A recent study published in the Archive of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine has revealed that kids who play video games spend 34% less time doing homework. And it significantly affects their academic progress. Contrary to what many parents think, quitting video games altogether is not a viable solution.
Not all video games are impediments to your intellectual progress. In fact, they can be highly educative. But if your passion is hampering your studies, you have to do something about it. In this post, we are going to offer some tips that will help balance your study and passion. Whether you are a high school or college student, hopefully you will find these tips helpful.
Remove gaming devices your study environment
The easy access to gaming devices is the main reason why so many students are always glued to screens. If you are really into it, you probably have installed gaming programs on your desktop computer, smartphone and tablet. If you are surrounded by so much temptation, it will be hard to focus on your study.
By getting a little bit organized, you can find time for games. When you have to work on a research paper, avoid procrastination. Separate your study environment from your gaming environment. It is a good idea to get out of your home and study somewhere else. If you have friends who are dealing with the same issue, consider calling a friend or two. Study in an environment that encourages you to focus.
Make it hard to access video games
Consider creating two accounts on your PC: one for work and one for entertainment. The account for work should feature only the stuff that is necessary for your work. This way, you will not have easy access, because you will have to log out first.
Set a password that gives you access. There are extensions, such as StayFocusd, that track the time spent on distracting websites. You can add such an extension to your browser.
However, no matter what strategies you use, sometimes, you will find yourself overwhelmed. And that’s a part of student life. With too many obligations, you may not have enough time to write your academic papers. Many busy students these days buy custom research paper to save time. Students with part-time jobs find custom writing services helpful.
Play games with fiendishly difficult steps
It may sound a bit counterintuitive, but this strategy really works. If you play something that involves very difficult steps, you will be naturally drawn to your homework, which is a more approachable option. When you have plenty of homework to complete, you will not want to play a version that involves long and tedious missions.
However, no matter how organized you are, sometimes you may feel overwhelmed by classes, seminars and homework. You may consider buying a custom research paper in such a situation.
Some argue that students should choose games with low difficulty levels. But if you start playing Super Smash Brothers or Call of Duty, soon you will get deeply absorbed in the game, and time will pass quickly. The bottom line is, you should be a bit more selective about the games you play.
Once you have completed homework, reward yourself with video games
Use gaming as a reward for completing your homework. This is the best way to engage in your passion without feeling guilty. Make sure you have a clear idea of what needs to be done. Make a checklist. Once you have checked all the boxes, you are ready to go.
This strategy will help you become more productive, and allow you to play games guilt-free. Make sure you do not get swayed by your passion for playing games. Find ways to improve your focus. When you are working, pay 100% of your attention to the task at hand.
Final thoughts
If played in moderation, video games can be fun. But if you give in to your addiction, video games can ruin your academic life. To maintain a balance between games and study, developing a sense of responsibility is of utmost importance. Time is the most valuable resource, and every student must figure out the best way to utilize this resource.
