From Recess to Efficiency: How Online Games are Boosting Effectiveness

Humanity has come a long way with regard to video games. Starting with the first one, Pong which now seems rudimentary; up to recent AAA blockbusters such as Call of Duty and Fortnite, video games have become an inseparable part of our culture. While some tend to consider them as playing futilely and running away from more important commitments, there are indications that even video games could help individuals achieve better results in their work. In this article, we will be discussing how they can boost productivity using various examples for illustration purposes.

One primary advantage of playing video games is that it enhances your cognitive skills. Several studies have shown that playing video games may improve problem-solving ability, decision-making and critical thinking amongst others. For instance, a recent study by the University of Rochester utilized action video games to demonstrate how being exposed to fast-paced visual stimuli can influence perception and thus judgment making processes. The research found out that people who played action video games could make 25% faster accurate decisions as compared to those who didn’t game at all.

In the journal Nature, another study has discovered that video games may help you multitask better. The study participants were asked to play a game where they had to switch between tasks. The findings showed that gamers could switch from one activity to another faster and accurately than non-gamers. This ability of better multitasking may make them more productive in real life situations like schools or workplace settings.

A significant part of decline in efficiency is caused by the stress we experience. Work becomes difficult to concentrate on and tasks may not be finished during periods of tension. However video games aid in alleviating strain and increasing output. When people engage in virtual entertainment, their brains generate dopamine, which is associated with feelings of mirth, compensation for good behavior etc. By triggering dopamine release from the brain regions responsible for pleasure, it helps to ease anxiety and improves one’s state of mind.

Productivity is greatly affected by motivation. When we are inspired, we tend to put more effort into our work and pay more attention to our goals. It could be said that video games can serve as effective motivators because they give us satisfaction and improvement.