The pressure of needing to be efficient with my time allied with the feeling of mindlessness let me to see videogames as an unnecessary and expendable activity.
So I stopped playing videogames…and then I restarted…and then I stopped…. This struggle happened enough times for me to come up with a conclusion.
Videogames are here to stay. I can spend the whole day playing and feel guilty afterwards or I can find a way to integrate gaming into a productive day. I picked the second one.
Embrace the Waste of Time
Unless you play in eSports or do gaming videos full-time on youtube, you will not produce anything while playing video games. You can still learn and find a meaning in them but face it, the goal here is to relax and be entertained. Do you agree?
Activities like gaming need to be seen as necessary moments. We need a moment where we don’t think about our problems and escape the real world. For other people that means watching TV or doing drugs (that escalated quickly), but for us, it’s video games.
It’s just like cheat day during a weight loss diet. A day of eating whatever your heart desires will serve to lower any cravings for a period of time.
My point: Gaming should serve as a reward. Completely eliminating it creates a vacuum that will implode in the form of excessive gaming.
Planning the Unproductive
Don’t fall into the trap of starting an unproductive activity without defining how long it will last. Before you start, define how long you intend to play. Some games like DoTa or LoL, should be planned by the number of matches you intend to play.
I like to keep my gaming sessions between one to maximum two hours (maximum two matches if the game is match-based). This amount of time makes me feel like I spent enough time in the game to enjoy it and that I didn’t spend the whole day playing.
You can experiment to find the best gaming window for you but please... contain yourself. (I'm watching you...)
Turn Gaming Into an Event
Restriction and clever planning can turn an ordinary activity into a deep and meaningful experience. Now that was deep!
Short and controlled bursts of gaming will satisfy your need for relaxation without letting you fall into a downward spiral of unproductiveness. It works just like the cheat day on a diet. A well-enjoyed gaming session will serve to satisfy your gaming cravings and help you not to over game.
It also allows you to game for a limited amount of time, making every minute counts.
While gaming like this, I tend to enjoy the game much more. I know that I only have a limited amount of time with the game so I’m more invested in the experience.
Stop Gaming at the Right Time
News flash, just because you made a schedule doesn’t automatically mean you will keep it. If you have been playing games since you were a kid you know how much games can suck you in without your permission.
How to win? Here are some ways you can set yourself to success:
Set a timer and put it away from your gaming area. When it rings, you will need to get up to turn it off.
Get someone to hold you accountable. If you live with someone, explain them your plan and ask them to make you stop playing.
Final Thoughts
You might want to stop playing games because you want to focus on more important things. But at some point, you will need to relax and video games definitely can fill that gap.
But I do have goals and things I want to accomplish so it is imperative to find a balance between relaxation and productivity.
If you enjoyed this piece of content, upvote it 👍 and let me know how is your relationship between work and gaming.