I seem to have a problem with moderating myself when it comes to playtime on Video Games, How do you keep yourself from just endlessly playing games?
Umm… having a job? Takes care of that problem very easily.
Less sleep it is!
@Raphipod So I can’t really get a normal job but hope to create my own business to fill up my ‘non-gaming time’. It’s just trying to not slowly fill that time up with “You know I’ll play a game” and then loose another 3 days just mindlessly gaming for hours on end.
Do you play games, or do you play a game endlessly. If it’s games then it might be easier to sprinkle other activities into the mix like learning to play a musical instrument, etc. If it’s a game, especially if it’s a live service game, MMO, hatch’s, etc, then they might have successfully tapped into “your formula”, in which case if recommend dropping the game entirely. Games like that are specifically designed to keep you playing indefinitely.
Source: I’m a former Destiny addict.
As a lifetime gamer (40s) staying away from ‘service’ games with an endless endgame really does help for self regulation. If there is ‘a game’ that you just zonk out on the gameplay loop thats the blurst. If I get a game I like it to be a game with a conrete ending now, there is a ‘final’ final boss, there is a dungeon meant to be the last challege. If it’s just ‘SUPER HARD AREA X WITH DROPRATE OF THING YOU WANT’ fuck that. Especially if you hear game dev talk about having to design these kind of casino models really turns you off to them.
@FunkyMonk I’m glad I never have really got into MMOs. Thank you, I’ll most likely have to seek help but hopefully with some of the things people have suggested I can at least take the first steps to helping my life.
So true, I have to do this with some predatory mobile game or another every year or two. Sometimes one of them just gets you.
@JoMiran I luckily haven’t got into MMOs as of yet, it seems that I end up playing different games but will play each one endlessly the main problem is that I use gaming as a way to relax from stress but then lose myself inside of it. The more I look at it, the more I feel I need therapy over it as it seems like a addiction I will most likely not get out of without help.
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In a way, I understand. There are no rules. I do think there is a good chance that living out that idea in any or every aspect of life can be very damaging. My motto is everything in moderation, including moderation.
@somethingsnappy Thank you, Yes I’m trying to take control of my life back from just mindless on video games, been doing it way to long and it seems it’s become an addiction.
@NumbersCanBeFun Hey, So my main problem isn’t that my life isn’t ‘paid’ for, I’ve been registered as never being able to work due to my Autism and Fibromyalgia and have moved out of my parents place. My goals are to feel more to feel accomplished by doing some tasks I feel like need to or could be done in my life such as Video Editing being a big passion, making that into a career of some kind.
I feel as if gaming has taking over my life and is sometimes a way of me finding a way to no get on and do the things I know rather need to be done or should possibly be done. I could easily spend the next 30+ years of my life playing games day in and day out on autopilot but rather take control of at-least some of my life without 100% giving up gaming as it still helps me relax.
Autism is where I think that this get difficult, and where I think a lot of the responses might miss.
Gaming is really seems to be a ‘specisl interest’, especially if it’s one game in particular. And taking that away without any replacement isn’t good, since it’s what your brain needs to self regulate. It’s not so much an addiction as nicotine or alcohol can be, but more like food, or hydration. You need a method of regulation.
If you’re worried about the effects of gaming specifically, then the only thing is to find another special interest that grips you in the way that games/that game does. It sounds like you have an idea already on what that might be. All I can say is that you should try and throw yourself into it head first!
@fluke Thank you, yeah I think I know a more healthy hobbie to get myself into that I am passionate about just going to try and see how today goes when I turn my PC on and it could go one of two ways, back into gaming and can’t stop or working on the project that I should do and pushing for it.
Words to live by.
Honestly, mine came about organically with other responsibilities and interests.
Earlier on, I’d moderated myself but picking up another hobby, like playing bass guitar and adding that into my priorities.
Once out of college, other priorities, like making better than decent meals, my significant other, and continuing my tabletop RPG crew kinda helped me stop spending endless weekend or day off hours on a game.
Probably, the largest piece for me is having a family and a friend group that I care to keep up with. When I was younger, I escaped through games, but now I use them more like how I use a book or TV series and look for experiences I’ll find meaningful instead of just grinding rep or xp points in a loop.
@iltoroargento Thank you, I feel like pushing for some of the other hobbies I have such as Video Editing is a more healthy way to express myself. Sometimes it feels like I just get swallowed by the idea of gaming.
Multiplayer games in general are hard to regulate. MMO’s, Mobas, FPS, ARPGs. This games are designed to swallow weeks of your life before you react. When I stopped playing these type of games it didn’t become as much of a problem to regulate my gaming.
Write down what an optimal day for someone your age, in your living area, looks like. Weekly activities. Exercise. Etc. Start implementing the we things into your life at a pace that isn’t to slow but not too fast either.
Set goals what most of your days should consist of. Most days. Don’t set routines that are too nailed down. Don’t go overboard. Excersise three times a week? Two days need to be back to back but the third can be anytime during the week? Things like that.
Work this into your routine. Take one step at a time.
If I regret one thing at the age of 37 it would be not having some kind of exercise in my weekly routine from my early 20s. I would be in sooo much better shape, have more energy, be more alert.
Balance in everything is key.
@hogart Thank you, Even know I don’t have issues with weight (at least not over weight) this is really helpful. I know I can’t go full cold turkey over the games otherwise I fall back into them hard and it’s good to see other people say to slowly get myself off them. Luckily I never have got into the MMO side of things as I’m sure I wouldn’t even be messaging to people online at the point, I mainly play round-based games such as CounterStrike, limiting my play and replacing it with something else slowly is probably the way to go. Thank you.
