NEW VIDEO: Why You MUST Quit Gaming in 2025
giblets
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Posts posted by giblets
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Welcome buddy!
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23 May 17
Game Free: 36 (17 Apr)
Spending way too much time again on retroachievements. Just reading, searching, thinking about what SNES/NES games I used to play and what achievements they might have these days. It has to stop. So even though I felt confident to expand my daily goals out to 4, I didn't achieve one of them, which was my 1 hour of study, which I put down to my spare time was wasted on retroachievements. I need to force myself to not look at this site for at least a couple of days, so I can get my study back on track. It is a never ending battle of productivity versus mindlessly choosing entertainment.
Feel feeling unwell. I think I need to get more sleep, or at least go back to sleeping in instead of getting up an hour before everyone else to get my admin out of the way, but my gut feeling is I don't want to do that. I like the hour to myself, with a cup of tea (note to self: all out of green tea, buy more tea), and going through my habit tracker doing my daily tasks. Still haven't incorporated any reading or working on my essay as soon as I wake up, but I am still happy with what I achieve. Way better than when I used to wake up early to check the auction house for World of Warcraft. How has that wasted time helped me now? Apart from lifting my wallet from $16 a month, which in the long run can run into the thousands (which I think I did).
So remainder of the week - 100% productivity. No more wasting time. Only 3 days until I fly out and I am not organised. I am not sure what I am going to do on the plane without games this time though, usually I burn hours by playing games, but I don't want to take a single one this time. That's 14 odd hours on the plane without them.... I wonder how much of it I can sleep! If I had my raspberry pi laptop going I would tink for a few hours, but I don't see it happening. I got a lot of altering of the case done yesterday during my lunch hour, so it is possible I could have it ready, but I need mounting tape etc that I don't really want to waste time going to go buy.
Today's Goals:
- Complete 1 hour of study. Maybe during my lunch hour.
- Keep tinkering a little bit on the RPi laptop - today modify the HDMI/USB flap so that it can be kept closed permanently.
- Do something to prepare for Vegas - pack or something.
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22 May 17
Game Free: 35 (17 Apr)
Had a big step back with my health this weekend. I don't know if it is because I have been getting up at 5am every day so need more sleep or not, but it is a source of frustration. Yesterday I woke up with a sore throat and feeling blocked up, and last night I had a coughing fit that was so bad I was sick. My optimism that this would be gone by the time I hit Vegas is gone. I've tried every herb and/or drug that I could get my hands on, drank so much water that I needed to go to the bathroom every half hour, still no dice.
Achieved all my goals again yesterday, thinking of maybe I should start a counter for that as well. I am up to 13 days on Duolingo. Not sure if I like having so many counters though, like I did before my anxiety breakdown. I will do some mediating/reflecting about it and see what value I might get from it.
I am a sucker for retroachievements.org. I am spending too much time on it. For example, on Saturday I got a lot of work done on my electronics projects, and around the house in breaks from my study. But yesterday I didn't get any of this done, in between study I just surfed the web and checked out that site. The end result was when it got to dinner to spend time with my family, I was depressed. I need to walk away from the screens in between the breaks. Obviously staring at a screen is one of the main problems that screws up our behaviour, not just the games.
Have my Resilio server up and running - but it keeps freezing. I don't know why. I have it running on a RPi and on a normal PC, for the aim of syncing everything across to the RPi and leave that running instead to save on power, but it has frozen 3 times in a day already. I have no idea why. I should do some researching on it but I think I have spent too much time on it right now - I need to focus on some other things, like my family this week before my trip.
Today's Goals:
- Complete 1 hour of study. I think I will only be able to get 1 hour done by balancing work and family time. I am above 2,000 words now though.
- Get Resilio and VPN client set up on my Windows laptop - the laptop I was building will not be ready before the trip, and I will need something to keep studying on (yes in Vegas, urgh).
- Meditate for 5-10 minutes when I get back from work. This might help me from being depressed. I don't want two days of that.
- Do a little bit of tinkering on my RPi laptop - I'd like it to be at point where I can bring it back in from the garage before the trip so it doesn't collect dust.
