People at Hotchkiss often feel overwhelmed—whether it be from academics or extracurriculars—as the culture here (or at any prep school) tends to encourage us to bite off more than we can chew. Being constantly overwhelmed  can  cause  burnout, which not only severely impacts our performance in school, but also the way we live—and I don’t really think we’re looking for that.

A 2021 case study from the National Library of Medicine revealed that high academic expectations and stresses placed  on  students  by  rigorous educational programs are the leading cause for anxiety and depressive symptoms in students.

My solution? Gaming. Or at least, finding some activity of leisure that brings you the joy gaming brings me.

I grew up with video games. They have been a way for me to cope during tough times, connect with friends, and, most importantly, escape from reality. Of course, I’m not advocating the “eat, sleep, game, repeat” lifestyle—that’s a life no one should be living, and that’s coming from the guy who’s the captain of “Varsity Student Center.”

I just think everyone should give gaming a try, because there’s going to be a game that will click for you.

For instance, I love turn-based role- playing games (RPGs) like Persona 3: Reload, Deltarune, and Fire Emblem. One of my favorite types of RPGs is a live-service game, in which daily tasks are completed for rewards. Even when I’m in a time-crunch at school, I can spare half an hour out of my stressful day to play a game that provides me tangible progress and a brief escape from the constant Hotchkiss grind.

Unless you’re a robot, you’ll need to take breaks from studying. In my opinion,  playing  brain-stimulating games with consistent and satisfying goals  is  better  than  alternatives like scrolling through social media. Doom-scrolling not only saps my time and energy, but makes me lose the motivation to do work because I feel like I’ve already spent so much time being unproductive.

When I play games, I have to actively think, strategize, and work towards a goal. When I reach it, I’ll put the game down and rejoice, rejuvenated and ready to continue my work.

Gaming, contrary to popular belief, isn’t just something that rots your brain: it can help you momentarily escape and recover from the stress of Hotchkiss life.

Even though focusing on school is important, having moments to take care of yourself should always take precedence.