Let’s imagine Sarah, a dedicated product marketing manager in her mid-thirties, navigating the demanding world of corporate deadlines, client meetings, business leaders that gaslight her and ever-evolving strategies. Sarah’s days are a whirlwind of tasks, from crafting compelling value propositions and briefing ABM campaigns to analysing market trends, all while juggling multiple projects and managing upwards leadership who think they know marketing better than anyone else.
Sarah finds often herself mentally exhausted and craving a reprieve from the constant buzz of her professional life, especially after hectic days filled with back-to-back meetings and last-minute go-to-market planning. The weight of deadlines and the pressure to meet targets linger, creating a subtle but persistent undercurrent of stress.
As she sits in her home office, contemplating how to unwind, Sarah’s gaze falls upon her gaming setup in the corner. With a sigh, she decides to take a break from the relentless demands of her work and immerse herself in the virtual realms of her favourite game.
The transition is swift. The ambient sounds of her office fade away as Sarah steps into a fantastical world filled with vibrant landscapes and epic adventures. The immersive experience captivates her attention, gradually melting away the stress that had accumulated throughout the day.
In this virtual sanctuary, Sarah finds solace in the rhythmic gameplay and the camaraderie of her online gaming friends. The challenges of her professional life momentarily fade into the background as she focuses on strategic decision-making, exploration, and the sheer joy of playing.
As Sarah navigates through the game’s intricacies, a subtle shift occurs in her mindset. The tension in her shoulders eases, and a smile replaces the furrowed brow. The virtual challenges she faces are different from those in her workplace, providing a mental break and allowing her mind to reset.
By the time Sarah finishes her gaming session, she feels re-energised and more centred. The gaming experience has acted as a powerful tool for unwinding, offering a much-needed escape from the demands of her professional life. The stress that clung to her at the start of the evening has given way to a sense of balance and perspective.
Sarah and her life sounds familiar, doesn’t she… This relatable anecdote illustrates how gaming can serve as a valuable and rejuvenating tool for professionals like Sarah, providing a necessary break from the stresses of their work lives and offering a pathway to relaxation and mental well-being. But not everyone appreciates a gamer and the skills they bring to the table, which, in 2023, is a rather sad reality for most.
Why do you game in your spare time? Video games are for kids!
Playing video games is a diverse and engaging hobby that transcends age and gender. It’s great to hear that people over-30s enjoy gaming. I mean, you could pick up volunteering for social interactions, a programming project for achievement, jogging for stress relief, and reading science fiction for your time wasting needs. That’s a solid plan for replacing gaming. Still, if you are tired after work like Sarah and me and you really want to “get it all out”, here are some common reasons why individuals, regardless of age or gender, find gaming to be a more compelling and enjoyable activity than all the other available options.
- Entertainment and Escapism
Video games offer a captivating form of entertainment, allowing players to immerse themselves in fantastical worlds, compelling narratives, and engaging gameplay. For many, gaming provides a welcome escape from the stresses of everyday life. - Storytelling and Narrative
Modern video games often feature intricate and well-developed storylines. As a player, you have the opportunity to become an active participant in these narratives, making choices that impact the unfolding plot. This interactive storytelling aspect can be highly rewarding and emotionally engaging. - Social Connection
Gaming provides a platform for social interaction and connection. Whether playing online multiplayer games, joining gaming communities, or participating in events, individuals can build friendships and camaraderie with like-minded players from around the world. - Challenge and Skill Development
Many games offer challenging scenarios that require problem-solving, strategic thinking, and quick decision-making. Engaging with these challenges can be intellectually stimulating and contribute to the development of various skills. - Artistic Appreciation
Video games are a form of art, with intricate graphics, music, and design elements. As a player, you can appreciate the creativity and craftsmanship that goes into creating these virtual worlds. - Sense of Accomplishment
Completing quests, achieving in-game goals, or mastering difficult levels provides a sense of accomplishment. This feeling of success and progression is a significant motivator for many gamers. - Community and Inclusivity
The gaming community is diverse and inclusive, welcoming players of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. This inclusivity fosters a sense of belonging and acceptance, making gaming a space where individuals can connect over shared interests. - Continuous Learning and Exploration
Games often introduce new mechanics, challenges, and concepts, encouraging continuous learning and exploration. This aspect can be particularly appealing for those who enjoy expanding their knowledge and trying new things. - Relaxation and Stress Relief
Gaming can be a relaxing activity, providing a break from the demands of daily life. It allows individuals to unwind, decompress, and enjoy a leisurely pastime. - Nostalgia and Memories
For many individuals who have been gaming for years, there’s a sense of nostalgia associated with certain games or consoles. Playing games from the past can evoke cherished memories and a sense of connection to one’s personal history.
