The gaming industry is one of the most profitable industries in the world. At first glance, it may seem that online gaming is just a hobby; something to do to pass time or unwind. However online gaming can offer life lessons that all of us would do well to remember, regardless of how serious your gaming passion may be. Here are just a few ways gaming can improve your life. 

Hobbies: Not Always Just Fun and Games

Many people turn their hobbies into profitable side gigs or even full-time careers. Gaming is no exception. Fortnite is one of the most popular online games with over 125 million players. Many of those players–54% to be exact – have won money from their Fortnite skills. In a recent survey, 78% of Fortnite players surveyed want to pursue turning their gaming skills into a career. There are other online games that have earnings available for those that want to pursue earning money through gaming, including online casino games or role-playing games like Exodus3000. 

Learn to Be Creative

Life frequently presents us with challenges that we can’t solve with a simple, straight path. Likewise, in computer games you frequently have to go into areas of the game or take on challenges that force you to call upon new skills or to approach a problem differently. Life is much like this. While some challenges you face in life may have a simple solution, many require you to get creative to bypass it. The ability to think of new, innovative solutions to common problems will serve you well in all areas of your life, from relationships to job challenges. 

Failing Doesn’t Mean the End of the World

Well, sometimes in a game it might. Many games give you multiple lives or ways to “power up” and keep going. Much like real life, failing at a challenge means that you need to get back up and try again. Failure is never the “end of the road”, instead, look at it as an opportunity to shift direction or try something new. 

Anna Powers, contributing writer with Forbes.com shares, “The idea that failure is not good for us becomes embedded in our mind and we try to avoid it. Instead of seeing failure as a natural part of life, we see it as very negative.”

One Person CAN Change the World

It may be as simple as helping another person–or with a game, helping another player, but if you set out to do something that you’re passionate about and that you believe in, you absolutely can change the world. Your impact on one person can create a ripple effect that spreads out into the world, making change happen.

Practice is Essential

The phrase “practice makes perfect” is surely something we’ve all heard since we first started walking and science supports it. The more you repeat an action, the better you will become at doing that activity. This is true whether you’re playing computer games, playing sports, learning a new hobby, or even learning a new skill for a career. If you want to be the best at anything, you need practice. 

Find Joy in The Journey

We are a goal-minded society–always striving to hit that next milestone, that next level, or that next promotion. Many times we find that we’re so focused on where we’re going that we neglect to take the time to look around us and enjoy the here and now. When you win a game you’ve been playing for months, hitting that final jackpot can leave you with a feeling of “what’s next?” just like hitting a big milestone in life. Enjoy the ride and keep these important lessons in mind!