Pokemon Go Positive Health Benefits
For those who dont know what Pokemon Go is, it is a free-to-play, location-based augmented reality game developed by Niantic for IOS and Android devices. This game is a great way to have fun while also being active. It incorporates the thrill of being a Pokemon trainer and makes exercising fun! Playing Pokemon Go can have real life positive health consequences.
This game is a great tool to use for your mini mental breaks without losing too much time. Pokemon Go prevents boredom, improves concentration, improves productivity, and gives you the necessary downtime to process what you have been doing and refocus when you return. This game can be a great activity to keep people with depression and anxiety active. It has been noted that people have experienced their mood improving after playing the game.
Not only is this game great for improving moods but you also get some fresh air and Sunlight! Studies show that breathing in clean air can lead to improving your mood and health. The outdoors can be associated with greater vitality, according to this study and a Yale study found that students test scores increased when they spent more time outside, and the difference appeared related to better air quality. The sun is a great source of vitamin D and inadequate Vitamin D levels is quite common, so the fact that this game is a great reason to spend extra time out in the sun ( just make sure to put on sunscreen).
There is a lot of walking involved in this game. You cant do anything while sitting down in this game really so it encourages players to go outside and walk. It is pretty impossible to advance in the game unless you move and quite honestly, moving is good for you! Something as small as a daily brisk walk can help you live a healthier life.
Walking can help you:
- Maintain a Healthy Weight
- Prevent or manage various conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes
- Strengthen your bones and muscles
- Improve your mood
- Improve your balance and coordination
Things in the game that you have to walk for:
- To find and catch pokemon
- To hatch eggs ( The requirement of km to walk can range from 2km to 10km)
- Your buddy Pokemon gives you a candy after you walk a certain distance
Discussion Questions
1) How can you get involved in playing Pokemon Go?
2) What impact do you feel that playing this game might have on your mental health?
3) If you have played the game, what has been your experience?
4) How likely are you to download this game? Why?
@Laura @Amelia @PoliteOcean @BridgetAileen
Thanks for the tag, Halli!
To answer the questions:
I believe that it's really easy to get started in PokemonGo. Just download and start. To my knowledge, you don't have to have anyone playing with you. My nephew plays this game and loves it. I know that being outside greatly improves my mood, and I enjoy walking. However, we have some nice parks in my city with lovely walking trails that I enjoy. I know we also have several Volkssport walks here in my city, too. I'd love to work back up to Volkssporting because I really did enjoy walking with the group each week.I'm not sure really how PokemonGo would affect my mood. Getting outdoors would be uplifting, but I'm not sure how much I'd enjoy the game itself. I'll not say never, but at this point, I'm not likely to download and play this game since I already enjoy walking around my neighborhood and in several local parks. However, the people that I know who do play the game enjoy it immensely.
@BurningEmber--love this post!!
1) How can you get involved in playing Pokemon Go?
----I started playing it last August when I was walking Rocket (my dog). It gave me something extra to do while we walked and made it more of an adventure. It also got me walking during my lunchbreak at work.
2) What impact do you feel that playing this game might have on your mental health?
----I feel better about myself when I get out and get moving. I also interact more with neighbors and others. Rocket and I look forward to our time together tracking Pokemon ;).
3) If you have played the game, what has been your experience?
----Very positive experience!!
4) How likely are you to download this game? Why?
----Already have it!! Excited to play it with a friend on an upcoming retreat in Colorado as well as play it when I go to visit my boyfriend (for those who don't know, Pokemon often vary based on locale so I'm excited to see what is more common other places!). @iara
@Amelia
Thank you!
Awesome answers to the questions! I am glad to hear that you have fun playing the game while also walking your dog! I am glad to hear to hear that you have had a positive experience with the game! I hope you catch some rare pokemon when you go on that trip! I hope to hear about any rare ones that you find!
@BurningEmber
I've caught 5 Ditto so far. For some locations that's a rare one....