How to Take Care of Yourself and Enjoy Gaming in a Healthy, Balanced Way

Are you taking care of yourself?

This post is presented in partnership with RIOT Games.

You love gaming. We love gaming. It can help us to connect with others, feel socially included and improve our self-esteem. Healthy gaming can even help us to have structure and routine in our lives and provides us with much needed and beneficial downtime, relaxation and fun. However, gaming, like any behaviour, can cause harm if it is taken to extreme levels.

So, how do you enjoy gaming in a healthy balanced way?

RIOT Games, the maker of League of Legends, is collaborating with the mental health organisations headspace and Le Va to encourage self-care among gamers.

They've even created a bunch of fact sheets to give you the essential info you need. Check 'em out.

'What is healthy electronic gaming?'

Featuring: 'When gaming becomes a problem' and 'Signs of possible problems with gaming'.

'How to manage sleep and gaming for a healthy headspace'

Featuring: 'What happens if we don't get enough sleep?' and 'Where can I get help?'

'How to balance screen time for a healthy headspace'

Featuring: 'Signs that your screen time is becoming unhealthy' and 'Supporting yourself and getting help'.

'Understanding gaming: A guide for family and friends'

Featuring: 'When should I be concerned about my young person's gaming?' and 'How to have a conversation if you are concerned'.

Even more resources will become available during the League of Legends 'Recall and Restore' round (15 – 16 March 2019), which you can follow at watch.lolesports.com at 4pm AEDT each day. More resources, tips and information on how to maintain a healthy headspace will be shared and hosted at leagueoflegends.com. Family, friends and teachers looking for resources or additional information can visit learnwithleague.com.

By following those links, you can learn how to 'Level Up Your Mental Health', even after the tournament has ended.

Top tips, direct from LoL champs

Athletes from each of the League of Legends, Oceanic Pro League teams have been sharing their own tips for how to spend time outside of esports (and how it's helped them maintain a healthy and balanced lifestyle).

"If I’m having a rough day, I try to read a book," says Daniel 'Decoy' Ealam' from Team Gravitas in the clip.

"It takes my mind off everything else and I get engrossed in what I’m reading."

"When I go to the gym I just lift heavy things and scream really loudly," adds Calvin 'K1ng' Truong from Team Mammoth.

"It’s like a sort of cathartic energy coming out. And yeah, I do feel relieved after."

Brandon 'Swip3rR' Holland from The Chiefs says exercise helps him "get into a healthy mind," while Tommy 'Ryoma' Le from Bombers says "bubble tea" is the secret to a good break.

A bunch of players also said that taking time to recall and restore let them connect more with their teammates, and also helped them overcome the frustrations of a recent loss.

"It’s about going back and re-evaluating," says Jared 'Getback' Tucker from Dire Wolves.

"Trying to learn something from it and going, 'How can I make this not happen again?'"

How do you Recall and Restore? Let us know in the comments below!

The League of Legends Oceania ‘Recall and Restore’ round takes place 15 – 16 March 2019 at watch.lolesports.com from 4pm AEDT, and will focus on mental health and wellbeing for the LoL OCE community. Get involved in the conversation using #IAMOPL. headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation in Australia: headspace.org.au. Le Va is here to support Pasifika families and communities: leva.co.nz.

Header Image: YouTube (League of Legends Oceania)