Four goals! Riskayyyy
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2. You would be bored to death after reading this and for me it would not be necessary, because I have it on the paper,
This should not be an issue or something you think about Chris! I worried about mine for a while, until I realised you're writing it for yourself, not anybody else, so it doesn't matter what their opinion is. If they are bored, they won't read it, but many people will probably get inspiration from it.
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DAY 7 Insights
also know that they're investigating a high-ranking White House adviser for ties to Russia. Though I'm still very perplexed as to why the f*ck fidget spinners are a thing.
Media.
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- But I failed to do two assignments that I've planned to do. I did 0.8 out of 2. Too many things to do. Slab design team meeting in Sunday evening, Military drill on Monday, lots of lectures from 9 am to 8 pm on Tuesday(I only have one hour lunch time), one assignment until Wednesday, Concrete engineering exam on Friday(I have to study every chapter that students have learned this semester), Another slab design team meeting on Saturday-Sunday.
You can do it buddy! You're definitely on the right track to succeed. Just think of the money you'll earn on the other side
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21 May 17
Game Free: 34 (17 Apr)
Wow "Sit with it" is hard! I closed everything down yesterday, just had my draft open, and exactly 6 minutes in my brain was like "why don't you just google this". I actually laughed at myself. I didn't realise I was that bad. So I told myself no, and powered on. About another 5-6 minutes later, my brain starts thinking "you should check out a RPi script for this...." It was crazy. It stayed that way for about the first half hour, and then I think my brain gave up and just knuckled down and focused. As a result, I did get 3 hours of study done, but the big difference is this time I actually felt quite accomplished at the end, rather than feeling like I needed to study more and didn't achieve anything. Quite happy with that. I didn't think I would see results after only one attempt, but I hope now in my next session I will go 9 minutes between my brain trying to trail off.
I achieved all my goals yesterday - first time in a while! I wonder if it is because before I made them this time, I made sure they were relatively small and I thought I could achieve them with some effort, but not heaps. I guess a contributing factor was how easy setting up the Resilio Sync (formerly BitTorrent) - I am absolutely amazed. How are people paying for cloud storage if a program like this exists? Of course though, my problem now is my preoccupation, because I just want to sink time into it to get everything sync'd from my phone to the RPi. I can never seem to do things in small bites, I always seem to go in boots and all. It does explain why I am here though! I can't just play a few games, I need to go in boots and all.
Had a massive urge yesterday to play Colonization - the game that basically swallowed my childhood. It came from watching a clip of Harvest Moon on YouTube and thinking about profitable crops etc. I am not sure why I was watching Harvest Moon clips, I guess it was just my brain taking control again. Anyway, the point of writing that is I can understand why Cam says not to watch Twitch streams or clips or whatever, it is a slippery slope. I am sure that if I hadn't set up the extra barrier of just running RPIs with linux on them I would have at least fired it up and played a few turns.... a few hours.... not completed any study at all....
Today's Goals:
- Complete 3 hours of study, again. Hopefully get over 2,000 words.
- Figure out the permissions problem with Resilio and a USB so I can backup my phone before my trip.
- Go for a walk or drive with the family to a park. Try to relax and not think about study and work when we are there.
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Where is the best place to get poutine in Toronto?
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20 May 17
Game Free: 33 (17 Apr)
Feeling much better again today, but now I feel bad emotionally. Now it's the weekend my family wants to go do things together but I really need to study and get some headway on my assignments, so I still feel like a jerk Dad and disconnected from my family. They are off to the zoo and here I am sitting at my desk in front of my computers, where I always used to be, so I can't help but ponder what has changed? I am going to use that as a catalyst for a "Sit with it" day. I am going to stand up my 3 goals a day again, and today's is going to be to smash out 3 hours of study this afternoon so me having these guilt feelings are not for naught. I also need to shake up my morning routine I think, I started getting up an hour earlier than everyone else as per GTD to get some stuff out the way, and I do, but it mostly is around my to do lists, such as deleting emails or checking my credit card etc etc. I am thinking maybe it should change to be reading, or studying, or something, so that it sets a good note for the day. I do like the feeling of having all my crappy little jobs that usually distract me out the way, but I don't think it puts me in a productive mindset. So tomorrow I'll just get straight into study.