Whether you play for the love of storytelling, social interaction, or the sheer enjoyment of the gameplay, the world of gaming has something to offer for everyone. Keep gaming and enjoying this fantastic form of entertainment!
Gaming while being a mum
As a 30-year-old female marketing professional with a newborn, playing video games offers me all of the gaming benefits above. Balancing a demanding marketing career with the responsibilities of being a new parent can be incredibly stressful regardless. Joining immersive fantasy worlds when the baby is sleeping allows me to momentarily step away from the daily life, offering me a form of stress relief in doing dungeons, raids, or just PVP (player vs player). My brain is as packed as my schedule and some days are just too overwhelming for both me and the baby so gaming is a great outlet for me. Is it a source of self-care? Yes, it is for me. And taking time for myself to engage in a hobby I love is essential for maintaining mental well-being and balance in my life.
Oh but you would think that I have no time as a new mum to game. Sometimes yes, that is the case. Still, I manage to find some time and play. Gaming doesn’t have to take long; you can enjoy short sessions, like 20-min League of Legends or Overwatch matches, fitting nicely into your busy schedule. Even the 30mins that I manage to play here and there stop my mind from lingering and stressing and help me focus on tasks at hand – where is this quest giver? What do I need to complete that achievement in game? And talking about achievements, yes, being a mother is an achievement on its own. Gaming also provides me with achievements, both digital and mental ones. It offers me a progression system that helps me progress in-game and it rewards me with loot, XP, even customised feats.
But the biggest achievement for me in the whole spectrum of gaming is the achievement of being part of a diverse and inclusive community. In all of these years of gaming I have made so many friends, some I have met in real life (IRL) and some not. Nevertheless, we all bonded and played together online and connected also offline. This sense of community is especially valuable to me, as most of my online friends are around my age and the majority are also parents – some have newborns! – so we talk through things while we all navigate the challenges of parenthood and work. I am the GM (guild master) of a guild in World of Warcraft and I am proud to say that the guild comprises 30+ active people over 30 who like to chat on Discord, raid together, and know each other well enough to have each other’s actual home address – mainly for Christmas cards, but still. I created the guild as a support network for people over 30s that would like to game on a more chilled out level and destress from their days without having to stress about hardcore gaming progression. We all kinda use each other as a form of free therapy! Being behind the PC makes it easier to type away and, because of our bond and knowing each other’s character, we are all sharing our everyday life struggles and experiences, sometimes asking for advice and sometimes just to be heard. We even do Eurovision sweepstakes, we do baking competitions even if we can’t taste the cakes and we have Game Fridays once a month where we gather with our partners and kids and play games like Gartic Phone and online board games on Boardgame Arena (BGA). We do have lives outside our game world, but we have been more than capable of merging offline and online lives in a way that they complement each other. And this is the beauty of being part of this community. A community to have fun with, but also rely on when mental times get tough.
I hope that gaming will provide an opportunity to share those experiences I have with my kids in the future and, who knows, maybe we can share the same hobby, foster connections with other people regardless of where we are all from, and create memorable moments online and offline.
In part 2, I will explain why I believe playing video games as a 30+ year-old marketing professional can provide you with transferrable skills that can be used at work, even when others disagree with that. I will also touch on the bias against the gaming community, which I think is a big discussion and needs a full-time advocate. Hopefully I will be able to write the continuation in the new year. Until then, thank you for reading my blog, merry Christmas, and a lovely new year to all.
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