Many gamers love to black out their rooms or play only at night to have a more entertaining, immersive experience. Though this setup is perfectly fine to enjoy every once in a while, you shouldn’t game in the dark all the time for a few key reasons related to your well-being. Read on to explore why.
Eye Strain
One of the biggest issues with regularly gaming in the dark is eye strain. First, let’s bust a myth: studies show that it’s not the act of watching a screen in the dark that’s bad for your eyes. Rather, it’s staring at anything for too long that causes eye strain.When you game in the dark, your eyes are so focused on your screen that you’re less likely to blink. Moreover, the effects of blue light on your vision might be more pronounced. If you end your pitch-black gaming sessions feeling a bit tired in the eyes and head, then your room should probably be brighter.
Worsened Sleep Quality
Do you struggle to fall asleep after those late-night gaming sessions? It’s probably due to the aforementioned blue light. Now, screens are not the only source of blue light; this light comes in much higher levels from the sun. When the sun sets, however, our eyes perceive the lessening of blue light and the increase in red hues, which signals the release of melatonin, a hormone that promotes restful sleep.If you expose your eyes to the bright, energizing wavelengths of blue light after the sun sets, your body will probably have a harder time winding down. That’s why one of the healthiest habits for gamers is avoiding gaming right before bedtime.
Poor Mental Well-Being
Gaming has obvious mental health perks, like reducing stress and providing a social outlet. However, gaming in the dark can make you feel like you’re holed up and isolated. Pair those feelings with headaches, eye strain, and worsened sleep, and you have a recipe for poor mental health. Natural light is essential for promoting mental well-being. Without enough light exposure during the day, your body might struggle to maintain healthy serotonin levels.How To Arrange a Healthy Lighting Setup
Fortunately, you don’t have to sacrifice immersion to fix your lighting issues. With a few tweaks, you can create a gaming setup that’s eye-friendly and functional.First, game in a room with plenty of natural light. Daylight pouring in from standard-sized windows is more than enough to keep your eyes and mind happy while you play. If you’re worried about glare, position your monitor to face away from the windows.
Next, add some soft background lighting to your setup. LED strip lights, wall-mounted light panels, small floor lamps with dimmable settings, and bias lighting can work together to give you just the right glow. Additionally, non-screen lighting should emit warm tones to provide balance and create a more relaxing environment.
Ultimately, though gaming in the dark may seem more immersive, it’s not the best move for your mental and physical health, especially if you do it all the time. Eye strain, disrupted sleep, and low energy or mood can all conspire to bring you down when you could be gaming at your best. Instead, spend most of your gaming sessions in a room filled with natural, ambient light for a better overall experience.
