Stopgaming (2025)

FAQs

What happens if you quit gaming? ›

But at some point, you'll begin to notice a shift happening, one where you have more energy than you normally do (even when you were playing games!), you're more optimistic, your cravings are less frequent (they always come and go) and you may even experience a feeling of not being that interested in games at all.

For video game play to be classified as addictive, one must engage in them for at least 15 to 20 hours each week or more. This amounts to an average of three hours each day. This sort of play can cause lasting damage to the health and well-being of people, including their relationships and productivity.

I'm much more willing to try new things. I have much more confidence in myself and my social skills. I have more time to spend on the things that matter most, like my family and my goals. I've taken back control of my finances.

Many researchers consider video game addiction a behavioral addiction similar to gambling disorder, in which the rush of winning becomes one of the main reasons for playing. Others think this comparison to gambling is flawed because there may not be financial or material losses involved with playing video games.

Esports players have historically placed an outsized emphasis on the importance of reaction time over other executive functions. While this paper shows that reaction time declines after age 24, it also shows that reaction time is not the end-all, be-all of performance.

Gaming is so much fun, often even better than real life

Hell, at times it can even feel better than real life, but that's the problem. When we're playing excessively, we start forgetting, delaying, and not caring about real life responsibilities and problems, which usually don't go away. They get worse.

For kids over the age of 6, the American Academy of Pediatrics says no more than 60 minutes on school days and 2 hours on non-school days. Kids under 6 should spend closer to 30 minutes. It's also appropriate for parents to know and approve the games their kids are playing. Avoid any games with graphic violence or sex.

A good rule to follow is anything more than a couple of hours of gaming is probably too much for a single session. Four hours would certainly be considered excessive to most researchers, especially for students, since education and building healthy habits should take priority.

There is no set time limit for how long it is safe for adults to engage in video games. But, Jean Twenge, a psychology professor and researcher at San Diego State University, claims that “one to two hours a day is the safe limit for teens.”

Gaming lowers activity in the prefrontal cortex of the developing brain. The prefrontal cortex of the brain – which is responsible for decision-making, judgement and self-control – does not fully develop until the age of 25.

Is it better to quit video games? ›

To quit gaming is to commit to living your life to the fullest. Not only will it increase the amount of time and energy you have to invest back into your goals and dreams, but there are numerous other benefits you can receive.

And now with the rise of streaming, many pro gamers opt out of the big leagues to capitalize on familiarity and fanbases developed during their esports days to become content creators. Brandon “Seagull” Larned is a Twitch streamer and one of the early trailblazers in the Overwatch League.

Addiction to gaming is described in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), which is used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental disorders. In the DSM-5-TR, the condition is referred to as Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD)(1).

“Consequences of video game addiction can showcase in a number of ways, including wrist, neck and elbow pain, skin blisters, calluses and sleep disorders. Long-term addiction could lead to obesity, weakness or numbness in the hands (peripheral neuropathy) and even blood clots,” Dr.

Video game addiction is said to affect between 1.7% and 10% of the American population, according to the most recent research. Addiction to video games or internet gaming disorder isn't extremely common, but research around excessive gaming is constantly improving.

To quit gaming is to commit to living your life to the fullest. Not only will it increase the amount of time and energy you have to invest back into your goals and dreams, but there are numerous other benefits you can receive.

When you quit gaming it can be scary. Gaming is how you have fun and it's easy to find other activities to be boring, and even though this happens for specific reasons, it's common to wonder if life without video games is really even fun. But the truth is, life is as much fun as you decide to make it.

Too much time spent gaming increases the risk of anxiety and depression. If you have nothing to replace gaming this could be a risk to your mental health. This is why it's important to enjoy a wide range of activities: meeting up and hanging out with friends, playing sport, listening to music, dancing.

Excessive gaming can have a significant negative impact on relationships, education, career, sleep, mental and physical health, stress, maladaptive coping, and a negative impact on other important life areas.