Having a strong community to back you up Unfortunately, the gaming space is not always a positive one! At times, it will feel like there are people out there who are determined to make your experience a negative one. Instead of focusing on the trolls, focus on having a group of people you can rely on to always create a safe and enjoyable environment instead. If the trolls see you guys having a good time and working together towards a shared goal, they may even decide to join in on the fun instead of being mean – after all, most of them are just hating because they have nothing better to do! If someone won’t stop bugging you… Regardless of their intentions, if someone is upsetting you online, PLEASE talk about it to someone that you can trust. Never be afraid to speak up if you’re being targeted – a problem shared is a problem halved. Lost a game? Just laugh it off! It’s okay to be competitive, but don’t let that distract you from the fact that gaming is supposed to be fun. Not every match will be a win and that’s okay! Every loss is a step towards improvement At the start of every month, I set a few goals for myself to aim towards. This is a good way for me to stay motivated, even when I’m not playing great some days. Instead of looking at losing as a bad thing, I see it as a way to learn new things instead. It’s important to remember that nobody achieves things overnight. Without failure, we’d never improve at anything! Remember to take breaks Balance is so important when gaming! I know it’s so easy to get sucked into a game but you need to remember to come back to Earth eventually. Do some exercise, call up a friend, work on the assignment you’ve been putting off, play with your dog, do whatever it is that makes you happy! Gaming is fun but it should never be your only priority.