I’m not sure about you, but when I think about the category of “hobby”, I often forget about video games. I usually think about activities like reading or baking. However, video games are a hobby. Like most hobbies, the way you interact with them determines whether or not they are healthy.
What are hobbies?
Generally, it’s agreed upon that hobbies are things you enjoy doing. They are pastimes which bring you joy for a multitude of reasons.
The hobby could bring joy because you are creating something with your hands. You may be finding joy because your hobby is teaching you something new: either a new skill or new information. Also, you may have a hobby bringing you joy because you can’t do it without people. Human beings need interactions with others in order to be healthy.
Video games are a great hobby because you create something with your hands, and you also learn new things.
Video games are a hobby.
We play a decent amount of video games in our home, and I strongly believe video games are hobbies.
One reason I say video games are a hobby is because they are creating something with their hands. Players complete various tasks and receive awards for finishing the in-game goals.
Video gamers are also learning something new. No matter what kind of game it is, players are learning new skills. They gain better gaming reflexes and puzzle-completion skills. All these abilities potentially could apply to real-life scenarios. Also, video games definitely help you keep in touch with friends who no longer live near you.
My husband has several friends he’s kept up with since childhood because they play video games together. Without their shared video gaming, it’s likely they would not have kept up with each other.
There are many video games out there you only play by yourself. It’s a single-player experience and there isn’t an option for two or more players. However, many popular games out there do have options where you can and should play with other people. For example, a very popular game called Baldur’s Gate is playable on your own. However, I can speak from experience that it’s much more entertaining when you experience the game with others.
I hope you now agree with me that playing video games is a hobby. When people wonder whether or not video games are a hobby, I think they are really asking if video games are a healthy hobby.
It’s up to you whether or not video games are a healthy hobby.
Like I said at the beginning, video gaming is a hobby that requires investment. In order to play video games, you have to invest both time and money. Time is required because you have to spend time playing the games. Money is required to purchase most games and the necessary equipment you need to play.
However, like all hobbies, video games can become an unhealthy obsession if you aren’t careful to set boundaries for yourself. Some options include:
- Have a set amount of time you’ll play video games and don’t break it.
- Have accountability. Tell friends you want to make sure you’re being wise with the time you spend playing games. You’ll know you have a good friend when they tell you to respect your boundary.
- Be wise when choosing what games to play. Some games are easy to pause and put down when your time is up, and some are not.
Whether you are wondering about the merits of this hobby for yourself or a loved one, I hope this gives you some peace. Video games are not a waste of time, nor are they bad in and of themselves. Just like all hobbies, it just depends on how you choose to invest in video gaming.
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