Granitwelle

Thanks for the recommendations, Schwing! You might not like Faun as they are quite unusual (Medieval, Folklore, German vocals), however as I listen to Eluveitie, I deem Faun a rather good complement to Eluveitie's harder stuff. Journal Day #6 // Days without gaming: 21 Thursday, 16/03/2017 Not much happened today. I start to feel some withdrawal effects, slept a lot in the past two days (no lectures). I finished many household chores, however I only digress from the more important things. Next two weeks will be tough. Finished my paper as well, not that it is much of an achievement though (only three pages). I'll start to revise for finals, better than sleeping or partying too much (just another form of escapism). On we go! Gratitude journal - my parents again, my crazy family One amazing thing that happened/I did today - did some maintenance work in the household, removed limestone and cleaned the flat for a bit Workout/run: -nothing- Meditation: full cycle Daily affirmation: I managed to hit the third week w/o gaming! Nine more days and the first milestone is achieved! Reading: Nathaniel Branden's book on self-esteem Weekly Goal(s): spend less time on the PC, be more proactive Monthly Goal: Survive the first 30 days of gaming detox, get my paper done, study hard for upcoming exams and start working on my thesis 3 Month Goal: Successfully complete 90 days of non-gaming in order to make my brain rewire. There is no way back as I do not own gaming-related stuff anymore, however withdrawal symptoms might be hard. What went well today: Well I was semi-productive (improvement over yesterday) What I could have done to make my day better: My all time low so far. I seem to look for alternative things such as YouTube/craving for Anime now that I quit gaming. I should not waste more time. What I will do differently tomorrow: plan on visiting the library to find some inspiration pertaining to work

Thanks for the recommendation, I get a Cowboy Bebop vibe from this piece. The guy's got some talent. I listen to Katatonia, Killswitch Engage, Insomnium, Black Sun Aeon, Draconian, Eluveitie, Faun, Apocalyptica, Amon Amarth, In Flames, Moonspell, Turisas and sometimes mainstream stuff such as Metallica, BFMV or Trivium. Moreover, I also like Jazz/Jrock/ Traditional Shamisen/Koto music. ----------------------------------- Day #5 // Days without gaming: 19 Tuesday, 14/03/2017 This will be a short post, I've been working all day long. Lecture, assignments, coffee break with friends. Nothing exceptional, however I managed to waste less time in front of a PC. Things are improving slowly, but steadily. Gratitude journal - I am grateful for my parents' support and unconditional love One amazing thing that happened/I did today - Contributed a lot in a lecture where I did not expect I'd be knowledgeable enough. Workout/run: Walked 3 kilometers Meditation: Japanese pine incense sticks as well as my singing bowl support my meditation routine. I started to work on my root chakra, need to be grounded after all. Daily affirmation: Well done so far, the 30 day milestone is getting into reach Reading: Nathaniel Branden's book on self-esteem Weekly Goal(s): spend less time on the PC, be more proactive Monthly Goal: Survive the first 30 days of gaming detox, get my paper done, study hard for upcoming exams and start working on my thesis 3 Month Goal: Successfully complete 90 days of non-gaming in order to make my brain rewire. There is no way back as I do not own gaming-related stuff anymore, however withdrawal symptoms might be hard. What went well today: socialised with friends What I could have done to make my day better: Negative thought still impairs my performance. I want to fix this What I will do differently tomorrow: work hard again

Day #4 // Days without gaming: 18 Monday, 13/03/2017 Appointment could have been better, I should have argued in a better way. Well, preparation is paramount Gratitude journal - Nujabes' instrumental pieces, Aimer's angelic voice and heavy metal - I'm grateful that I have finally found the guts to get my s*** together One amazing thing that happened/I did today -nothing in particular Workout -none Meditation full cycle chakra meditation Daily Affirmation The road gets tougher, but men define their worth via opposition. Keep calm and carry on! Weekly Goal(s): spend less time on the PC Monthly Goal: Survive the first 30 days of gaming detox, get my paper done, study hard for upcoming exams and start working on my thesis 3 Month Goal: Successfully complete 90 days of non-gaming in order to make my brain rewire. There is no way back as I do not own gaming-related stuff anymore, however withdrawal symptoms might be hard. What went well today: socialised more, got my paper done What I could have done to make my day better: (never touch video games in the first place) prepare better in advance, be more confident What I will do differently tomorrow: another meeting, another chance

