man in black jacket sitting in front of a laptop computer

Online Hobbies

Online or digital activities are often criticized and discouraged, but they can be beneficial. According to an Oxford study, playing video games will likely improve well-being.

The study […] found that people who played more games tended to report greater “wellbeing”, casting further doubt on reports that video gaming can harm mental health.

Video gaming can benefit mental health, find Oxford academics | Games | The Guardian

Online activity can improve important skills, like problem-solving and collaboration.

[…] those who continue to dismiss games will be at a major disadvantage in the coming years. Gamers, on the other hand, will be able to leverage the collaborative and motivational power of games in their own lives, communities, and businesses.

Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World

Another conception is that spending time online is socially isolating, but the opposite seems to be true:

Video games are socially interactive in a way never before afforded. Increasingly, players are gaming online, with friends, family, and complete strangers, crossing vast geographical distances and blurring not only cultural boundaries but also age and generation gaps, socioeconomic differences, and language barriers.

The Benefits of Playing Video Games | American Psychological Association

Elderly Couple Sitting on Couch Playing Video Games
Online activity can be social.

While being online is associated with being indoors and inactive physically, this doesn’t necessarily have to be the case. Online activity can be done outdoors and can promote physical activity.

Online activity can promote physical activity.
Just Dance 2024 Edition - Gameplay Trailer

Besides gaming, the digital world enables us to do many other things that would have been impossible otherwise. While many of us aspire to keep away from screens as much as possible, a better approach might be to use them mindfully and efficiently to improve our well-being.

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