How exactly have video games helped me expand my social circle?

1. Playing social games

Defining social gaming is not a difficult concept. The word ‘social’ itself is a dead giveaway, don’t you think? Social games are games where you need to engage with other people (or your friends) to play with or against them. You can include your real-life friends or meet new friends in the game to play together.

The latest social game that I’ve been enjoying these days is called Among Us. I’m sure you have played it too, right? Funnily enough, this game has reacquainted me with my high school mates. Now, we have a dedicated Discord server to plan our gaming nights. We went from “Oh, I went to the same school as her,” to “Oh yeah, she’s my friend!”, which is a huge leap for me in my social circle.

2. Globally connected with other gaming ‘kakis’

The people I’ve been lucky to come across are not limited to one geographical location but are from different parts of the world. Imagine having friends from multiple countries around the world.

A simple way to get to know one another is via the in-game chatroom. Games have this wonderful befriending system (much like Facebook’s!) where you just have to send a friend invitation and bam — you’re now friends who can schedule game sessions together! If you’re a shy person, using this simple feature is a great way to build connections and also your confidence in making friends.

3. My “odd” hobby is a conversation-starter

I used to be a shy person, lacking self-confidence due to my “odd” hobby. While most teenage girls obsessed over fashion and makeup back then, I was an odd duck with my love of video games. I was embarrassed as I was teased by other girls for being “different”. As I grew up, I noticed that all that teasing did nothing but fuel my love for video games even more.


While I initially struggled to express myself and to make friends, video games offered me warmth and comfort to fully express my thoughts through the game. As time went by, I became more thoughtful and expressive with my words. Today, I proudly tell people that I love to play video games. This invites more curious questions and starts conversations. And when conversations begin, we become more acquainted with the other person, thus expanding our social circle!

4. The gaming community

Like how K-POP fans have their fandoms and communities, gamers also have the same. In Malaysia, gaming communities or groups are abundant on Reddit and Facebook. We share our thoughts on the latest games and our game reviews, and we even buy, sell, and trade items in the group itself.

When someone publishes a post about needing help to understand a certain feature of a game, the comment threads will be filled with helpful information, details, and suggestions.

That’s how we connect. We share many things on these groups as long as they abide by the rules of the community. In many ways, we have bonded with each other by sharing inside jokes, poking fun at weird games, and so on. The gaming community is huge and it’s filled with friendly faces.

As mentioned above, loving video games is not a lonely hobby. More than anything, I have made many friends and met many interesting people throughout my entire journey of being a gamer. The interactions we have with each other are all so pure and supportive. This is exactly how video games have helped me expand my social circle.

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This article was originally published on CrunchbyNuffnang on 3rd November 2020. You can find it here.

1. To build confidence

Writing recreationally in your own free time and actually publishing pieces on an online platform for thousands to read are vastly different feelings. To show your confidence, or even build it, writing and publishing on a blog is your first step towards feeling more positive about your work. If you’re too shy to publish your writings on your blog, it simply shows that you are not comfortable with showing people your work. Perhaps there is something you’re still unsure about. If you are not confident enough to publish on your own blog where you have full power, how can you be confident in writing for others? When you reach the point of self-assurance after writing extensively on your own blog, you are ready to write for others.

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This article was first published on CrunchbyNuffnang on 23 Feb 2020. You can find it here.

I woke up thinking about the things I can do to make my year a better year for me. If I believe these habits can bring a smile on my face, I believe it works the same for you. Small little simple habits that  are easy to follow.

Sleep at least 7 hours a night

Sleep is essential, and like every soul, it needs rest. I sleep 8-hours on a good night to wake up feeling refreshed, lighter and in a better mood. My mind was ready to kickstart as ideas and plans flowed through me easily. I know myself the best— hence getting any sleep less than 6 hours a night will turn me into an angry bitch but of course, who’s to blame but my own self for not putting down the screen. 

Scrolling through the night, thinking to myself that I can still operate on 5 hours sleep. Of course, we can all still operate even on 3 hours of sleep (on some days), but we operate differently. Our emotion, perspective, tantrums and productivity are compromised when we sleep less.

Try making a simple habit of getting 7 hours of solid sleep every night— of course partying till late night once in a while is okay but always kick yourself back to a disciplined sleeping schedule if you want to make the most of your day time. Trust me on this, I’ve been both the pleasant person and an angry bitch depending on the hours I’ve slept. Be the pleasant person.

Walk as much as you can

Living in Malaysia where walking is not really an option to get anywhere except if you’re going to the mini mart just in front of your house, there’s barely a proper pavement for pedestrians in where I live. Nevertheless, walk as much as you can. Take the stairs when you can, drive to the nearest park and walk among the lush green trees and grass. If exercising is not your cup of tea, walking helps you to keep your body moving. Especially if you’re working on your desk 9 hours a day, take a brief walk to your pantry every hour. Walking helps to tear you away from your work as you refresh your mind with a breather— and your body the movement they need.

Check in on friends and family

Now that the pandemic has reached a full year, we’re still socially distancing from our friends and families. Everyone is busy with their days and their lives— and the pandemic isn’t treating everyone kindly. Everyone is struggling a little more trying to keep afloat on their boat. Text your friends and check in on how they’re doing, send a greeting to your grandmother and ask if there is anything you can help with. Spark conversations with your contact list because who knows, you might just rekindle an old friendship.

Spend time with yourself

We’ve been spending so much time at home recently, with the quarantine and movement control order still in place. As the number of cases rises into alarming digits these days, it’s wise to just stay home and enjoy your own company. I find this truly a difficult concept to practice after being attached to a partner— I felt like I barely spent time with myself.

Taking a few days off just to relax, play and have fun by myself nurtures your inner child. The person who holds you dear which has been neglected as we’re all consumed by friends, families and partners. Make up a movie date for yourself, bring yourself some good treats and read a book. Start a hobby or take walks by yourself. Just immerse in the time you’re spending with yourself, you’ll learn to be happier.

1-minute rule

I find myself misplacing things pretty often because of my laziness to just put them back at where they belong. On some days, my bed is not made or my health supplements aren't taken. These things only require 1 minute of my time, yet I procrastinated hence not getting them done. If something requires only 1 minute of your time, like putting back your books or making your bed, do it. You’ll find your life more organized if you do these small little things

Read your affirmations daily