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With the recent release of the latest generation of games consoles from Sony and Microsoft and the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to force lockdowns across the world, many people are finding themselves stuck indoors playing games for hours on end.
Gaming might not seem like the most dangerous hobby, but bad habits and setups can cause several health problems for gamers. If you want to be able to indulge in your favourite hobby without risking your health, here’s what you need to know.
Don’t Sit Too Close To The Screen
One of the most important rules for avoiding gaming-related health issues is that you should never sit too close to your screen. The exact optimal distance you should try to maintain between you and your screen is up for debate. There are several formulas that people put forward for working out how far back to sit based on your screen size. But these fail to account for the fact that different screens give off different amounts of light.
Regardless of your screen size, you should put at least 20 inches between it and your eyes. If you experience eye strain, move further back immediately. You won’t gain a performance advantage from sitting closer to your screen, but sitting too far back can make it difficult to make out important details. You should generally sit as far back as possible while still being able to comfortably make out everything on the screen.
Buy The Right TV
Instead of fretting about how far away you are from your TV, it’s better to buy a TV appropriately sized for your setup. If you are gaming in your front room, you should choose a TV that you can comfortably view from your sofa, or wherever you sit when playing games. If there’s a reasonable distance between you and the TV, you can go all out on one of these Samsung 4K TVs. You can also consider cheap 4K TVs if you want a large display without the cost of a branded option.
We have many other options at Electronic World, including cheap smart TVs, cheap curved TVs and cheap OLED TVs that provide excellent picture quality at an affordable price.
And, if you’d like a more detailed guide on the right size TV for you, we’ve written a handy article that will help you figure out the perfect viewing distance according to the screen size.
Take Regular Breaks
Gaming for hours on end might be the norm for some people, but it can be terrible for your health. It’s crucial that gamers take regular breaks of, at least, 15 minutes every hour. Breaks are important for giving your eyes time to rest and recover, as well as ensuring that you maintain good circulation throughout your body.
Sitting still for too long increases your chances of developing serious health issues like deep-vein thrombosis. While such dramatic outcomes are unlikely, there’s no reason to take the risk when it’s so easy to avoid.
Invest In A Comfortable Ergonomic Chair
Spending too long sitting with poor posture will eventually come back to haunt you. There’s a reason that office chairs are designed the way they are, and there is now a multitude of gaming chairs available designed specifically to ensure that gamers can sit in front of their TVs for hours without risking their health.
For any dedicated gamer who spends multiple hours playing videogames every day, an ergonomic chair is a worthwhile investment.
Resist The Temptation To Eat Junk Food
When you’re engrossed in playing a game, it can be tempting to forego proper meals in favour of junk food. This isn’t harmful in the short-term, but it can present a problem if it becomes a habit.
If you aren’t breaking your gaming sessions up with exercise periods, you will be taking on calories without doing anything to burn them off. Over time, that means inevitable weight gain and a deterioration in your overall health.
Instead of defaulting to junk food, invest in healthier snacks. If you are craving sugar, try eating some fruit instead of sweets and chocolate. Similarly, it is better to drink water (and even coffee) than energy drinks that are overloaded with sugar.
Be Careful Of Caffeine Intake
Caffeine is a gamers’ best friend. Whether you are playing a few rounds of Call of Duty in the morning, or you’re settling in for an extended Starcraft session after work, it’s only natural to have a caffeinated drink next to you.
However, you need to be careful that you aren’t overdoing the caffeine or using it to stay up gaming longer than you should. Not only do you risk caffeine addiction, but you will inevitably ruin your sleep pattern. Try to keep your caffeine intake to a minimum.
Avoiding health issues while gaming isn’t difficult, but they can sneak up on you if you aren’t careful. Stick to the advice above, and you can safely game for as long as you like.
We have the perfect TVs for you at Electronic World, which will allow you to play your favourite games – and the latest releases – without missing any details. So, browse our website to see our vast range and get in touch with us today for more information on our sets.
