Frequent gamers, whether hobbyists or professionals, know that many sessions end up becoming very long. It’s easy for four, six, eight hours or more to fly by when you’re engrossed in a brand new game, your favorite product, or digitally sparring against friends or competing.
However, our bodies don’t love these long sessions so much, and our minds can struggle with them too, so it’s wise to prepare for an epic play day and set yourself up for success.
Utilize Ergonomic Equipment
To be as kind as possible to your body and help it handle gaming for long periods at a time, it’s necessary to utilize ergonomic equipment. For example, choose a comfortable chair to sit in that supports your back and helps you to keep better posture as you play.
You can also buy a footrest to keep your feet at a better height and use quality monitors to make the picture bigger and a better light level and save your eyes from having to squint too much. You might also like to purchase a mouse designed for ergonomics and a related mousepad.
Stretch and Exercise
Gaming can be problematic for the wrists, fingers, elbows, neck, shoulders, back, and other body parts because it often involves sitting in one spot and having certain hand positions for hours at a time. To help your body cope, stretch often during your days to work out some of the kinks and help your muscles become less tight and then sore.
Plus, don’t forget to set up alarms or other reminders that will go off during your long session so you don’t play for too long without having a much-needed break because you don’t realize how much time has passed. Exercise before a long gaming session is essential, too. Frequent workouts throughout the week will keep your body more limber, reduce stress, perk you up, improve your mood, aid circulation, and boost oxygen levels, all of which help you to concentrate better and for longer when you play.
Your activity can be as simple as a brisk walk, short jog, or gentle bike ride, or you can get involved in yoga or Pilates classes, gym sessions, swim laps at your local pool, or otherwise get your heart rate up and your blood pumping.
Get a Good Sleep Before You Game
Similarly, sleep is essential for overall health and wellbeing, not to mention proper focus. If you’re planning a big gaming session, do everything you can to sleep well the night before or even take a nap if you’re planning to game during the wee hours of the morning. It will be impossible to stay fully alert during gaming sessions if you’re not well-rested.
Try to get at least eight hours of sleep in the evening before your gaming session, and you might also try to get in a 20-minute or so nap before you begin to help you stay perkier.
Prep Food and Drink
You undoubtedly know that you never feel or perform your best at anything when you’re too hungry or if you’re dehydrated. As such, if you want to have an epic gaming session, it’s vital to prep food and drinks beforehand that will keep you going for hours as you play. Sip on water regularly (don’t dehydrate yourself with too much caffeine or alcohol), and have at least a couple of good-sized water bottles ready to go.
Plus, make or buy ready-made snacks that you can enjoy without taking a big break away from your game. For instance, carrot sticks and hummus, fruit, crackers, nuts, and a sandwich can all help you ward off hunger, distractions, and issues with focus. You might also like to invest in some specialized gamer supplements that you can take before and during your play time.
Today, numerous companies have products available that are designed for gamers and that help with keeping energy and concentration levels high. The quality of these options varies greatly, so do your research and only choose supplements from brands you can trust.
Get Comfortable
Another tip for preparing for a long gaming session is choosing clothes you know you’ll be comfortable in, and that won’t start annoying you for some reason a couple of hours in. Plus, they should be warm or cool enough so you don’t get cold or overheated during sessions. (Note that you may still need to set up your gaming space with a fan, heater, or cooling option to ensure you stay at a pleasant temperature, no matter the season.)
It also pays to have some blankets on hand in case you need them, plus some pillows to give you a boost and add extra comfort over time.
The more planning and preparation you can do before beginning a long gaming session, the easier you should find hours’-long tournaments on your mind and body.
Infuriatingly humble organizer. Entrepreneur. Zombie guru. Professional creator. Future teen idol.
