Pokèmon Go is Good for You? Yes, and Here are 5 Reasons Why

The anti-technology rhetoric is everywhere. Its mantra is that video games are creating a generation of lazy, screen-obsessed idiots who prefer virtual reality to real reality and can go weeks without interacting with the outside world.

But guess what? It's not as bad as you think. The newest phenomenon in technology is actually good for you. That's right. Pokèmon Go is healthy.

Take a Tech Walk

The most obvious benefit of scouring your town for those elusive little monsters is that playing the game requires moving your body.

This is good news for technology addicts who have been accused of being sedentary blobs contributing to the obesity epidemic. Playing Pokèmon Go gets people off the couch and walking around. Some players have even claimed to lose weight.

While it's true that more than one player has wandered into traffic or fallen into a hole, chasing Pokèmon characters is a fairly healthy activity. Just make sure you are looking at what's in front of you. Or walk with a friend (or fun date) who acts as a spotter, not playing the game but watching out for where YOU are walking.

Socialize with Other Addicts

Playing video games is often a solitary activity, with enthusiasts famously going days existing on potato chips and not taking showers. Those who do gaming together aren't so much interacting as sharing the same bubble of isolation.

But Pokèmon Go is different. This game encourages friends to meet up in those special places where the monsters lurk and go hunting for the little guys in groups. And yes, players will actually talk to each other. This often leads to all kinds of unexpected social interaction like going out to lunch or organizing a trip to see what's new at the local comic book store.

Get Intergenerational

Because it's not quite like other games, Pokèmon Go actually has the potential to bridge generation gaps. Your grandfather may be so out of tune with technology that checking his email is a major step forward, but everyone can appreciate hunting for adorable characters in real places far and wide.

Pokèmon Go can be easy enough for a young child or an old man, but it can also be a challenge for a teenager. This makes it a fantastic intergenerational bonding experience. Older folks will feel connected to youth when they participate in something cutting edge, and youngsters can enjoy the experience of spending time with the older generations and listening to stories about what was all the rage when they were young.

Engage Your Brain

At first glance, you might think that this popular app is another brainless time killer. However, once you start playing you will realize that there's a lot of thought involved.

Hunting for Pokèmon requires exercising your memory and even calling up critical thinking skills. When you begin looking for the higher level characters, you have to turn on your brain and use some strategy.

Pokèmon Go requires you to visualize spatial relations and remember where you've been. That can work some parts of your brain you might have forgotten were there.

Get Mental

One of the most surprising benefits of playing Pokèmon Go is that the game seems to actually combat stress, depression and anxiety. Users everywhere are commenting that they are more excited to get out of the house and spend time with people than ever before. They are experiencing less social anxiety and are feeling better about their lives in general.

As odd as it sounds that an app involving chasing fictional characters can actually improve your mental health, it does make sense. People who suffer from depression often find it very difficult to get up and get moving in spite of the fact that exercise has been shown time and time again to be great for increasing good feelings and fighting hopelessness. And people with social anxiety may find it easier to interact with others when they have a common interest to focus on.

In addition to that, playing a feel-good game just makes you feel good.

Any obsession can be a problem, and those addicting renegade monsters are no different. However, Pokèmon Go does offer an advantage over other apps and games in that it seems to encourage people to adopt healthier behaviors.

So go ahead and catch that Pikachu. It's good for you!