Weebs and metalheads everywhere he says lol. Indeed, I can cater to both camps I presume. What's your take on Killswitch Engage? Which genres do you prefer? With regard to Japanese singers, do you know Amezarashi? He has some good songs, although his videos might be a bit strange though sometimes

- Jazz music, Traditional Japanese Music, Heavy Metal (crazy combo, I know) - be productive, get things done, achieve, develop further - spending time with my friends and family - proactive things: doing sport, lifting starts to make me happier as well, hiking

Day #3 // Days without gaming: 17 Sunday, 12/03/2017 I have spent the majority of the day working on coursework as well as planning appointments for the next week. I have optimised my meditation cycle as I know more about chakra as well as their associated chant and hand sign now. I am not esoteric per se, however I find meditation to be quite relaxing and it puts me at ease, reducing stress levels. I also spent some time outside, recharging my batteries in the sun. Spring is around the corner and the gloom of winter will finally fade. Also time to lose my graveyard tan, I am still pale as a ghost Gratitude journal - I am grateful for my parents' support - I am also grateful for those friends who maintained contact and with who I start to socialize more again One amazing thing that happened/I did today - I feel more energetic now that I do sports and meditation, things are improving Workout Half an hour on the treadmill Meditation Full cycle chakra meditation, pine incense and the newly acquired singing bowl Daily Affirmation 17 days, well done. Less than two weeks until the first milestone is reached Weekly Goal(s): spend less time on the PC, be more proactive better, still wasted too much time Monthly Goal: Survive the first 30 days of gaming detox, get my paper done, study hard for upcoming exams and start working on my thesis 3 Month Goal: Successfully complete 90 days of non-gaming in order to make my brain rewire. There is no way back as I do not own gaming-related stuff anymore, however withdrawal symptoms might be hard. What went well today: more energetic, still a lot of room for improvement, I arranged a gathering with two friends for a quick beer next week What I could have done to make my day better: waste less time on the internet, stop self-doubt What I will do differently tomorrow: get my eight pomodoros this time (8hrs work min), start of another work week as well as first important meeting tomorrow.

Interesting approach, I know Maslow as well from a psychology class. I also felt that gaming interferes with the basic needs: it provides a sense of safety, a "cocoon" in a way. It is predicable, one does not get judged and gets a sense of achievement as well from trophies and the like. The social element is replaced by multiplayer and VoIP chats and prestige is conveyed in terms of skill, contribution to a guild et cetera. Virtual progress does not replace real progress though - this was my wake-up call. Henry David Thoreau also approaches the idea of basic needs of a human from a philosophical point-of-view in his novel Walden, in case anybody is interested.

I also think that masturbation is healthy and normal, provided it occurs with regard to real people as well as in a realistic setting. Excessive use of porn is detrimental as it is often violent, unrealistic and misogynistic and thusly warps expectations towards a real partner. I've also read about cases where people lost interest in real humans as they focused too much on 2D or 3D depictions. I'd argue that moderation and a focus on a real partner are vital. NoFap in itself is not a cure for underlying modes of behavior such as low self-esteem or anxiety. It increases aggression and testosterone, but still one needs to channel these in a right mode of behavior that is socially acceptable. I tried NoFap in connection with Monk-Mode, however I did not realize "transcendental" change in my life other than increased levels of aggression. I worked more intensely, sure, and I started to work-out more. It did not improve my social perception or success rate though. I'd say that one needs to improve in many areas (know-how, social skills, aesthetics, eloquence) in order to augment one's position. And that requires more effort than simply quitting masturbation.

What a marvelous idea, love this thread! Liberation Years going by relentlessly. The pale flickering of a screen. Rapid end. Freedom. - Granitwelle

Maybe you are pushing yourself too hard? Gaming might have been the stress vent and now that you quit, you seek a replacement? I had a similar experience actually as I found myself binge-watching series like Dangerous Grounds (a dude hunting elusive coffee blends all over the globe - how random is that?^^). Concerning work, I tried to become a workaholic over the course of three months, sipping coffee like a madman, working 12-14 hours a day during the week. Grades improved significantly, however I had a backlash phase where I could not motivate myself to do anything. Long story short, academic performance during the recharge was lousy. If there is a series or good anime you want to watch, maybe you can use this as a reward? If you finished your study session, you could watch one episode. In order to see the next one, you need to finish your next session. Take a break and revise a lot two days before the exam to refresh your memory and finally, reward yourself with several episodes after you wrote the exam. I read that the human brain is more productive if we have a reward within reach. Just a thought

