4 Reasons Why Gaming Online Is Time Well Spent
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Published on March 15th, 2021 23:43
In today’s increasingly cybercentric world, people are spending more and more of their leisure time online. While video streaming platforms like YouTube or subscriptions services like Netflix and Spotify might occupy much of that free time, online gaming is another incredibly popular pastime, as well.
The traditional view of video games, casinos and quizzes is that they’re entertaining but ultimately pointless distractions which are nothing more than a waste of time. However, there are plenty of reasons to believe that practising such hobbies is not only good for relaxing the mind and body, but can also help to actively educate those who pursue them. Here are four reasons why gaming online is time well spent.
Enhanced English
It might sound like an unlikely link, but a study from the University of Helsinki in Finland found that students who spent much of their free time playing video games had markedly improved test results when it came to the English language. 89% of those who played games for 15 hours or more per week said they believed doing so had improved their English very much, while even those played for five hours or less per week said that it had helped their performance in English to some extent. That’s a huge boon to non-native speakers of the language.
Maths whizz
Brushing up on mathematical skills can seem like a challenging and tiresome task for many people. However, dry equations and mind-numbingly boring sums can be replaced by engaging activities where maths still plays an important role – but a background one to the entertainment. For example, visiting a casino online and playing slots or table games encourages gamers to calculate probabilities, work the odds and perform quick mental arithmetic. Although the practice comes disguised as play, it can still have a beneficial effect on overall mathematical acumen and stand you in good stead for any number of other practical purposes in your daily life.
Memory boost
A poor memory can be a significant disadvantage for people in all walks of life. For that reason, any method of improving your hippocampal capabilities is to be welcomed with open arms. A 2015 study from the University of California, Irvine drew correlations between the number of hours spent playing video games and improved memory recall. Again, the link might seem an unlikely one, but the ability to explore and contextualise new environments in an online setting is thought to be instrumental in enhancing an individual’s ability to remember key facts, figures and events.
General knowledge
“There is no knowledge that is not power.” Gaming aficionados might recognise that mantra from the popular video game franchise Mortal Kombat and it’s certainly true that the data you subconsciously amass while playing games, gambling or answering quiz questions online can help to expand your knowledge and fine-tune your brain’s performance. After all, you never know when a nugget of information you picked up during an online gaming session might come in handy at a later date.