Gaming vs. Reading: Which Hobby is More Popular?

Everyone has their hobbies. Some players like to paint, others go rock climbing, some play games, others read books. But, if we take all hobbies into account, you’ll see two that stand out from the crowd – reading and gaming.

There’s been a heated debate among fans of both hobbies as to which one is the more popular. They definitely have their pros and cons. In this article, we’ll explore their similarities and advantages, and tell you what the disadvantages are (if any). We’ll ultimately answer the most important question – which of these hobbies is the more popular right now.

Gaming – Multi-Tasking Champ

Video games have been a popular hobby from decades. From the early beginnings in the 1970s and 1980s to modern video games, this form of entertainment has been a hobby of millions of people around the world. There are numerous benefits to it. When enjoyed in a recreational manner, gaming improves our motor skills and helps with decision-making and multi-tasking.

It doesn’t matter if you play video games on consoles or PC or you enjoy online casino games. They’re all interactive and decision-based, and are greatly beneficial to our health. As mentioned earlier, this only applies in a recreational matter. Gaming non-stop can have adverse effects on your health even more than other hobbies. For example, obsessive gambling can lead to financial troubles, and due to gaming being a sedentary hobby, it is linked to higher rates of cardiovascular disease.

But, on the positive side, it’s one of the most effective stress-reducing hobbies. Immersing yourself in a virtual world can take your minds off things and help you focus on the tasks ahead. Video games provide a very high level of auditory and visual immersion and stimulation. They activate areas various areas of the brain while helping improve skill development. With games, you can learn new information and improve problem-solving. Gaming can even be educational on many levels.

Plus, there’s a social aspect to gaming which beats reading. Reading is mostly a solitary activity, while games can be played in single and multi-player modes. Hanging out with your friends in a game can improve your mood and reduce anxiety. The same can also be said while playing single-player games, although your mood will likely depend on the outcome. For example, being stuck in a losing rut in roulette or blackjack can negatively affect your mind if you let it creep in.

That’s why it’s important to play responsibly, especially on the matter of casinos online. If something’s not working, you should quit and try again later. By playing any game responsibly and recreationally, it’s a hobby that has more pros than cons.

Reading – a Highly Beneficial Activity

Reading is one of the top hobbies around the world. It’s close to gaming in terms of popularity, although falls just short of gaming’s levels. Its effects on health go beyond those of gaming. People who read have reported longer life expectancy and will benefit from healthier life choices. According to some studies, less than 10 minutes of reading daily is associated with lower stress levels. Readers also have a 20% lower mortality rate compared to non-readers.

This type of hobby is considered to be more rewarding than other hobbies. Readers are reported to have higher levels of self-esteem. The hobby requires a lot more focus than gaming, for example. Also, the mental visualization required for reading stimulates our brains better compared to other forms of entertainment.

Of course, readers also have a much larger vocabulary. Reading also helps with problem solving, thinking outside the box, and improving focus. Overall, reading is seen in a much better light than the general public compared to gaming, although that doesn’t necessarily make it better.

Being a solitary activity, there’s not a lot of socialization when you read books. That goes for reading books on paper or digital devices – audiobooks or book discussions are another matter. But, overall, it’s seen as a better and much nobler hobby than gaming and mostly has a more positive effect on our wellbeing.

Reading vs. Gaming

Both reading and gaming are forms of entertainment that work great as hobbies. Despite the rise of e-reading, paper books are still popular to this day. The industry still hasn’t pushed them back, releasing paper and digital copies for nearly every niche. It’s the same for books, graphic novels, and even comic books. The industry knows how popular reading is, so e-reading won’t overtake paper anytime soon.

Gaming is more popular than ever. The widespread availability of video and casino games makes it an easily accessible form of entertainment for millions of people around the world. Games have evolved a lot in the past few decades. They’re both a solitary and social activity thanks to the rise of multiplayer games.

Both hobbies have their advantages and downsides. According to studies and surveys, gaming is a much more popular hobby. It picked up in the past few years, even though reading has seen improvements at the same time. They both activate the brain and are much less dangerous than extreme sports such as rock climbing. It’s not that the latter doesn’t have its health benefits, but the risk of injuries and high physical activity is something that puts many people off.

You can enjoy books without that risk and gain intellectual advantages instead. As mentioned earlier, reading promotes healthier lifestyle choices. This is something we should all consider in a world of crisis and high levels of stress.

Reducing stress can be done with gaming too, but only if you enjoy it recreationally. Games have a strong pull, so it’s important to keep everything by the book if you want to benefit from this hobby. It’s safe to say that it’s a lot more interactive than reading, and has almost the same effects.

In the end, it’s up to you to decide which one fits your lifestyle better. Hobbies are a great way to keep your mind occupied and continue to develop it, so make a pick and enjoy the benefits.