Alright, here we go, a Sit with it session, starting now. Close all distractions.
Today's Goals:
- Complete 3 hours of study.
- Setup a BitTorrent sync server to back up my study notes across my computers.
- Do something for my family to make up for not being with them today.
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Just don't fill your new found time with mindless searching of the internet and staying disconnected with them!
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That TEDx talk was crazy. My first speaking gig ever. If I can do it, so can you. Here's the backstory if you're curious.
It did not come across as your first speaking gig, so you nailed it. Appeared very calm and collected.
19 May 17
Game Free: 32 (17 Apr)
My days are out again - yesterday should of been 31. I guess this is a reminder to get back into a regular routine. Stupid illness through all that out. I am feeling a lot better now, but not at a state to run a half marathon this weekend before Vegas, sadly. It is what it is, no point getting stressed or angry about it, I can't influence that I was sick for so long. Yesterday was somewhat interesting, I think I have worked out I have replaced my gaming hours with (mostly) other non-productive activities at the moment and that is what is causing me to be a bit unhappy with my progress, both professionally and personally. I am determined to sort this out though, one of the main reasons I wanted to give up gaming was to be more productive, so I need to get back to working on that. I watched a few of Cam's and other speakers videos last night to see if it would help, and I think it has a little bit. Something that resonated with me all of last night was "Sit with it". When you reach that block instead of looking for something else, instead of doing something else, sit there and wait until you are ready to work again. This really hit home for me - as it is not uncommon for me to have 2 tabs open or a second screen on something I am interested in (whether it be youtube, facebook, news sites, etc) while I am studying or working, and I can just alt-tab and waste countless time on it, then get angry at myself for not achieving anything. This was also covered off on GTD of how to stay focused and remove distractions by using full screen mode, etc. I was going ok with it for a little while with a focus app, where you force yourself to focus for 20-30 minutes and then reward yourself with a break, but I have fallen off the bandwagon of using this, the same as the Study Checker app that I only used for a few days. Time to get back at it!
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DAY 2 (Late to post, I know)
- Started an Arch Linux installation on my low-power laptop, then realized that I am WAY out of my element with Arch Linux. Settling for Manjaro instead, though I'm not a fan of the green. I'm planning to install Manjaro's KDE version on my desktop, but I have a stick with Windows 10 on it for the future if I choose to go back to gaming after the 90 days.
- Started Duolingo's curriculum for Spanish. Also planning to learn French and German. Because boredom.
Quiero más uvas en mi pastel.
Duolingo says some crazy sentences sometimes
Arch Linux is definitely not for beginners. I have been keen to try it out for many years now after seeing how quicker and more robust it is after you spend the countless hours configuring it - it sounds right up my alley. However I just never gave it time - I thought about booting it in a virtual machine to try it out. I guess I am too comfortable in Debian which is what I cut my teeth on 9 years ago! Manjaro looks promising though for bridging the gap for the uninitiated, I'm curious to hear your opinions on it.
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In the end the power consumption of the machine resulted in me packing up my gaming machine and putting it in the garage. As the person in the household who pays the bills and having a gigantic power bill this quarter was all I needed to pack it up and put it away. To be honest I don't think I really want to go through the process of selling it, because I don't think it would be worth that much anyway and I don't want to deal with the machine anymore.
Replaced it with a Raspberry Pi, uses 1-2% of the power of the gaming machine, can't play games, and lets me tinker with linux as a new hobby. I can literally leave it turned on at max performance for approx 80-90 hours compared to 1 hour of the gaming machine at idle.
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17 May 17
Game Free: 30 (17 Apr)
The big 30. Officially 1/3 through the 90 day detox. One month since I last fired up a game, which I remember was Craft The World. I am happy with how I have been going lately, very little urges, but not really happy with my productivity, which is somewhat due to how sick I have been. I just watched Cam's TEDx show in Boulder, wow. There was a lot of people there! Very inspiring to see someone who is just like one of us stand up in front of so many people and just go for it and nail it. Hopefully one day I will rebuild my confidence and overcome anxiety to be able to back myself to do something like that. I look forward to seeing him in action in Vegas.