Day #2 // Days without gaming: 16 Saturday, 11/03/2017 I was actually quite lazy today. Spent time with the family, watching news on the telly and chatting with an old acquaintance of ours. I'm glad she visited us again, she always makes me smile. She's such a light-hearted and warm person, it's actually contagious. My dog was lazy as usual, but her appetite is finally back to normal. She's eating more again, which is a good sign and puts my mind at ease (she's got arthrosis and sometimes does not eat at all). On a personal note, I wasted too much time in front of the PC again. I will meditate more and go to bed early. I still feel tired and idle too much, I hope this will get better soon. Gratitude journal - I am grateful for my parents' support and unconditional love - an acquaintance who would visit us regularly, whom I hold dearly as I've known her since I was a kid One amazing thing that happened/I did today - I start to smile more again. Feels a bit odd actually after all this time. Workout/run: Worked out for half an hour, using my home trainer as well as doing some sit-ups and crunches. Boy, I'm in a terrible shape, time to fix this Meditation: Japanese pine incense sticks as well as my singing bowl support my meditation routine. I started to work on my root chakra, need to be grounded after all. Daily affirmation: It's starting to get tougher, but what did I expect. 16 day streak, you can do this! Reading: Nathaniel Branden's book on self-esteem Weekly Goal(s): spend less time on the PC, be more proactive Monthly Goal: Survive the first 30 days of gaming detox, get my paper done, study hard for upcoming exams and start working on my thesis 3 Month Goal: Successfully complete 90 days of non-gaming in order to make my brain rewire. There is no way back as I do not own gaming-related stuff anymore, however withdrawal symptoms might be hard. What went well today: Further conversations with parents as well as a the aforementioned acquaintance. Feels good to socialise more again. What I could have done to make my day better: wasted too much time in front of the PC, did not work again. It might be a weekend, still I need to get things done. I'll do it tomorrow What I will do differently tomorrow: prepare for a meeting, work on my thesis, travel back to my place of study

Because I want to and desperately need to move on. These activities were equally introverted and isolating as gaming was for me. I kept on buying things, building up a collection and had them sitting on my shelf, gathering dust. I did not find time to read or watch them. They are also linked to gaming and would only trigger a relapse (Ninja Storm, Tales of, anime style JRPGs). Moreover, I felt that they made me somewhat emotional, mindful and sensitive. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however I now find myself in a hypercompetitive, capitalistic environment with regard to my future job. I wasted away a significant chunk of my formative years with gaming, so I want to catch up and finally become a proactive man rather than staying an introverted, complaining and shy adolescent.

Porn is detrimental and the internet is indeed a rabbit hole in this regard. A relative of mine suffers from heavy porn addiction and it has been quite tough for his family. It warps and twists one's brain, it is instantly available and basically removes any urge to go out there and find a real partner. Does NoFap actually work? Sex drive is one of the primal instincts and repetition/habit only makes it stronger. I tried monk mode once and it was one hell of a ride. On the other hand, it does increase testosterone levels and I felt more assertive in the long run. Still cannot fully abstain though. For productivity increase, I personally use the following tools at the moment KanbanFlowTodoistForest App (no smartphone distractions)If you want to try a different approach to your working approach, maybe you want to try the Pomodoro Technique - 25 mins of work/5 min break as reward, after four hours, you get 15 minutes of break time. Simple but effective! Hope it helps you to get more done!

Hi mate, Well I have become a bit of a nerd through gaming, reading more or less the entire British/American literature canon as well as watching too much documentaries/anime about Asia/Japan. You also seem to be a metalhead? What are your favorite genres? I used to listen to Trash, DM, Doom and Folk. Nowadays, I sometimes listen to KSE, Eluveitie, Trivium or Metallica if I need to vent (also nice for workout). Nerdfitness - I actually signed up, but I never really used it. Thanks for the reminder though, now that I do more sports, I might return to it. It's gamification on the other hand - not that this triggers a relapse later though - do you have more experience with it? Any drawbacks? I actually plan on picking up martial arts, so this would be a nice way of tracking progress.

