“Fitness games can also give players that great sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with achieving something. Gabriela Rodríguez Ruiz, a board-certified bariatric surgeon, offers further insight into the accomplishments and motivation that players can find in active games. These milestones, or achievements, can help create a sense of accomplishment and motivation in players, who may be more inclined to play regularly.ĭr. In-game milestones usually include achievements for exploring areas of a map, completing certain tasks, and completing daily tasks. They create a feeling of well-being and help to relieve pain.Īnother benefit to active gaming that players are all too familiar with includes goal setting and milestones. Endorphins are perhaps one of the most well-known mental health benefits that you may see from exercise, whether you take a run around the block or you’re putting the most recent Just Dance installment through its paces. Those reduced feelings of stress and improvement in mood are courtesy of the feel-good neurotransmitters known as endorphins, among others, that are released from physical activity. Active gaming may provide players with similar benefits to being physically active in general.” Oculus VR It can also help us to feel more energized, improve our self-confidence and self-esteem, help us to sleep better, and improve our motivation. Sarah Cannon, a personal trainer and psychological well-being practitioner at Living Well UK, tells Digital Trends, “Exercising can help to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety and can improve our mood and overall sense of well-being. And for individuals who are playing fitness games, they’re often going to see the mental health benefits that come from regular fitness as well.

A 2018 study that looked at survey results from the CDC across several years found that people who exercised saw a 40% drop in self-reported mental health days in comparison to those who didn’t. Gaming to boost mental health: 5 tips from a clinical psychologistĬlear out your video game backlog this January … while you still canĪre your kids choosing video games over homework? Smart home tech can helpĮxercise has been found time and time again to have a positive link between mental health and fitness.

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