As a tabletop gamer, you may be looking for ways to improve your health and wellness in between dungeon crawls. Whether it's exercise, nutrition, or stress management, healthy habits can make a significant impact on your overall well-being. However, creating and maintaining healthy habits can have a high challenge rating, especially when gaming takes up a lot of your time and energy. In this blog post, we'll share tips and tricks for creating and maintaining healthy habits as a tabletop gamer.
Start at your level.
Don't try to overhaul your entire lifestyle all at once. Instead, focus on making one or two small changes at a time. This something I preach often. You wouldn't fight a Tarrasque at 1st level, so don't attempt to take on monstrous habits. Starting small will help you build momentum and increase your chances of success. For example, you could start by drinking more water each day or taking a short walk after each gaming session.
Make it a priority.
To be successful, it's important to put your health and wellness first. This means setting aside time each day or week for your healthy habits, just as you would for gaming. Make a schedule and stick to it, even if it means adjusting your gaming schedule. This does not mean you have to sacrifice your gaming time. Just like how you have to go to the shops and take care of your gear during a session. Think of this time as your prep time where you are sharpening your weapons to be more efficient later on.
Never split the party.
Rule number 1 of TTRPGs, never split the party. Do the same here. Surround yourself with friends, family, or a coach who will support and encourage you in your journey. Having someone to share your progress and challenges with can be a huge motivator and help keep you on track.
Fill our your Character Sheet.
You can't play D&D successfully without a character sheet where you track your progress. Do the same thing here. Use a journal, app, or other tracking method to record and monitor your progress. Seeing your progress in writing can be a powerful motivator, and can help you stay on track even when you encounter challenges.
Team up.
Partner with someone who is also working to create healthy habits, and hold each other accountable. Check in with each other regularly to discuss your progress and offer support.
Make it enjoyable.
Find healthy habits that you enjoy and that fit with your lifestyle, rather than forcing yourself to do something you don't enjoy. It's like playing a class you don't like. If you are not enjoying the class, you won't enjoy the campaign. Find something that you enjoy and stick with it. For example, you might enjoy going for a walk or hike, or trying a new healthy recipe.
Celebrate your successes.
Just like celebrating a victory with loot, celebrate each small victory along the way, and don't be too hard on yourself if you slip up. Every small step forward is a step in the right direction, and will help you build momentum and confidence in your ability to create and maintain healthy habits.
Creating and maintaining healthy habits as a tabletop gamer is achievable with the right tools and strategies. By starting small, making it a priority, getting support, tracking your progress, finding an accountability partner, making it enjoyable, and celebrating your successes, you can set yourself up for success in your health and wellness journey. Remember, it's never too late to start, and every small step forward is a step in the right direction. For personalized guidance and support, reach out to our expert coaches.