Balancing studies and video games can be challenging, especially if you are someone who aspires to excel in the academic sphere and still have energy for your favourite gaming sessions with friends and family. Here is where time management and its benefits come into play. Managing your waking hours is essential if you want to achieve a perfect balance between academic integrity, preparation for classes, and ultimate relaxation. Below are some of the most effective strategies to help you stay on top of your studies while enjoying your gaming sessions:
Create a Schedule for Gaming and Studying
If you know that your gaming sessions can go on for hours if left unchecked, make sure you limit them using planners or apps for a more disciplined approach. Alternatively, you may view your studying hours as a mandatory part of the day with its own allocated time, with a gaming session becoming a reward for all your hard work. Using an app will help you set a limit for gaming and schedule breaks between your study sessions to refresh your mind.
Make Your Assignments a Priority
Gaming is a passion that requires your full and undivided attention. Starting a new game can lead you into a rabbit hole of playing for hours, so if you know there are urgent assignments that need to be completed before a specific date, prioritize them over a gaming session to avoid last-minute assignments. If your procrastination habits get the better of you, you can always count on trusted essay writing services to help you with academic tasks. Is speedypaper legit? The difference between a top service and the one from this ukwritings review lies in the details. Sometimes, making your essays a priority is impossible, and this is where an effective essay writing service steps up to save the day.
Use Gaming as Motivation
If you are someone who is easily distracted and needs constant stimulation to keep your attention focused, use your gaming sessions as a powerful motivation to complete your studies. For instance, you can set one academic goal per day and use your favorite video games as compensation for having to study for several hours without breaks. The following approach is perfect for creating a cycle of productivity and efficiency, especially if you are aware of your attention span and need motivation to keep you on track. However, you should be careful not to use gaming as an escape route from your academic duties.
Use the Pomodoro Technique
Although much has been said about the Pomodoro Technique and its implementation into the study process, we still stand by the fact that it is incredibly efficient. So, what is the method all about? The Pomodoro Technique is aimed at improving your concentration by combining fixed study hours with short breaks. For example, studying for 35 minutes and taking a 10-minute break will help you maintain concentration and a natural study flow. The break time can be used for a brief gaming session that you enjoy.
Select Your Games Carefully
It is no secret that some games require your full immersion, which means tearing yourself away from the computer to dedicate time to your studies will be practically impossible once you are in gaming mode. This is why opting for a game that is not as immersive as a fantasy roleplay feature with tons of characters or picking a short-session game works best when you need to prepare for an exam or finish your homework on time. We recommend staying away from multiplayer games you can play with friends or time-consuming strategy games that demand your concentration and leave no room for productive study sessions. Instead, choose a puzzle game that stimulates the brain or limit your RPG entertainment to specific days only.
Set Limits You Can Apply
This may sound obvious to students who combine gaming with studies, but setting clear boundaries is helpful when you find it hard to avoid gaming. Gaming should be a leisure activity that does not hinder the progress of your academic success, not your primary goal during the day that can potentially disrupt your sleep pattern and force you to buy an essay from a writing service just because you were not paying attention in class and refused to do your homework, playing games as an alternative. If you are aware of your tendencies to immerse yourself in the world of gaming for hours, establish a daily gaming limit on your phone and use blockers that will lock you out of the game if necessary.
Avoid the Trap of Procrastination
Procrastination can be subtle. Students often report falling into the trap of playing just one more game before bed, which leads to lost time and hours of gaming without breaks. Although you may convince yourself that one gaming session will bring you no harm, developing self-discipline is key if you want to step away from gaming and follow your study plan. If you want to maximize your academic efficiency, using alarms or timers will prevent extensive gaming and give you an opportunity to stay accountable.
