For a lot of people out there, gaming is their number one hobby. It’s a great way to switch off after
work while keeping your brain active at the same time, and it’s also a perfect way to socialize in
the evenings without having to leave the comfort of your own couch. Gaming teaches strategy,
creativity and reflexes, and it’s also artistically inspiring. But when it comes to the summer,
it can be difficult to fit gaming into your schedule - people may not want to stay inside in the
evenings, and you might end up missing out on one of your favorite hobbies and neglecting
your gaming pals as a result. Here are some tips on how you can enjoy the summer and keep
on gaming.
Plan Out Your Schedule
First of all, why not try planning out your schedule? It’s a good idea to make sure that you have time to relax planned as well as time to work and socialize. If you’re introverted, you may find the constant socializing required of you during the summer to be a burden, and not as fun as it should be. A lot of people think that being introverted means that you’re quiet and you don’t like to spend time with others, but that isn’t the case. Being introverted actually means that your energy is replenished by spending time alone - and people who are extroverted are the other way around, meaning that they replenish their energy by spending their time with other people. So if you’re introverted, it’s important to block in time to hang out quietly by yourself - and this is definitely time that you can spend gaming.
Remember Give And Take
It’s important to remember that sometimes you have to do things that you don’t want to do.
Self care is hugely important, but you can’t let it take over your life. It’s important to make an
effort - even if you’re tired, if you’ve made plans, it’s important to do your best to go along.
Doing a variety of things with your free time is important, and maintaining your friendships is
even more important. So even if you don’t fancy going along to the pub, push yourself, and you
might find that it’s more fun than you realized. Likewise, if it’s a friend’s birthday party, go along!
They will appreciate that you have made the effort to show up, and the importance of your
friendship will be underlined to both of you. Even though it’s important to block out time to do
things like game, socializing in real life is just as important to maintain those friendships and
relationships.
Organize A Gaming Party
Have you thought about turning your at home hobby into a social hobby? If you have a group
of pals who enjoy gaming, why not throw a gaming party at your place? There are lots of games
like Street Fighter or Mario Kart or even Madalin Stunt Cars 2 that are multi-player and that are a
total blast to play as part of a group. In order to throw a gaming party, remember that you need to
do more than provide some comfy chairs and a darkened room: fire up your BBQ, get some beers,
buy a selection of snacks, order takeout. You should also remember that gaming isn’t just about
video games - what about a game like Magic: The Gathering, Exploding Kittens or Cards Against
Humanity? Not only will you have a total blast, but you’ll also be doing something a little different
from usual, building your relationships in a different way, and interacting in a low-stress situation
that will give you a lot of laughs at the same time.
Try A Convention
One of the best things about summer is that there are a lot of conventions going on all over the world.
No matter where you live, chances are, there will be something happening one weekend within a
reachable distance of your home. Conventions are an excellent opportunity to meet people who
think in a similar way to you - let’s just call them fellow geeks! - and to enthuse about what you
love with other people who also love it. You can see your favorite actors, writers and artists speak
at panels and even meet them afterwards, and you can amp up your own creative spirit if you
want to partake in a little cos-playing by dressing up as your favorite characters from games, movies,
TV shows and books.
Summer is a great opportunity to get even deeper into your hobby while socializing with other
people too - remember to take every opportunity you’re given with it!