[Journal] Quitting Games

Interesting journal. I went through something similar.

First, it was no PMO.
2nd, Netflix was not so appealing anymore.
3rd, Video games were not so appealing anymore.

Looking forward into your insights in your journey.

 

good that you're doing this.

 

Third step is youtube. Importance list is 1st drugs, 2nd fapping, 3rd series, 4th yt, 5th games, 6th lazyiness

 

I used to play a lot of online multiplayer games; For the first time in my life I'd actually fail classes.

Then, out of nowhere I joined the school's weightlifting club, and oh boy, never failed a class since.

I started being unable to carry a barbel even without weights! Later, I could bench press my own weight.

I don't look like a typical weightlifter bodybuilder. People still don't believe I lift weights, or need to work out, but it changed my life.

If I could do it back then, I'd join the school's wrestling, archery, and rifle team.

 

I used to play games in my youth and young adulthood a LOT.

Half because I liked them, other half I suspect to attempt to process emotions I was unable to share with anyone. I got angry many times if I couldn't beat a level or got a decent highscore online.

Damn man, I could've gotten many girlfriends, or learned and worked on other skills, and socialisation. I especially regret not having any girlfriends. Hell, even my social skills stagnated severely. Kinda missed life there between the age of 16-23.

I wish someone had stopped me more from playing games, be more strict about it and learned me discipline/working instead. My parents were way to lenient on me regarding games and study. Even after 23 I still played them a lot. Personally, I find them a waste of time unless played with friends, but even then, shouldn't play them for hours and hours.

Ironically, I do create 2D mobile games, which is fun. Although we are talking about in-between games, the ones you can play for 3-8 minutes and that's that.

Anyway, I was really a PC gamer, so when you play FPS games for years at an end, my left shoulder 'grew' actually a few centimeters higher then the other. Ultimately I was able to correct it with my physiotherapist. Also, in my days with games like Battlefield 1942, the first Battlefield title, at the end of the match you could see ONE highscore screen for like 30 seconds. Then it disappeared in foreverness. You could make a screenshot, but that's about it. I'm just saying all that effort could have been put in something more.. real.

Even IF you would be able to use all those gaming skills and make it as a Youtube 'pro' gamer, or win tournaments, chances you will make either career successfully and make it a living in the first place let alone make it till your retirement. The odds are just against you.

I don't think there's necessarily anything wrong with games. Just need to play it for fun, and in moderation.

God I still look back to my 'gaming' days and regret not putting more effort in social skills. They are vital to make you become succesful later in life in all aspects of life. Work, friends, women (or men depending on your preference), and your own mental health.

I don't know how old you are but keep it up!

 

Hey, I've been on the same project. It's been 64 days since I last played a game.

I quit because I realized that if I'd spent as many hours on school as I did on Siege, I'd have graduated by now. And God doesn't want me to live like this.

Absolutely essential to my success (zero slip-ups so far) was blocking all access to games. I gave my accounts to a trusted friend for safe keeping, and there they have stayed. I would not have made it this far if playing was an actual option. Video games are work and reward; mentally they are just like any other project and reward you put yourself towards. Thus they are to productivity what porn is to sexuality. What makes them so dangerous is that how rewarding they are, how they effectively take up other uses of your time that would feel less rewarding.

The results so far, have been mediocre. I thought my school efforts would skyrocket; they didn't, my ADHD traits remain. The best I got on that front was going from 3 to 12 hours per week of dedicated homework/schoolwork (apart from class time). In the meantime, obsessive book reading, pacing and thinking (which might be stimming) and other behaviors I find easy and rewarding has replaced games. I'm still jobless and chaotic.

But, my decision to avoid games is final. I do not plan on ever playing again.

 

Hey,

I just wanted to add, that my personal experience is that when I'm too harsh on myself I eventually 'break' and go all out. You can't chain yourself to a ball and not allow yourself anything. Learning about moderation seems to be the key. I'm not saying I know all about moderation, just that it brings balance.

Everyone works differently. Some need to be cut off from something completely or they will go to extremes. Others can learn to apply moderation.

So yeah, it's OK to 'slip' now and then. We are after all simple human beings with impulsive behavior. No need to punish ourselves for being who we are. Just try to find balance.

P.S. What degree are you going for? College? University?

 

Hey I Will Survive,

I just read your thread and really appreciate it. Like your Idea and your amazing dedication! Great job!

I had similar problems with gaming, for me it just went away but I think I subsided it with social media/9gag. Tried to stop many times aswell and I realize how it rips you out of reality...

Thanks, you motivated me to do the same!

 

Best of luck on your journey! I do want to say that there is nothing with online video games and long as you can keep the time you play them in check. I play a game called path of exile online, but I consider myself more of a casual solo gamer. If you play online games with friends, you are much more likely to become addicted to it where it ruins your life, due to peer pressure from friends to keep playing.... I don't watch much TV at all, so instead of watching TV to unwind after a hard stressful day, I prefer to play path of exile, (after I hit the gym of course). Also, it's funny how those that watch lots of TV somehow act like watching TV is better than playing video games. I find that to be extremely absurd, since playing a video games requires focus, concentration and depending upon the game, decision making skills. My point is any addiction is bad, but lots of of people who play video games aren't addicted to them and keep them in under control. They actually help me with my porn addiction and it keeps my focus elsewhere.

 

what I do, is on weeknights, I use video games as part of a reward system. For example, no video gaming for me, unless I'm worked out, did my daily meditation,working on my business for an hour, and NoFap OR porn, then I reward myself with an hour or so of video game play. Plus I enjoy the game that way, no guilt whatsoever.