How many of us gamers do you think grew up treating the hobby as a vice? It’s a particularly stubborn stigma that has persisted even as gaming has become a mainstream hobby. The idea that video games are a harmful waste of time has been around since Mario was called Jumpman and Pac-Man was a single bachelor. Never mind that decades of studies have proven time and time again that gaming is healthy and beneficial. No, the naysayers keep saying no, and the gamer guilt is real.

This is probably a symptom of the times. In today’s fast-paced culture, we are expected to be productive and busy all the time. The healthy sentiment of “time you enjoy wasting isn’t wasted” might be enough justification in a kinder, less competitive world. But our world isn’t like that. And so many gamers struggle with guilt. They feel like we’d be better off doing something healthier.

Let’s dispel this myth once and for all. It’s time to ditch the guilty conscience. The truth is that gaming is good for you – there’s no doubt about it. The digital playground is a boot camp for the mind, a training ground for skills that can increase your wealth, health and happiness. Let’s explore how every minute you spend with a controller in your hand is a minute you invest in self-improvement.

wealth

Gaming can provide a surprising financial education. Just think about it for a second. Almost every game you play has an in-game economy, right? Collecting gold coins is pretty much the most stereotypical video game activity there is. And learning how to spend those coins to improve your gameplay is a skill that is transferable to the real world. The ability to allocate resources efficiently and spot lucrative opportunities translates to real-world budgeting and investing skills. Thanks to this, gamers are perhaps best equipped to predict what the next 1000x cryptocurrency will be, aside from experts like Eliman Dambell who help readers understand factors that affect a cryptocurrency’s ability to achieve 1000x growth.

If you can hardly believe this, think of the popular cozy game Stardew Valley. In it, players become agricultural entrepreneurs who balance budgets, manage resources, and make strategic investments in their digital farms. Chasing the joy of a bountiful harvest gives the player a deep understanding of supply and demand, risk assessment, and long-term planning. Another excellent example is the Age of Empires franchise, in which players act as virtual empire builders. Players must manage the economy, trade resources, and make calculated decisions about technological advances. It is a simplified but accurate model of real-world macroeconomics.

Players who master the economy in the game usually also have a knack for managing real-world finances. And whose life can’t be improved by better managing money?

Health

Okay, so you’re not going to improve your cardiovascular system by playing Hearthstone or build bigger biceps by playing Fortnite. But gaming can improve the health of the most important part of your body – your mind. Research shows that gaming can significantly improve our cognitive abilities. It doesn’t take a genius to see why. Gaming is a mental workout.

Video games train concentration, which is a precious commodity these days. Fast-paced genres such as racing games and shooters in particular require tireless attention and train the brain to block out distractions and stay focused. Gamers often have a longer attention span, which sets them apart from the mass of easily distracted people. This allows gamers to perform better in exams or remain calm more easily in stressful situations.

Additionally, many games require lightning-fast reflexes and quick decisions. By dodging virtual bullets and outmaneuvering opponents, players develop better spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination. These skills can prove beneficial in the real world, such as improved performance in sports or safer driving.

Finally, puzzles, role-playing games and strategy games are an effective way to improve memory. This can have a positive impact on academic performance and career success and can even help ward off age-related cognitive decline.

The cognitive benefits are so evident that gaming is even proving useful in the medical field. Playing games has shown promise for pain management, stroke rehabilitation, and even treating PTSD. It’s clear that gaming is more than just fun; it also has profound benefits for our well-being.

Luck

63% of gamers say they feel happier after playing. This is hardly surprising, as it is a hobby after all. What is interesting, however, is that studies indicate that regular gaming leads to long-term happiness. This is not just a pleasant bonus, but a real advantage. Studies have shown time and again that happier people are more resilient, make better-informed decisions and are more successful.

But why does gaming make you happier? First of all, many gamers say that gaming is a way to improve their mental health. For many, gaming is an escape from stress – a much-needed mental break. In addition, the joy of regularly achieving goals in the game leads to increased confidence and a sense of achievement. This, in turn, reduces feelings of anxiety and depression.

Second, the social aspect of gaming is a key factor in happiness. It’s no secret that social connections are crucial to overall life satisfaction, and online games are great for connecting people. Nearly two-thirds of gamers worldwide agree that video games have helped them make new friends. By sharing their victories and overcoming challenges together, gamers can easily build fulfilling social networks, which are crucial at a time when chronic loneliness is reaching epidemic proportions.

The positive emotions evoked by gaming create a virtuous circle: happier people tend to make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and be more successful in life.

Diploma

It’s time to think of gaming not as a guilty pleasure, but as a valuable tool for improving our lives. Cynics have always criticized progressive pastimes. Even the philosopher Plato denigrated the youth of ancient Greece, claiming that their obsession with reading was destroying their memory. Boy, did he miss the mark there.

Perhaps millennia from now, people will look at our attitude toward gaming and wonder why we labeled such a powerful self-improvement tonic as poison.

Thankfully, modern attitudes are changing. The overwhelming evidence that gaming is healthy is becoming harder to deny with each passing year. It’s encouraging to know that we are moving into more enlightened times and that gaming will soon not only be accepted but encouraged. So go ahead and play, it’s good for you.