You love gaming, but you also have a responsibility to your academic work. That said, you may be wondering how to balance both worlds. Video games offer many benefits, even for a student. Studies show how it can improve academic performance through better cognitive and critical thinking skills. But gaming can also become a distraction if you fail to manage your screen time properly. It’s easily addictive, and you can spend countless time behind your favorite game to the detriment of your books. You can have a productive student life without losing your passion for gaming. These tips will help you manage both worlds.

Make a schedule 

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Start by making a list of things you have to do each day and determine what times will be convenient enough to play your games. Ideally, you want to ensure that you complete every task before you sit behind your screen. Gaming is great, but your academic work should be your main priority, and your schedule should reflect this fact. So, design a schedule that prioritizes completing assignments, studies, projects, and other types of schoolwork before gaming. This way, you won’t have to feel guilty when playing your games. You can also use games as a good way to break from long and stressful academic hours. But schedule them in a way that they won’t interrupt your other day’s activities. 

Set a reward period

You can use gaming as a reward after completing schoolwork, a project, or an assignment. Doing this can even motivate you to study more or complete important assignments ahead of time so you can reward yourself. So, set up a system where you can play for a certain amount of time only after you’ve accomplished or completed an academic work. Doing this might also help you resist the urge to play all the time, allowing you to build some willpower. And when it’s time to play, choose games that will actually feel rewarding, depending on what game types or genres you enjoy. For example, if you’re into the scary stuff, you can reward yourself with some great games from the Scary Games Vault. This way, you’ll feel more refreshed and ready to focus on schoolwork again after your gaming session.

Don’t try multitasking when playing

Regardless of how good you are as a gamer, please don’t convince yourself that you can play a game while studying because you can’t. So, once it’s gaming time, embrace the moment and enjoy the experience. Once it’s schoolwork time, your attention should be off your games. This way, you can focus on one thing at a time and give your best to what you do in each moment. 

Separate your workspace from your play area

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Some gamers struggle to resist the lure of gaming when they should be studying. If you’re one of those, it’s best to separate your study desk and your gaming station. Of course, this can be a bit challenging if you live in a dormitory and only have limited space. In that case, you can take your studies outside, preferably in a library. The idea is to find someone comfortable and far away from your gaming station so you can concentrate on your studies.