Video games are a hobby of many that they play during their free time and on the weekends. Many play these games up until it is time to sleep and it can mess with their sleep schedule. Some have made arguments though that video games can actually help players fall asleep.
We have observed both sides and found reasons that support both claims. Much of it does depend on the person and the amount of time that they spend on the game. Keep reading to learn about five reasons video games will help you sleep and five it won’t!
10 10. HELP: They Are Not A Drug
Many choose to take sleep medicine to help them fall asleep, but this can have negative effects as the dosage increases. Over time more pills must be taken in order to keep the strong effects of the medication.
Arguments have been made that video games are a better thing to use to sleep than medication as it is not as addictive. It can seem great to pop a few pills and hop into bed, but depending on a drug to sleep is no way to live life.
9 9. WON’T: It Limits Deep Sleep
Studies have been done that show that playing video games before you hop into bed can limit the amount of deep sleep you achieve. This type of sleep is important for a person’s memory, as well as the release of certain growth hormones that are pertinent in children’s development.
Overall, it increases the health of a person’s body the more deep sleep they manage to achieve and can help them avoid illnesses later on in life. It might not seem like a big deal to lose a few hours, but the long-term effects of this sleep deprivation have more serious consequences.
8 8. HELP: They Can Be Relaxing
Some video games were created to help a person relax after a long day. Sleep professionals actually recommend that if a person can’t fall asleep that they should find something to do to tire out their bodies.
It is best to replay an old video game in these situations with a relaxing atmosphere so your brain is enticed to shut down after a long day. Players should also turn down the brightness on their screens to reduce the amount of blue light shining into their eyes.
7 7. WON’T: Increases Time It Takes To Fall Asleep
Blue light is evident in every video game we play as it is emitted from the screens we use. This light increases the time it takes to fall asleep at night, which is why video games might not be the best thing to play before hitting the hay.
The light signals to our bodies that it is not yet time to fall asleep, which can lead to our usual bedtimes being pushed back the more we play. Many suggest putting down any electronics at least an hour before bed to avoid these negative effects.
6 6. HELP: The Social Aspect Reduces Mental Illness
Many gamers are isolated human beings who prefer their alone time to hanging out with friends at uncomfortable social events. This can be detrimental to a person’s mental health the more isolated they become, which in turn will impact their amount of sleep.
Luckily, gaming has turned into a social venture where players meet up with their friends online to talk with one another and find a social connection. This will ensure their overall health stays in good standing as they find the mental peace they need to fall asleep.
5 5. WON’T: Bodies Begin producing Less Melatonin
If video games become a standard evening routine it can affect the amount of melatonin your body produces. This is the hormone that signals to your body that it is time to go to sleep.
The longer you stare at blue light throughout the night, the longer this production of melatonin is pushed back. It will start a routine that can be hard to reverse as gamers lose more and more sleep because of this effect on the body.
4 4. HELP: Gamers Can Control Their Dreams
Studies have shown that video games can lead to lucid dreaming, which means a person is in control of their dreams. These are extremely vivid dreams that are often nightmares, but gamers have the ability to change the outcome.
They can turn a potential nightmare into a good dream that keeps them asleep instead of waking up every hour. It is still unclear why exactly gamers are privy to this special skill, but we can all agree that it is something that helps our overall sleep.
3 3. WON’T: Players Lose Sleep
Several studies have been done to show that playing video games before bed leads to players losing sleep. They not only stay up later to play, but it affects the total time they are asleep as well.
The study showed that bedtime was usually delayed by an average time of 101 minutes, which is exponential for those who struggle to get eight hours of sleep a night. It might start out as small delays, but over time it can grow to become a bigger issue.
2 2. HELP: It Is Low Impact Exercise
We already discussed how sleep professionals recommend people find something to do if sleep isn’t working for them, and gaming is just the thing. They say people should find a low-impact exercise like cleaning the dishes, but pushing buttons on a controller takes about the same amount of effort. It might not be considered an exercise in your book, although, it is just the thing to push your body over the edge so you can fall into a deep sleep.
1 1. WON’T: Gamers Can Wake Repeatedly Throughout The Night
Playing video games can amp up your brain and make it difficult to stay asleep. This is a bigger issue in those with an addiction to gaming as they play most nights and all of their thoughts revolve around this hobby.
Games that are more thrilling or action-packed can stimulate a person’s brain and keep it on edge for hours, even while a person is sleeping. This can lead to several nightly disturbances where a person wakes well before their alarm and can decrease their amount of sleep even further.
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