Healthy Habits with Great Games

There are few issues as universal as mental health. We all have our own struggles, each as individual as us. The world has progressed in removing the stigma around the subject, but there’s still a long way to go.

The UN has marked October 10 as World Mental Health Day to facilitate more conversations, platforms, and awareness. Sometimes, it feels like just one person can’t make a difference. But that’s not true. Each conversation, shared experience, or helping hand opens up a door to a safe space. Together, we can make this world a much less lonely place on and off the screen.

The world can be a very lonely place. Feeling disconnected from the people in your vicinity can be more isolating than being on a deserted island. Games allow you to connect with others by playing together or through shared interests. Initiating a conversation by comparing strategy or reminiscing about your old GameBoy can be a powerful tool to create a human connection, even for the most introverted. This medium has been around for so long now that there’s almost a guarantee that you can break the ice by finding your common video game ground. Once said ice is broken, you can find everything from a new buddy to a much-needed support network.

But games can reach much farther than those who happen to be in the same family, school, or city as you. Online gaming is growing bigger by the day, creating a space where people from all over can play together. It’s also an essential link for those separated from each other. A best friend or family member moving away doesn’t sever the ties, but keeping the connection as strong as it once was can be challenging. Life gets in the way of formal correspondence, but meeting up online to accuse each other of being an imposter or forming a tight-knit RPG party can make keeping in touch much less of a chore.

Whether they’re set in a world similar to ours or a fantastical, imagined realm, video games transport you away from the one we all live in. You can turn into a different character or create your own from scratch. Some of us like to create our own carbon copies, often elevated but with enough familiar traits to recognize ourselves on screen. And others want to be someone completely different.

For many people, video games make it possible to explore their true selves. Feeling at home in your own skin isn’t a universal sensation, but it can be challenging to pinpoint the source of that discomfort. Sometimes, it can happen accidentally when you’re assigned a character with a different body type to yours. Other times, it’s a very deliberate choice. It doesn’t matter how you get there, and you can move at your own pace.

This path to self-discovery isn’t always free of risk; even if you live in an area that welcomes all identities, close-minded people exist everywhere. Virtual worlds can provide a sanctuary and welcome you home even after you feel ready to come out in the real world. Whatever your journey looks like, having a safe space to figure things can make a world of difference for your mental wellbeing.

Gaming can prove to be an effective way to blow off steam. When you find yourself going downhill, it can be very cathartic to send a competitor flying off a platform or drive at the speed of light. The escapism of a video game doesn’t have to be violent, and some games can have a more meditative effect. Puzzles can help your brain focus during a chaotic period, and mundane chores in life simulators can give you a sense of accomplishment.

Video games won’t fix everything, but they can help with some things. No matter how or why you play video games, moderation is important. This is true for everything in life. Water is good for you, but you can still drink too much. Video games are (for now) limited to screens, which can strain your eyes. Controllers and keyboards can cause carpal tunnel. So remember to take breaks, and most importantly, don’t give up on the real world. We wouldn’t have virtual ones without it.