Chapter 1: Hitting the Road of Life (Month 1/ Day 1-30) Sorry for the poetic introduction, however I want to treat this project with due diligence and if one starts something, one better does it properly, right? I was addicted to gaming for almost two decades - owning a PC, PS1-PS 4, PSP/PSVita as well as GB Color/Advance/NDS/3DS. I was an avid fan of immersive JRPGs with engrossing stories, the epic tales of my childhood that would eventually become the looming shades of my adolescence. I wasted hours playing WoW as well as Battlefield, raged and endured pointless conversations in games, seen guilds form and fall apart, see friends come and go, people drift away and others succeed on the road of life. What is my thought on this period of time? It was fun, sure. But I lost thousands of hours that could have been spent on much more rewarding activities, honing skills, learning languages, being curious about the world, socializing and updating myself. I finally quit cold-turkey fifteen days ago. Just like that, I sold, discarded and got rid of everything gaming, manga and anime related. It was a ton of money and time. Surprisingly, neither did it hurt nor was it difficult. Now I look back on bittersweet nostalgic memories, but I am ready to fully dedicate myself to becoming a better version of myself. There is no going back now. This journal shall document my progress. Thank you Cam for providing such an opportunity for exchange and support as well as thanks to the community whose journals and books are equally inspiring and motivating as well. After reading a lot of different journals, I decided to start my very own journal. Let's overcome the demon that bound us for so long! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Day #1 // Days without gaming: 15 Friday, 10/03/2017 The first day of writing a journal. Seems interesting to be honest, it's been a while since I would actually write one. Many researchers, poets and great authors did so as well and it enriched their lives significantly. I think this is a perfect opportunity for us to take a break, distance ourselves from the hectic daily lives and take a moment to reflect. Today, I would attend university and study for six hours altogether. I worked in the train as well, looking forward to meeting my parents again after a long period of absence. I realize what a fool I had been all those years. Despite my parents' worrisome comments, I decided to waste away the better part of my prime playing numbing games. I enjoy the conversation we had at the dinner table, eating a wonderful stag stew my mom has prepared. I should work on my thesis, however I found myself socializing and reading a lot. I still feel odd - tired most of the time since I quit gaming. My brain needs to adapt to all the time I made available and I need to find new means of purposefully spending my days. This will be interesting indeed. Gratitude journal - I am grateful for my parents' support and unconditional love - The vet who would undergo an extra effort to treat my dog which has gotten quite old (athrosis, she needs injections) One amazing thing that happened/I did today - worked on the train for the first time in years, socialise more and more Workout/run: Only on Mon/ Wed/ Sun , need to take it slowly to build up some muscle Meditation: I actually bought a Nepalese Singing Bowl as well as Japanese pine incense which I plan on using for further meditation exercises. I still have to inform myself about the chakra's though. Daily affirmation: I can do this, a lot has improved so far. Reading: Currently reading Nathaniel Branden's book on self-esteem Weekly Goal(s): spend less time on the PC, be more proactive Monthly Goal: Survive the first 30 days of gaming detox, get my paper done, study hard for upcoming exams and start working on my thesis 3 Month Goal: Successfully complete 90 days of non-gaming in order to make my brain rewire. There is no way back as I do not own gaming-related stuff anymore, however withdrawal symptoms might be hard. What went well today: Positive conversation with friends and lecturer, deep and meaningful conversation with parents What I could have done to make my day better: stop procrastinating, being sleepy and doubt myself. Overthinking does not help either What I will do differently tomorrow: Work hard despite the fact that it is weekend, prepare for some meetings, keep on feeding my brain with positive input

Prologue: Start of the Journey 改善, the Japanese term for continuous self-improvement, is a noble philosophy and perfectly resembles what the path I have decided to walk henceforth. For the purpose of this journal, I understand the term as personal philosophy rather than as exotic management concept or production tool. We are all but wanderers on the road of life that has many winding ways and paths which we could take. Some are steep and cumbersome, some are short and invite us for a casual stroll, some lead uphill and others downhill. We can choose to stagnate and withdraw in false safety, the cocoon of media, the comfort zone and gaming. Or we muster up the courage to walk down the road of life, unknowing what will await us up ahead. The way itself is the goal, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. My journey has begun. CUMULATIVE PROGRESS: Days of journalling: 2 Days without gaming: 16 (Status 11/03/2017)

