15 Tips for Reducing VR Motion Sickness or Discomfort

15 TIPS FOR REDUCING MOTION SICKNESS OR DISCOMFORT VR WHAT CAUSES VR MOTION SICKNESS ? When you are playing a VR game , your eyes are registering the movements being simulated , but your body is not moving in a way that correlates with what you're seeing . This causes your eyes , inner ears , and body to send mixed messages to your brain simultaneously , causing it to become disoriented and confused . This translates to motion sickness . 2 TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS . As with any video game , taking breaks can be beneficial to avoid disorientation and strain , even if you feel fine . Manufacturers recommend taking 10-15 minute breaks after every 30 minutes of VR play . ANTIHISTAMINES . Medications such as Benadryl and Dramamine are capable of reducing symptoms such as vomiting and nausea because they have anticholinergic properties . 3 AVOID HIGH - INTENSITY MOTION GAMES UNTIL YOU BUILD TOLERANCE . Racing , flying , and other high - impact games may be too much to jump into right away . 4 TAKE DROWSY - FORMULA 5 GET SOME FRESH AIR . While the science is unclear , many people feel motion sickness relief from fresh air . Try playing in a safe area outside or using a cooling fan indoors . 8 AVOID EATING A HEAVY MEAL BEFORE PLAYING . This can help reduce nausea or vomiting . 11 HAVE SOMEONE REASSURE YOU . One study showed that naval cadets who received a " verbal placebo " that they would be OK experienced less seasickness than those who didn't . 1 TAKE BABY STEPS . You may need time to build up tolerance to the VR simulations . Try to take breaks when you feel queasy and gradually increase the time you play for . 4 You can jog in place to trick your mind or try software - based solutions like Natural Locomotion . There are also devices such as Cybershoes and 3D Rudder . 12 ADD MOVEMENT NATURALLY OR WITH DEVICES . 13 AVOID USING VR IF YOU ARE SICK . Your sinuses , eyes , ears , and brain are all essential for feeling stable and balanced . A cold , sinus infection , headache , eye issues , or other illness can disrupt this equilibrium and make negative VR symptoms more severe . SOURCES : healthline.com wired.com space.com 15 ADJUST THE LENSES AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE CLEAN . If your headset offers IPD ( interpupillary distance ) options , adjust it until it feels comfortable for you . If you wear glasses , you can often find this value in millimeters on your prescription . A glasses spacer can also help make it more comfortable if needed . 6 TRY AROMATHERAPY . Essential oils such as lavender or ginger may help reduce motion sickness symptoms . Place a few drops on your wrist , or try a room diffuser . Be sure to check whether certain essential oils are safe for the pets in your home . 9 USE AN ANTI - NAUSEA WRISTBAND . 7 HAVE SOME GINGER . Ginger can help reduce nausea and create a sense of calm . Try taking ginger supplements , drinking ginger tea , or chewing ginger candy . There are several products that may help . 10 TRY A SCOPOLAMINE PATCH . Scopolamine is a prescription anticholinergic patch that can be worn for up to three days . It's often used to alleviate nausea caused by surgical procedures or before boat trips . 14 MAKE SURE YOUR PC FRAME RATE IS HIGH ENOUGH . If your PC is capable , try to make sure your frame rate is set to 60 frames per second or faster . This is not medical advice . Consult a doctor before taking medication . VR.Space