So I feel a bit refreshed now after seeing that, though it doesn't make up for the reason for today's post - I have realized I have started to get slightly judgmental at the people around me. Or specifically, how they are not being productive or progressing themselves because they are enslaved by social media. You think World of Warcraft is addictive and everyone points at that for enslaving people? It's got nothing on social media. I am glad I have rolled me giving up Facebook into my 90 day detox, and I do not miss it either, but I definitely feel a lot happier going somewhere or standing in line without having to stare at my phone and see what other people are up to. Who cares. Just focus on what I am up to, take in the scenery, enjoy the moment, take the time to reflect or meditate. Anyway, it's not my position to be judgmental of anyone so I need to ensure that I stop that asap.
Still haven't completed my study submission, or worked on my research essay. I wanted to have both done before the Vegas trip, but the flight is in 9 days and I don't see it happening. I have completely underestimated my ability to study with a toddler running around the house - the only windows I seem to have to focus are after his bedtime, by which I usually am tired myself! I must talk to some people to see how they managed to do it.
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On top of all that, my gaming desktop just sits on my desk, constantly humming. I'm fairly certain that I want to install Linux on it, and use the power to run various simulations, maybe take up video editing. There's not much on the subreddit that answers the question of what to do with a gaming desktop after quitting, other than selling it (which I could do with my Corsair peripherals, since they don't play very well with Linux).
Do you have many 3D design skills? A gaming machine would be great not just for video editing, but 3D design. It could be a lot of fun, a creative outlet and there are services online that you could take on jobs and make a few bucks; for example I just submitted a couple of enquiries for quotes from CAD designers.
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Or CMG. Or OMG written with a pen running out of ink backwards.
I like the cut of your jib, sailor
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16 May 17
Game Free: 29 (17 Apr)
It's been a while since I have posted, again mostly because nothing has been happening at all. I am still battling with this illness - I think I am going on 11 days now with the virus. I can't remember the last time I was sick for this long. The silver lining is I have had absolutely no energy so haven't been bothered to even think about games! Or anything else for that matter. Apart from working, looking after my son and maybe half an hour or so of researching things to do in Vegas other than gambling, all I have been doing is sleeping. While it sounds great - it is really putting the pressure on for my studies to be complete before I fly out - I don't really want to be studying on my trip! I am not even sure if they allow laptops on planes to the US anymore - I have been reading that they are banning everything above a mobile (cell) phone.
I'd really like to get back into having goals in my journal. I was really enjoying holding myself accountable by listing them here, since the anxiety hit I have just been using a habit tracker on my phone. I'll think of a new format and work on it later this week when I get another submission done for my studies.
I haven't read as much on these forums as I usually do either - so I hope everyone is having success on their journeys!
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Welcome Ivvy
Have you started reading about the 90 day detox? It's a great place to start and you will see results very quckly, especially if you use a journal to help with the cravings. -
26 days is incredible, keep it up. This is the typical time you'll really start to see more improvements overall, especially if you focus on doing key things like exercising and being intentional with your time. Keep going, you're doing great.
When are you in Vegas? Are you the guy who messaged me that will be there at the same time?
Yes that was me! I'm there for a week, flying out the day after your talk. I am looking forward to it.
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So my name's Moe, I live in Utah, USA. Here's my introduction if you care to read it.
That's unfortunate about the Jazz
Good to see you have your journal up and running! I know what you mean about you don't have gaming to blame anymore about how things in your life are. My common one was always blaming it for not spending time with friends, not being productive, or not doing chores around the house. Now when I don't do any of that I just get angry at myself because I am to blame - it can be helpful sometimes.
Just don't burn yourself out too quickly, especially when you have been sick. This journey of ours is a marathon, not a sprint!
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I can relate to how you felt. I spent yesterday sick as well (I was throwing up, not fun). But for the first time in my teen-->adult life, I didn't want to just retreat to gaming when I was sick. I've spent legitimate time sleeping off a sickness in the past, but it was always after I had already gamed and felt I could go no further. Yesterday my main priority was to get better. I watched some Netflix, true, but I didn't even want to game! That was a totally new experience for me. It's interesting that I keep finding new things that I didn't realize were so influenced by games.
