Corvus

Day 2 without games. I relapsed after months without gaming. I am not fully sure how it started. It is vague in my head, not clean or clear. Probably a small web idle game first, then reinstalling a Steam idle game, then analysing how I could perfect it for the Steam achievements. Once achievements were back in my head, I started checking other games too. I spent hours on an indie management game. Then a few days passed with me not going outside, neglecting things, neglecting people, and I realized clearly what trap I had stepped into again. I did not quit cold turkey at first. I had a plan in mind. Since I was not far from unlocking all the achievements, I played a bit more. Most of them were just progress-based, so I pushed further with automation, even though it still took my time. I wanted the 100% to close a chapter. My first completed Steam game. I wanted to feel what it would do, even though deep inside I already knew it would change nothing. And when I got there, it changed nothing. The ironic part is that I could not even showcase it on my Steam profile because my account level was too low. Not that I needed the exposure, but it showed me how empty and absurd the whole thing was. So yes, I lost precious hours. But I also closed an open chapter in my life: the chase for achievements and trophies. It is just not worth it. Today feels flat. My brain is still adjusting after the stimulation of gaming, so normal tasks feel slower and less rewarding. I am doing chores around the house and adding more websites to my blocker. I also want to delete or block anything connected to doomscrolling. Some of us cannot be in control with this. We think a little bit of gaming cannot hurt, but for me it does. Not a little. Not casually. Not safely. I do not think I needed this relapse, but since it happened, I want to come back stronger and cleaner from it.

Day 8 without games. The last few days brought some small and unexpected game thoughts. Nothing strong, just tiny flashes, even while reading a novel I genuinely enjoy. It is almost funny how brief they are, like a nanosecond impulse to “play something” or “take control” the way games make you feel. But at the same time, reading feels far more rewarding and efficient for me. When I used to game, I spent more time preparing, planning and thinking about the game than actually playing it. Finishing chapters in a book feels cleaner and more satisfying than that loop ever did. Reading did not replace gaming directly because I was already reading in previous months, but I notice that I stay more consistent with my morning reading ritual now. Before quitting, I sometimes skipped that first session of the day. Now I go back to it naturally. Another noticeable change is that I feel less irritable overall. Small things do not get under my skin as easily. It is subtle but real. For tonight I will read and maybe watch a quiet series, nothing high in dopamine.

Day 6 without games. Yesterday the item I ordered arrived and it was the correct one. It fits, but I need one more small piece to make everything work properly. I spent part of the evening searching for the right part and it is already on the way. I’m a bit excited about it. If everything works as intended, it will be a small win at home and something I can be proud of fixing myself. Yesterday was also an eye opener on the physical side. My mind is improving, but my body clearly needs to follow. More than a year ago I was moving more, running, and eating better. I gained some weight lately and yesterday I had one of the worst carb crashes I have ever experienced. It was unpleasant and honestly a clear signal from my body to stop messing around. So starting today, even without preparation, I’m fixing that. I want to work on insulin sensitivity again and lower the glucose load for a while. That means fewer starches and fried foods. I will not ban them forever, but they need to become exceptions rather than habits. I’m also looking into using a glucose meter like the Freestyle Libre at some point, especially when I reintroduce certain foods. I want actual numbers, not just feelings. My last blood test was recent, so I will do a new one in three months and hope for better results. I also want to walk more, especially in nature. It does not need to be long. Humans are not made to stay indoors constantly, even though I genuinely enjoy being at home because it is cozy.

Day 5 without games. Yesterday I went a little out of my comfort zone. Since I’m still off work, I decided to take care of a few things outside the house. It required driving farther than I usually do on days off, and normally that alone would have made me skip it to stay home. This time I went anyway, and it felt good to follow through. I also managed to order something I needed to repair at home. It should arrive today. I just hope I picked the right item, and once it’s here, I’ll install it and see how it goes. The family gathering planned for tonight was cancelled. In the past, I probably would have celebrated that by gaming. Now, while I still appreciate having a quiet evening, I’ll use it to read or just rest. I’ve always liked my own space and time, and not having to spend hours on the road for those gatherings is honestly a relief. Nothing specific planned for today. I’ll read and do a few chores around the house. It’s my last day off before the weekend, work resumes Monday. Feeling neutral about it, not negative, but not excited either. Just steady.

