People are constantly looking for ways to maximize how they spend their time by multitasking. For example, you might play online slots on the ride home, or listen to an educational podcast while cooking. But if you’re a gamer who’s looking for more time to get yourself into shape, there’s no need to give up your favorite hobby. You can just incorporate exercise into your gaming routine.
This may sound like a challenge, but it’s not as hard as you think.
Read on to find out about the benefits of working out while gaming, when you can fit in some workouts during a gaming session, as well as some exercises that are ideal for those who love to play games.
The Benefits of Working Out While Gaming
The benefits of working out while gaming are likely very similar to when you’re doing regular exercise. However, since you’re not focused exclusively on working out, you may not be able to achieve quite the same results.
Here are some of the benefits that you could reap if you add some exercise to your gaming routine:
- Lose fat and gain muscle.
- Improve your reflexes.
- Improve your energy levels.
- Improve your concentration.
- Improve your decision-making speed.
- Improve your physical and emotional resilience.
- Reduce negative emotions such as anxiety and stress.
- Sleep better (which could be very important if gaming is disrupting your sleep).
When to Exercise While Gaming
If you’re gaming comfortably from your secure gaming environment at home, you might be thinking, “How am I supposed to work out while gaming?” If you’re playing video games with your friends or you’re taking part in an online RPG, you can’t just hit pause and ask everyone in the game to wait for you while you do some push-ups. However, there are some circumstances and situations which you can take advantage of to get in some reps.
Try to make the best of these moments so that you can craft the perfect gamer workout.
Pause the Game
If you’re playing a single player game such as Baldur’s Gate 3, you can pause whenever you want to grab a drink, take a bathroom break or to step outside and get some sunshine. This means you can also pause to take a fitness break.
Work Out When the Game is Loading
Back in the day, you could have probably become a bodybuilder in your spare time given how long it took for some games to load. Unfortunately (or fortunately for gamers), taking advantage of long loading times is getting trickier — as anyone who’s played Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will understand. As game developers get access to new technology that speeds up loading or they find clever ways to load content while you play, loading screens are increasingly eliminated altogether. But if you’re playing a game where the loading screens are obvious, you can use this to your advantage.
Get In Those Reps When You Die
If you’re playing a game that doesn’t instantly throw you back into the action when your health reaches zero, take this as an opportunity to get in some exercise. This suggestion might work best if you are playing games (like Elden Ring) that are incredibly difficult, or in round-based multiplayer games that require you to wait until the next round before you can play again, such as Counter-Strike: Global Operations.
Stand Up or Pedal When Playing
An easy way to burn some extra calories is by standing up while playing. If you want to get your heart rate up even more, you could position your exercise bike in front of your TV or computer while you play. Yes, you may not be able to really put pedal to the metal while you’re on your exercise bike, but at least you can push yourself more than you normally would while leaning back with your controller in your hands.
Try a Fitness Video Game
Why not get the best of both worlds and try out an exciting fitness video game? These games will get you off your seat and your body moving. There are games that have you throwing virtual punches in boxing games, teaching you how to get your groove on with incredible dance moves, or swinging light swords into various virtual objects in time to your favorite beats. This may well be one of the most fun ways to stay in shape while also helping you play at your best.
Easy Exercises to Do While Gaming
Gaming website Polygon has some advice on how to increase your fitness while gaming. In their article “Exercising during cutscenes will improve your focus, according to an OT,” occupational therapist Kevin Shelley discusses four exercises you can do while gaming.
1. Chair Sit-Ups – 30 Repetitions
From the edge of your seat, lean backward into your chair. From this position, bring your shoulders forward until they are over your knees. If you find this difficult, use your armrests to help bring your upper body up, but then let go and move your body the rest of the way.
You can adjust the difficulty by increasing or decreasing the number of repetitions.
2. Chair Dips – 30 Repetitions
Again, from the edge of your seat, place your hands palms down on the seat of the chair. Slide your body off the chair while still holding on with your hands. Using your arms, lower the bottom half of your body, focusing on your posterior, towards the floor. When you are as low as you can manage, raise yourself back up with your arms.
You can adjust the difficulty of this exercise by positioning your feet closer or further from your body, or adjusting the repetitions.
3. Sit-Stands – 30 Repetitions
This exercise may appear simple, but it isn’t. From a seated position, stand straight up. Then smoothly but quickly, go back into a seated position from standing. Try to go from seated into standing and back in two seconds, spending one second on the standing motion, and one second on the sitting motion.
You can adjust the difficulty of this exercise by slowing down the movements, only bending your knees from standing instead of going into a fully seated position, or by simply running in place.
4. Touch the Floor, Touch the Sky – 20 Repetitions
The last and hardest exercise on Shelley’s list requires you to stand. From a standing position, bend your knees and then put your hands on the floor. From here, go back into a standing position while raising your hands above your head.
You can adjust the difficulty of this exercise by adjusting how much you bend your knees.
Get the Best of Both Worlds With Gaming and Exercise
Once you’ve given these exercises a go, consider combining them to create a simple and effective workout routine that allows you to play video games while also completing important fitness activities that can keep you in good health.
Try Out Some of These Exercises When You’re Gambling at BetMGM
If you prefer to play gambling games, you can also try out these exercises when you play at BetMGM. Not only do we offer exciting games such as jackpot slots, table games, variety games, and virtual sports, but you can also pick the favorites that will work for your fitness routine. If you enjoy playing slots, you can squeeze in one of these exercises every few spins, or you can take a break between hands of blackjack to complete a few reps. The opportunities are endless.
Register at BetMGM to find other exciting gambling games that you can make a part of your gaming and fitness routine.