I’m not overweight either. But I wouldn’t wanna look at the inside of my body. I’m probably an overweight person I skinny body. Mental health is a big thing. As in having a fresh mind, able to focus on semi mundane tasks, keeping a good temper, etc. If you manage to gain just a small amount of muscle every year that’s just a bonus. Glad my post made some sense to you. Tried summerising the things I think matters for everyone regardless of individual situation. Stay good!
You have to find other outlets.
It’s a long process with therapy etc…
But you have to find something else that’s more important to you. Video games are designed to appeal to your need for quick feedback, and it’s awful
This may require some significant lifestyle changes.
Finding a hobby does not involve therapy lmao literally just try different activities until something makes you feel like you are playing your favorite game.
That’s basically what a therapist would tell someone anyways. Therapy can’t make you magically find the new hobby you like.
@Mago In another comment I got suggested to Gamify my life a little as that could help with being stuck on games all the time, what I feel might be the best route to go as unless I end up doing E-Sports or something I probably won’t quite get that ‘itch’.
If you want to maybe get into art or something I can provide resources or recommend novels and all if that’s your thing. Would that help?
@WeLoveCastingSpellz I’m more into Video Editing than art, it’s actually want I’m trying to swap my habbits with.
Focussing on that should probs help, good luck overcoming your addiction!
@ArbiterXero Thank you, I can’t afford Therapy sadly, What I know would be a really helpful tool not only for dealing with my possible gaming addiction but other struggles that I use gaming to help ‘mend’.
I know from years of small experience that I am interested in Video Editing and I know that’s one of the things I’d like to make time for instead of gaming. I know it’s going to take time especially as I don’t want to lose gaming fully from my life as it’s a good relaxant.
By staying the fuck away from MMOs. 😂 🙃
@FoundTheVegan I don’t actually play any MMOs, never have really grabbed my attention but still doesn’t stop me from endlessly playing games due to them being Round-Based or never-ending games like Minecraft. Thanks for the advice though.
Short attention span leading to doing gaming in short bursts. Sometimes I lose interest in games for months and get more into the mood to watch TV shows and movies. Then lose interest in that and move to reading then lose interest in that and going back to gaming. Rinse and repeat. Has helped me avoid the whole not having fun with games anymore threads that I’d see a lot, since my focus just naturally shifts back and forth to keep things feeling fresh.
@NightOwl I seem to go through a similar cycle, that or I end up merging my gaming with also watching the shows / movies I want to watch. I’m more trying to make time for things such as Video Editing as well as other ‘hobbie’ based things that are more likely to earn money.
I recommend having no job and having the feeling that you’re wasting your life and feel like a NEET. That always helps me stop playing games
@Monster96 I have both Autism and Fibromyalgia so I have been registered as never being able to work. My goal is not to go full no Video Games what is the hard part, The Games I play just get in the way of the the possible carer I feel I can create for myself (Video Editing if your wondering) but they also regulate my stress and i’ve tried going full cold turkey with them before and my life got to one of the lowest points due to no stress regulation. Thanks for the comment though.
Depression? Don’t try that at home, would not recommend!
@Scrof Oh don’t worry already went through a lot of Depression, it seems to be one of the reasons I play Video Games. To ‘escape’ from the real world it’s just getting in the way of some of the things that might make me happy such as Video Editing.
Get married and have a kid, you’ll moderate yourself quickly, don’t you worry about that my friend.
@Ghostlight I have a partner, I’m Trans (lesbian) and never want kids.
When you get older it gets harder and harder to play video games frequently.
I can maybe squeeze in an hour of gaming every third day if I am efficient (work and household stuff) and lucky. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, just there are many games I want to experience so I have to be very selective.
For me, it’s that a game is a big time and energy investment. I’m hesitant to jump in.
@kandoh That’s what I’m normally like for bigger games but then I always find some game that can just fill up my time to the point I’ve paid twice the amount of time the ‘Big’ game would have.
I had this happen with me for Hearthstone. It’s so easy and quick to play that it ends up taking up a huge chunk of time.
Once I stopped playing it though, nothing else could really fill the void. So my playtime decreased and never really recovered
@kandoh I’m 21, Moved out of home and don’t have to work… I have nothing but time and that’s the problem.
That’s nothing to feel guilty about as long as you’re not neglecting trying to find a job and self improvement. Your 20s are rough, all opportunities available are pretty shitty and exploit your energy and inexperience. Videogames are a great way to stay sane during this.
@kandoh I know my career path is right there with Video Editing I just seem to end up doing games over editing and it’s something that I will most likely have to seek professional help in the future for.
I don’t like being interrupted while gaming so as a student I study till a certain hour than I do whatever (maybe gaming) till 11PM
@WeLoveCastingSpellz I find if I even tried doing that I wouldn’t stop after 11 lol
Maybe lay off video games for a while till you manage to accumulate a level of willpower that lets you cobtroll yourself easier while gaming. At your situation professional help from someone who knows about this shit might be better help.
@WeLoveCastingSpellz I tried to go full ‘Cold Turkey’ before but it just made me even worse and fell in even harder than I normally am to the point I was staying up for days on end just playing games. I know I need to seek professional help but it costs.
I wish the best of luck to you
If youre adhd try gamifying aspects of your life.
@bonus_crab I have Autism but I suspect that I most likely have ADHD as well, I’ve thought about this before and it really interested me do you have any recommended apps to manage gamifying my life?
I started making one but never finished it lol. otherwise not rlly, tho im sure theres some out there
I only really tend to play with a group of mates - the most fun to play with is like four or five hours ahead of me, so when they hop off, the whole group tends to head off at the same time. If we don’t, it’s usually just a smaller game that we have fun with for like an hour before finishing.
Basically, I push being responsible off onto someone who is actually responsible.
@DarkMessiah That’s a good way of doing it, just need to find friends to play with lol