Hi everyone, Day 3 without games. Three days since uninstalling Steam. I’m off work this week so there’s a lot of unstructured time. It’s probably good for the reset but also risky if I don’t use it well. I’ve started catching up on chores and will continue later today. Even short gaming sessions used to break that flow and create a lingering fog afterward. It already feels lighter mentally to move again, even in small steps. I also restarted my decluttering project. I want the home lighter and calmer by 2026. My son will handle his room, and I’ll focus on the garage. It’s messy but finishing it will bring a sense of space I’ve missed for years. I’m reading daily and want to increase it. Reading feels far more rewarding than gaming ever did, same immersion but no emptiness after. No cravings at the moment. I’m curating YouTube to avoid potential triggers by resetting history and using “don’t recommend” and “not interested.” The feed looks cleaner already. My son’s still caught in gaming too much. Grades, social energy, even his mood are affected. I have to set an example but he also needs active help. If anyone has experience or tips on how to guide a teenager through this, I’d appreciate it.

Hey everyone, It has been nearly a decade since I first posted here. I cannot say I quit gaming completely, but I have played much less over the years. During Covid I built two gaming PCs and got back into it for a while. Eventually the habit faded again. Recently I found myself pulled back in. I was not even looking for a new game, but one caught me by surprise and drew me in completely. At first it seemed harmless. Then on two weekends I ended up spending almost the entire time playing. I ignored what I needed to do, but more than that, I hated how it made me feel inside. Empty, restless, and aware that it was not good for me. I also noticed how it changed how I interacted with those close to me. I became irritated more easily, less patient, less present. After each session, I was left with a mix of guilt, sadness, and emptiness. Yesterday I deleted Steam and every game I had. Not out of guilt but clarity. I realized it is not just about lost time, it is about how gaming affects my mood, my focus, and my relationships. The most important reason is my teenage son. He is into gaming too, and I cannot guide him away from something I am still doing myself. Maybe I had to go through this again to truly understand what it does to a person. I am not against playing a video game, but for me it has to stay social. That means only when someone is over and wants to play a quick game on the console, like FC 25. I know I will not play on my own; it is just something I do for others, and that happens rarely. It is not only about avoiding video games but also about showing that there are better ways to spend time together, like board games or conversations. I am still not sure if I will open a journal yet. I am thinking about it. For now, I will be around, reading and learning. My next goal is to find a way to help my son play less, not through cold turkey, but gradually. That is the hard part, but I know I cannot help him if I am still playing a lot myself. TL;DR: Back after almost ten years. Played much less over time but recently got a clear reminder of what gaming can still do to me. My son plays too much, and I want to help him reduce, so I need to set the example first.

I took a four-day break and got back to my fitness routine yesterday. I only did about 10 miles instead of my usual 17, but I didn’t feel tired, and maybe that’s the pace I should aim for. I’ll see how I feel and make sure to include one or two rest days each week. I still need to book an appointment with a cardiologist to make sure I’m in good shape for all this, because even after 10 miles at around 60 rpm, I don’t feel completely fine—not exhausted, but not entirely okay either. It’s been another tough week at work, although looking back, it probably wasn’t as bad as it felt. Working alongside someone negative all the time just makes everything heavier. Still, I genuinely enjoy what I do, and that keeps me going. Yesterday I felt a bit empty and sad for no clear reason. I ended up having a Coke and about a third of a pack of M&M’s—so much for the diet, haha. Maybe that explains the mood too.

Hi Daniel, Great step forward selling your PS4 and all the games. 6 months ago, I left gaming for the first time, but didn't do it 100%. I still had my PS4. A few weeks later, I played it again, selling only the most addictive games I was playing (Diablo 3), and keeping casual games. It didn't take long before I bought other games. A few days after joining this community I also sold my PS4 and I felt great about it.

Hi Mario. Welcome. I've never read tons of books but like you, before the age of 13 I played a lot outside, though I had consoles at home. I actually became more and more addicted when I got an internet connection in 1998 or 1999, I'm not sure anymore. I also remember that I spent all of my holidays playing warcraft 3! When I think about it, it was just awesome. Good feelings thinking about it. It's like I don't even regret it. Not sure why, maybe because then I had no family to take care of, and it was the holidays! After War 3 came some MMORPG's ... Well I won't actually talk about them, it's not the objective ^^ We can have those nice feelings again doing something else!!

