaming should not interfere with your sleep schedule, physical activity, or study time. Maintaining a balance is necessary for academic success and your own well-being.
Last, readers should consider educational games to improve your learning experience beyond the classroom. You’d be surprised at how games make complex subjects more enjoyable.
Improving Focus with Gaming
Some games like “SimCity” require players to develop management skills and strategic thinking. This mirrors real-life challenges and compels players to use resources efficiently.
There are also complex puzzle games that develop a player’s attention to detail. This skill is invaluable when you need to proofread your own essays or catch important details in lectures.
Building Resilience and Stress Management
Games often work to put players in challenging situations that require perseverance to overcome. This helps players handle setbacks by improving patience to work around achieving goals.
Staying calm under pressure and improving critical thinking translates into better stress management. This should prove beneficial during exams or heavy projects.
Adversely, games also offer relaxing soundtracks and beautiful, cinematic environments. Titles like “Animal Crossing” offer peaceful experiences that can soothe anxiety and offer mental breaks from grueling study sessions.
Final Thoughts
Gaming with moderation is an excellent way for students to balance pressure from academic life. It’s mostly about how to bring them into your routine in a way that supports your goals.
If pressure mounts up, services that write research papers for you can also be a valuable resource. If we see gaming as a positive means of passing time, both capacity to learn and leisure time can be optimized.
