How To Avoid Gaming Burnout

Gaming burnout is a real thing, especially at the moment. Having two weeks at home, isolating so you can play for hours and hours on end, without having to go to work or keep up the pretense of a social life sounds like bliss to many gamers. Am I right? In reality, it can be isolating and can get, well, a little boring. 

If you want to avoid getting to the point where gaming becomes a bore and a chore, then here are some tips to help you avoid gaming burnout.

What are the signs of gaming burnout?

• You don’t want to play games at all
• You start a game but lack the motivation to finish them
• You don’t know what to play
• You don’t get the satisfaction that you once did

Beat the burnout

Take breaks: It sounds easy, but gamers are infamous for not stepping away from their computer and taking a break, However, it is something that you should try to do regularly, both for your mental and physical health. Step away from the game or the stream and ding something else that you enjoy doing – ideally, something that involves being outside and getting some physical exercise, but even if it is finding a show or a movie on the internet, the time away from the game is important. When you choose to go back to it, you will feel refreshed and invigorated and perform better – win all round.

Sleep: It can be so easy to get caught up in a game and forget to sleep, or just grab a couple of hours of shut-eye between sessions. However, if you are exhausted, you are not going to play as well as you would normally, or enjoy it as you would. Aim to get around eight hours of sleep a night, and ideally, turn the screens off an hour or so before you go to bed.

Try making your own: Bored of playing the same games over and over again? Why not take a shot at making your own? It is no easy task by any means, but there are plenty of tools and software available online, many of which are free, to give you a hand. This will give you a chance to put all of your experiences into making a game perfect for you – and if nothing else will give you a deeper appreciation as to the sheer amount of work involved in making a game. 

Read gaming articles: Looking at them with the same viewpoint as you always do just builds further fatigue.   One of the best ways to recharge your gaming brain is to read interesting content about the world of video games. There are plenty of places to find in-depth articles and essays about video games, game design, and other gaming-related topics.

Try Something New: When it comes to gaming, it’s easy to get bored of playing the same game you’ve been on for a while, so why not step out of your comfort zone? Consider a new, simple and easy game as a palette cleanser to prevent you from getting gaming fatigue from your current go-to choice. You could try playing online bridge against an artificial intelligence opponent, or you could even opt for a quick game of solitaire. There are so many online games you can play on your computer, tablet or phone that will help you get your gaming fix without taking too much brain power or effort to play.

By following some of these tips, you will prevent gaming burnout, or, if you are already in the midst of it, refresh your mind and energize yourself so you can go back to it and smash them.