Also, just looked up what Duolingo is. THAT'S AWESOME! I didn't know something like that existed!
I seriously wish they had Japanese to learn, but I'll start off with Spanish and cross my fingers for Japanese in the future. That's great Moe! I used to be in the same boat, but sometimes I never reached that "I can't go any further" point, so I would just essentially just take the day off gaming. I just have to be careful not wasting it endlessly surfing the web, which is the point of today's entry.
Duolingo is awesome! I started using it a few years ago and I never really got into it. I have picked it up again as part of my 90 day detox and am really hooked on it now and learning far quicker than I was a few years ago. If you do go down the Spanish path let me know as that is what I am learning, it might be helpful to compare notes.
13 May 17
Game Free: 26 (17 Apr)
I am thankfully starting to feel human again, though still not productive. Today in fact was the first time I have achieved anything worthwhile in 9 days. Well, worthwhile other than keeping me and my son alive while my wife was away with work! I managed to do two submissions for my study this afternoon, and am about to start on another one when I thought I should write in here first. I am finding I am succumbing to preoccupation again, this time instead of gaming it is my rekindled passion for Raspberry Pi. I have always been fascinated by electronics since I was a kid, and in hindsight I should of studied that instead of computer science. Combine that it the possibilities of the pi and I have a recipe for disaster - me wasting lots of time and money starting (thats the key word, since I have only finished one project so far) pi builds. I was really into them when they first came out, spent a bunch of money, did my first (and only) project, then fell into gaming as that was easier. I am not ashamed of my passion for them - it is great to have a passion for something - but I need to save money for my Vegas trip (and beyond as I am wasting too much), and I need to use my spare time to either study or do chores. I am thinking I might have to use some kind of system to ensure I only spend an hour or two tinkering or reading. Maybe the Study checker app that I saw others using on here, though I found it such a chore to keep changing the activity category so many times a day. Suggestions?
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10 May 17
Game Free: 23 (17 Apr)
So a new record of game free days! I have been a bit quiet lately as I have been at home in bed sick for three days. Not recovering as fast as what as I used to because I can't get as much sleep with my son. This would have been a perfect recipe for gaming - being home alone, no distractions, nobody holding me accountable. But I don't care about them anymore. They don't interest me at all! I think my relapse did that for me, or at least helped focus that. The strongest feeling I have had to relapse has been some mates of mine talking about the original playstation - and the misty eyed nostalgia of "those were the days" came to mind. It's so easy to emulate consoles these days too...
I haven't been constructive at all since I have been sick. When I haven't been in bed I have been mindlessly surfing the internet, which is bad. That usually turns into spending money, which I tend to waste too much of. I plan to get back to being productive today, or at least book some shows in Vegas to go see while I am there so I don't spent all my time on the tables.
Broke my 13 day Duolingo streak yesterday too
Whoops. Was going so well. Back to being productive! -
In the past I would have been proud to have played that long. Now I can't figure out why I felt that way.
Values. If you valued your gaming achievements then you would be proud. Now your values have shifted - for the better - and that time is not worth the same.
Moe's Fantasy Writer Journal
in Daily Journals
Posted
Welcome back Moe! I was wondering yesterday where you had gone and was hoping you hadn't just done a handful of days then given up.
For starters, lets clear something up, I'm a Nets fan, so the fact you got to the playoffs is one up on me! I don't see us getting back to the playoffs anytime soon (enjoy our #1 pick Boston.... sheesh)
I don't think the 20 days are a waste and I don't want you to think that way. I got to 22 days before Easter before I broke. I learnt so much from that though and it put a lot of things in perspective for me, and I think I have been more productive afterwards (though I think this has tapered off lately). I am sure you learnt and achieved or gained something in your 20 days that will make your next attempt better (if you want to attempt it again).
Games aren't bad - its just whether you can keep it to a moderate level. I can't do anything to a moderate level so I will always struggle with it, but your situation might be different. The only way to find out is maybe to experiment with your current break!