For many university students, gaming offers a way to escape academic stress, but without balance, it can become a distraction—or even an addiction
“It lets me escape and have fun, but it also takes a lot of self-control to just stop gaming for a little while, just to get your stuff done,” says Scarlett Sim, a first-year open studies student at Calgary’s Mount Royal University (MRU).
Michael Huston, a counsellor at MRU explains gaming triggers dopamine release, which can make it difficult to stop. “The problem is when gaming takes over and interferes with sleep, school or relationships,” he says.
Waylen Wasylenka, a finance student at MRU, says personal limits play a big role. “You need to set boundaries. I have this due, so I can’t game. But if I do get it done, then I can,” he says.
Gaming addiction isn’t rare. An estimated 400,000 Canadians are addicted to video games, with nearly three million showing signs of problematic gaming. While gaming can be a healthy outlet, excessive play can lead to avoidance behaviours and poor academic performance.
For students struggling with balance, here are five strategies.
1. Recognize when gaming becomes a problem
Gaming should be fun, not interfere with school.
Skipping assignments, sacrificing sleep, or missing deadlines to play are signs of a bigger issue.
Experts warn excessive gaming can lead to anxiety, inattention, and sleep problems all of which make school harder.
2. Set boundaries and manage time
Setting limits keeps gaming from taking over.
Huston suggests the Pomodoro technique, a time management approach that breaks work into short, focused sessions with scheduled breaks.
Wasylenka adjusts his gaming habits based on workload.
“If I have a week of school that is super busy, I just play a game that I can pick up and put down,” he says.
3. Use gaming as a reward, not a distraction
Rather than using gaming to avoid schoolwork, it can be treated as a motivational tool.
“You can think of gaming as a reward for your activities,” says Wasylenka.
For those struggling with time limits, taking a short break from gaming altogether can help.
“You seriously stop gaming completely for a week? You realize how menial the impact of gaming has on your life,” he says.
4. Be aware of social and psychological factors
For some students, gaming is more than just a hobby—it’s a social space.
“I’m a lot closer to these people online right now than people in my classes,” says Sim.
While gaming can foster friendships, Huston warns that stress can cause students to overgame. “The dopamine rush makes it hard to stop,” he says.
5. Use campus resources
MRU offers support for students struggling with time management.
The university’s Wellness Services provides counselling, and Student Learning Services offers productivity workshops.
Huston emphasizes gaming itself isn’t the problem. “Gaming can be a healthy outlet when it’s balanced,” he says.
For students like Wasylenka, knowing their limits is key. “At the end of the day, you just have to be realistic with yourself,” says Wasylenka. “Can you actually stop after an hour? If the answer is no, then maybe don’t open it in the first place.”