Tomas

I think that's true. Sometimes when I get to the point where I am making changes in my life, I tend to get excited to change more things, faster. I can get to excited, it first gives me a boost of energy (like a sprint) but it also makes the possibility of giving up in the long run bigger. I feel I have to develop a mindset that is more future resistance, more patient and committed. Thanks for your input. Keep up the good work!

Day 8 The last week, I have been occupied with traveling and working. I embraced the digital nomad life style, to escape the cold winters and work from anywhere. I realize that I also need to escape my life back home now and then. At home I am constantly conflicted with the version of myself that I want to be, and confronted with the man I actually am. Traveling makes my life a bit less complex. There is enough to do and explore to keep my mind occupied. And there is so much more time on my hands since there are less social commitments. Like I wrote earlier, I have been using a lot of that time gaming... But the point I want to make is this. Since I quit gaming I did not really needed the "go to" activities. Well, I am reading more. So that's nice. But at night when I am tired after working I just watch a movie and go to bed. The rest of my time seems filled with natural activities like working and taking strolls. For years I would like to be making and playing more music. I am just wondering if it will become a natural "go to" activity over time, when I am in the process of not gaming a bit longer. Or do I need to take more action on this point? I will be watching this process. But I am tired of negotiating with myself. It's probably best to make a decision at some point: what will I be doing with my time and what not? But for now, l would like to accumulate my new "non gaming" mindset a bit longer without being hard on myself on how to use my time effectively. That way of thinking makes me want to escape life in the first place... so... Today I will be working on my projects Lets read at least one chapter in Respawn I have to plan for my next traveling destination Good luck to you all.

Day 7 I have been dreaming about paying games. And then when I woke up, games were on my mind. I specifically thought about crafting factories in Factorio. This game kept my occupied for a while. I just love the way you progress building your first malfunctioning mess of a factory, and then put everything you know in to something better. I remember that after my 6th build, I actually felt sorry about the fact that I could not really use or share all this new knowledge in my daily life. Well... except if I would start a youtube channel or something... Its funny to see were craving comes from. Thinking about games like this usually makes me want to... well... play games. Now that I decided not to, I'm looking at it more consciously. And you know what? I am starting to feel a bit nostalgic, I am saying goodbye, farewell... It will probably take a while. We had our fun. But its time to leave it behind. Today I will be working on my projects I will do bookkeeping and taxes Lets read at least one chapter in Respawn

Day 6 First of all: thanks guys for taking the time to reply. Although it still feels a bit awkward and vulnerable, helping each other makes the process more real and touchable. I simply had a great time at the beach. We have been swimming and snorkeling. Drove around on a motorbike going to markets and we visited a harbor were we met a couple who's sailing around the world. I am reading a book about an organisation (STRO) with the goal of creating a new type of money. It explains how all of today's money actually competes with everything that is valuable, because of the rent that needs to be paid on every loan. Its a cycle of rent and inflation. STRO wants to change local economies by providing alternatives: money that encourages the use of employment, and discourages the use of resources. A difficult but interesting subject. It makes me wonder off, and think about this world as a whole and what part I have to play. Its crazy what people nowadays do to earn money. And what am I doing? Am I creating an additional value with what I do? We are all concerned and consumed by the urgency of making a living / earning money. While there is also a big conscious change happening where people start to realize that all this can be different. We don't need that much. We don't need to consume. We don't need to over eat. We don't need entertainment every minute. It makes us unhappy in the long run. I guess consciously not playing games anymore adds to this perspective. So now... I will be back to work, doing my thing. And write and share a bit in this journal. Good luck to you all and lets make the best out of this crazy life.

That is a really cool experiment. I have done a 10 day meditation retreat a few times. No phone, no books, no games... nothing. Not even talking for 10 days for it is a silent retreat. All you do is meditate. It is definitely true that after those 10 days, you get to experience and enjoy the little things a lot more. The hard part is to stay focused after the retreat because you easily get sucked in to all the entertainment and distractions this world has to offer. So to make life as "boring as possible" in day to day life is a really good idea. Thanks for sharing, I'll consider doing the same thing.

Day 3 I realize that it is a good idea I start seeing my gaming habits as an addiction. I never really looked at it like that before. I kept justifying all those hours I spend on games because its not the only thing in my life I do. So in comparison with "real" addiction, it does not seems so bad. I work, travel, socialize... The thing is, I am addicted. I spend so much time on games while I actually want to learn and do so much other things. Games probably keep me occupied most of the time when I am not working, or socializing. Sad enough, it nowadays does keep me occupied while I am travelling. I am travelling right now. I am in South East Asia, and spend a few days gaming in my air conditioned apartment. Sad isn't it? There is so much out there to see and do. And here I am looking at my screen. So... admitting it is an addiction is a good thing. Finally I see I am the one who should take responsibility what I am doing with my time. I quit smoking before in my life. And now I quit gaming. I already notice some changes. I feel bored, or excited, stressed or I just don't know what to do with my time. So that's where Respawn comes in really handy. My new "to go" activities will be playing and composing music, drawing, running and reading books. This weekend I won't be writing because I am going to the beach, snorkeling and maybe diving. Not gaming is going to be easy 😉

Day 2 To actually start a journal like this, and write about my problems online... that's new for me. I am not really active on social media, and the fact that I'm putting some sort of record of my personal stuff where anyone can read it feels awkward. But the reason I am doing this is that I want to make this count. I can write morning pages in my own book, safely at home for no one to be seen. But I guess I feel like reaching out a bit. Hopefully I get inspired by others who want to make the best of their lives. Reading some journals from others already helped me to put things in perspective. But also to make me aware that gaming addiction is a serious problem. So I will be writing from time to time. And its probably a good idea to set an attention for most of the days. -I will continue and eventually finish the Respawn document I will think of some new "go to" activities to fill up all the empty space I will try not to be to hard on myself and dwell on the past If I get emotional, I will just start a fight on the street or rob some one. No haha... I'm just kidding. If I get emotional, I will simply try to stay calm and do good.

Day 1 I just can not justify this anymore. And I am tired of trying. After another week of trying to get Legend in Hearthstone, leveling up and down, crafting new decks, and spending hours and hours doing the same thing over and over again, I finally got to the point where I realize I need to do something about my gaming addiction. I kept justifying playing games because it seems it does not affect my life that much. I have a nice career, a wonderful girlfriend, a nice social life and I travel a lot. On the outside, it seems I'm fine and getting much out of my life. From the inside, I know better. I developed such a low self esteem. I'm now 36 years old, and I still have so many dreams to fulfill. And Iam simply wasting my precious time. Like I said, not all my free time is spend on gaming. But I need to get honest with myself, and see gaming for what it is. Its a time consuming, hypnotizing, brain dead, passive activity. And my wish is to spend my time on more valuable hobby's like making music, working out or just relaxing. So... here goes nothing. I deleted my Steam and Battle.net account. I started this journal... And lets quit cold turkey for the next 90 days!