I'm currently reading How to Raise Your Self-Esteem: The Proven Action Oriented Approach to Greater Self-Respect and Self-Confidence by Nathaniel Branden. Moreover, Healing Code as well as The Love Principle by Alex Loyd and Ben Johnson also works wonders as confidence is ultimately tied to self-esteem and self-perception. In an extended sense, I also draw a lot from great American Transcendentalist authors and philosophers such as Ralph Waldo Emerson (Self-Reliance, Nature), Ben Franklin (Autobiography) as well as Henry David Thoreau (Walden). Sexy quote from Emerson: I think the root of all evil so to speak is a poor self-image with gaming fueling this perception. We make bad experiences and then escape into the ideal world of gaming. Upon realizing that a virtual super ego does not improve my standing in real life, self-loathing only increased as I kept gaming. If I can mend this poor self-perception by learning self-love and affirmation, this should eventually boost my confidence as well as self-perception tremendously. I also agree with what some of you have mentioned, repetition and implementation are paramount, passive reading alone is only half of the deal.

I fully agree. It is never too late to change and I am glad we both realize that. Gaming is simulated progress, a virtual pat on the back, a quick dopamine fix faking progress while we drift further away in real life, wasting away hours of precious time. Stay proactive and don't let games entice you for another quick round. I already start to feel the withdrawal effects, wondering what to do with my time. I've been reading a lot but still it feels awkward. Started to socialise more and signed up at my local gym. Apparently it takes 90 days to re calibrate the brain - let's break the habit. I'll press onward as well! Thanks for the warm welcome!

I agree with the statement that repetition is paramount. Self-affirmation, an organized lifestyle, willpower and an active lifestyle are definitely the right remedy for gaming addiction. I read your post however it does not match the photo you posted. I see a passionate, happy chap enjoying sports and being proactive. Mental scars will take time to heal, but escapism is no solution - this is what I learned recently. Don't let your demons conquer you buddy, keep up the good work!

Interesting approach with Kanbanflow. I'll give it a shot! Personally, I also use MS Todoist as well as the Forest App in order to increase productivity. I tried Habitica as well but I soon discovered that gamification does not work for me. Well, good luck with your project!

I do not particularly enjoy Facebook to be honest, however it has become a tool of collaboration with regard to university, networking (internships, job hunting) as well as to stay in contact with some former friends of mine. 80% of the posts one sees is either narcissism at its finest or pointless. I recently read about a study in a newspaper which claimed that constant exposure to the "highlight reel" of others as well inevitably comparing yourself to others can fuel depression and anxiety. Personally, I limit its use as I prefer the old-school face to face conversation or mail/Skype to stay in contact with close friends. Keep it simple, keep it real^^

Hello everybody, it has been two weeks now that I quit gaming cold turkey. I sold and got rid of anything gaming related which I had amassed over a period almost two decades. Games, consoles, figurines and even everything anime and manga-related which might trigger a relapse - good riddance. Getting rid of everything was surprisingly easy and took less dedication than expected, however I now have to restructure my life in an attempt to unleash the dormant innate potential which I have neglected all those years. I've found this homepage some time ago and kept returning, now I have finally decided to register to take my resolve to the next level and learn a bit from you who have succeeded and who have walked this path for longer periods of time than I do. The homepage, forum and success stories I read are indeed positive input in finally overcoming this vicious cycle First things first, I am 26 years old and spent the previous 18 years either working just enough on school assignments or other minor projects to get by while I'd spend my free time reading manga, watching anime, playing games and listening to Rock/Metal. My addiction started with a PlayStation back in 1997. I developed a strong affinity for immersive, but time-consuming JRPGs (Final Fantasy, Breath of Fire, Dark Cloud etc.). I would own a Play Station from each generation as well as handheld devices (Vita, PSP, GB Advance till 3DS). Later, I switched from console gaming to PC gaming since most of my friends would play WoW and/or Battlefield. Long story short, many friends failed school, some became depressed and started abusing certain substances and I would distance myself further from my former circle which was falling apart at this point in time anyway. From then on, I became a workaholic, only focusing on studies while still escaping into the virtual world whenever possible. I finished a BA degree and I'm about to finish another BA soon, doing reasonably well in academic matters. Still, gaming was a massive time sink and I decided to pull the plug before my life went down the drain. Hundreds of hours that could have been spent on cultivating proper skills, becoming eloquent and confident were spent on pushing buttons and sitting in front of a PC (massive regret)... Overcoming anxiety and self-doubt will be a major challenge for the next few months/years. I want to spend my time on self-actualization, useful hobbies as well as socializing now in order to make up for the lost years. Thanks for reading through this rather lengthy post, I'm looking forward to many interesting discussions on the boards