Hi Paul, Yes, we have to move past that and find something we are good at. Not being good at gaming isn't important! It has saddened me a lot though, and I couldn't really find things I was good at (like sports, playing an instrument, etc ...). But I think it's all the same, it takes practice to get better, but with a method. Gaming was the same. Just playing another game without focusing on getting better didn't work of course.

Hi Paul, and welcome! I find it amazing that at 13 year olds, you are conscious of the addiction gaming can be. It must indeed be hard to stop while your friends might all be gamers. But changing direction from now on and focusing on other hobbies but certainly on your studies and family, is great. Do you read often? I started reading only 2 years ago. I bought an e-reader to do so. While I don't read much, each time I do I like it! It's kinda weird, I'd much prefer to be an addict to books than to games. Well, can't call myself an addict to games either as I don't have any cravings or interest in gaming anymore, since I quit everything. It's only been a month, but I feel solid about it. Keep on the fight!

My performance on the bike improved after taking a day off, so it turns out rest really does help the body recover. I still need to schedule an appointment with a cardiologist, especially considering my family’s medical history. Work was intense today, and I even brought some of it home. It’s the first time I’ve done that, and I’m glad I did because I actually enjoyed working on a few things from home. This week has been so busy that I haven’t had much time to read or post on the forum. With so many new members and journals appearing, it’s getting harder to keep up with everyone. I might continue journaling privately and just join specific discussions when there’s a topic I really want to talk about.

Today I got home later than usual. After a long day at work, the first thing I did was eat because I was starving. That meant I couldn’t do my fitness session right away and had to wait, but I ended up skipping it altogether. I’m really tired, and I think it’s okay to take a break. It’s been more than 15 days of daily workouts, so I guess my body deserves a rest. Still, I enjoy it so much that it already feels like a habit, which makes me a bit disappointed. I’ve also noticed my shirts and pants feel tighter. Even though I haven’t properly adjusted my diet yet, it’s frustrating to feel like I’m gaining fat instead of losing it. I know I can lose it if I stay focused, I just need to decide where to start. Maybe keto again, or perhaps paleo, low carb, and generally eating clean. I’m also feeling stressed about my new schedule. On days like today, I get home around 5:30. If I want to put my son to bed by 8:00, that only leaves me about two and a half hours for everything else. And today, I didn’t do anything meaningful with that time. Normally I’m home by 4:00, and that extra hour and a half makes such a difference. Still, I’m sure I’ll feel better tomorrow. ;) Oh, and by the way, I haven’t felt the urge to play games at all since I quit. I even talked with a colleague today about how pointless it is to spend money on virtual items. It’s funny—my non-gaming colleagues have no idea how much they’re helping me just by being themselves.

What is Entertainment? From the dictionary: The action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment: everyone just sits in front of the television for entertainment So I guess it is subjective or are there things cast in stone, like gaming & movies, that are regarding as pure entertainment and nothing else? How are you now entertained since you left gaming? I still watch series, and while I would binge watch them after I first quit gaming, I know only watch one episode a day, while moving on my bike. I really like it. I also like to read self-help books. I'm only reading my second but I enjoy it a lot. I guess fiction novels are entertainment, but what about those self-help books? Is it also subjective like the dictionary says? Everyone finds entertainment in something different. Do we need Entertainment to function in life? What is the right balance?

Back at work today, facing a few new professional challenges. That’s a good thing though, since one of my main goals is to become a successful professional. For me, that means keeping a positive mindset at all times. It’s a bigger challenge when my direct colleague is a pessimist who complains daily about wanting to quit but never does :P I finished The Slight Edge on Saturday evening and started The Power of Habit. I read about 10 pages on Saturday and 90 on Sunday, and I’m really enjoying it. My habit of waking up at 5:30 has kicked in again. I think the cue is simply a workday, the routine is waking up early, and the reward is feeling good, avoiding traffic, and being able to leave work by 3:00. That sounds about right. I’m still keeping up with my daily fitness sessions, though I plan to get a medical check just to be safe. I now work out an hour earlier in the evening, which gives me more breathing room later. At first, I thought I’d use that time to watch a movie, but I don’t feel like it. One episode of a good show while on the bike is enough. I prefer spending the rest of the time reading The Power of Habit, and I’m glad to find non-fiction just as engaging. I really hope I’ll enjoy many more self-development books like this. It makes me wonder—what exactly counts as entertainment if we can find real enjoyment in things that aren’t usually seen that way? I guess it’s all subjective.