E-sports - not a real sport?!
Gambling all day and getting paid for it? That's how many hobby gamers imagine everyday life as a professional g amer. But is it really that easy to turn your hobby into a career? What does it really take to make a career in e-sports? Here we reveal all the perks!
The proof of the pudding is in the eating?
No pain, no gain! This motto also applies to e-sports. Of course, talent also plays a role to a certain extent, but in the end it is above all continuous and targeted training that pays off. Professional players spend a large part of their time in front of the screen. To play, of course, but also to watch and analyse their own games as well as those of others. Especially in times of tournament preparations, 10-hour days are not uncommon. There is not much free time left!
Physical fitness as a balance to a sedentary lifestyle
What is also often underestimated is the level of physical fitness that e-athletes should bring with them as a balance to an otherwise predominantly sedentary lifestyle. Constant sitting promotes bad posture, shortened muscles and pain in the back and neck. Such increased health risks due to constant sitting should be counteracted preventively. Sporting balance therefore plays a major role in the everyday life of e-sportsmen so that they can remain as fit as possible for as long as possible.
Risk of injury also in e-sports
In addition to the aforementioned risks from sitting for long periods of time, life as a professional player involves other dangers. In particular, inflammation of the wrist due to the one-sided movement patterns is not uncommon. The monotonous strain over a long period of time can chronically damage nerves and muscles in the worst case - another good reason for physical training to prevent pain.
Healthy nutrition important for mental performance
Last but not least: Nutrition also plays a key role in the performance of e-sports athletes. Although there is also a physical strain due to the physical tension in e-sports tournaments, the focus in e-sports is naturally on mental performance. Concentration, focus and reaction time are just three examples of what professional players need to bring to the table. Nutrition should therefore support e-sports players at best through targeted nutrient intake during gaming. It is important to pay attention to sugar consumption, which can throw you through a rollercoaster of highs and lows and thus clearly gets in the way of performance.
Pressure to perform & prize money in the millions
The mental fitness of e-sports players must also be accompanied by the ability to deal with pressure situations. Although e-sports tournaments make headlines with ever larger prize money, in the end only the best of the best compete. In the big and important tournaments, only a handful of teams make it into the shortlist. The mistake of one individual can mean the end for the entire team. In addition, e-sports tournaments are often made accessible to an audience of millions via streaming platforms. This is not an easy situation for the often still very young players.
TL;DR
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If you want to pursue a professional career in e-sports, you will spend the majority of your time in front of the screen, either practicing hands-on with your team or analysing theoretical games of your own & others.
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In order to counteract the possible negative consequences of sitting a lot, a certain level of physical fitness is important, because otherwise injuries can also occur in e-sports.
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In addition to physical fitness, mental performance is crucial, which you can support optimally with the right nutrition.
Sources
Ajax Joey: "eSports is exhausting - mentally and physically".
How hard the life of an e-sportsman really is
