NEW VIDEO: I Quit MMOs and THIS Happened
alphadax
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Posts posted by alphadax
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Day #11
Daily reflection:
Overall, a good day today. I took a break from programming which I think was needed. I'll probably try to take the weekends off. Didn't feel like doing much today which I think was fine since it's a weekend. The weather was gorgeous out so i took a walk early in the morning. For some reason i got stressed later and started worrying about things that don't really matter right now. I need to remind myself to take things 1 hour, 1 day at a time. But I did get a lot of household stuff done today which is good. Starting to make progress on cleaning my room. Tomorrow I plan on doing laundry first thing and work on programming some more.
Sleep (Goal: 8 hours, 11:00 pm-7:00 am)
Good, keep changing my goals around... I think 8 hours is the minimum for me to feel good throughout the day. Need to set a consistent alarm now.
Daily exercise (Goal: 30 min)
Walk, household chores
Things I am grateful for today (Goal: 5 things)
1. Water
2. Sunshine
3. Music
4. Colors
5. People
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19 hours ago, Marek said:
Good job on making progress! Boredom is fairly natural after you stop gaming. We need several hobbies and activities to fill in the huge void left by gaming and everything that comes with it. What kind of anime and books do you like? I found those two hobbies to be great as a replacement, but one need to be cautious of binge watching haha.
For anime, I pretty much watch anything that has good ratings. Right now I am watching the 2001 Fruits Basket--very wholesome slice of life.
For books I haven't read anything in a while really, just getting back into it. I used to read a lot back in elementary school (fantasy/adventure.)
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Day #10
Daily reflection:
Hello! Today I made good progress on my algorithms work. I think tomorrow I will switch things up though and do some household chores first. Visited my young niece for a couple hours. She is very close to being able to walk. I hope I can see her walk soon.
Picked up a few much needed fruits and veggies from the store. Tried a new recipe, Turkish bulgur. Very simple, only need peppers, onions, tomatoes, and tomato paste. Quite tasty.
Had a good chat with my friend about his book. I definitely enjoyed reading it and I'd like to read more often. It's a great way to relax.
Sleep (Goal: 8 hours, 11:00 pm - 7:00am)
Woke up at 6:30 randomly? I'm setting my alarm for 8 just in case I need more sleep
Daily exercise (Goal: 30 min)
Dumbbell exercises, household chores
Things I am grateful for today (Goal: 5 things)
1. My glasses
2. My breath
3. My mind
4. Friendship
5. Air conditioning!
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Day #9
Summary of the day:Pretty normal day, slept in a bit later than I wanted but I had a lot of energy once i got out of bed. Made good progress and actually finished the algorithms lectures and assignment for this week. Felt a bit bored at points throughout the day and wasn't sure what to do. Got caught up on anime and finished my friend's book. I enjoyed reading so I might try to find another book to read. I still need to exercise more. The weather was really bad today so I didn't want to go outside. I might try to put together some kind of exercise routine for when I'm stuck indoors. It doesn't even really have to be exercise, it could be cleaning up around the house. Just something to keep me moving for at least 30 minutes 5 days a week.
Sleep (Goal: 8 hours, 11:00 pm - 7:00am)
Slept in today 11:30-9:30
Daily exercise (Goal: 30 min)
~15 min of dumbbell exercises
Things I am grateful for today (Goal: 5 things)
Will report back tomorrow
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Day #8
Summary of the day:I can feel myself losing some of the energy I had from Cam's motivational speeches and quitting games. I haven't felt the urge to play games much at all, but it has been challenging to manage my time. Before whenever I had free time, I made sure to leave my schedule completely open. I did whatever i felt like doing in the moment. Now my free time is a lot more structured, and it's hard to fit in everything I want to do. I think I'd like to set up some kind of rotation of activities. That way maybe I'm not doing everything every single day, but every other day. Anyway, I made good progress on my algorithms assignment today and spent some good time with family. Tomorrow I plan to work hard on my assignment and household chores. I also have a couple odds and ends I'd like to look at.
Sleep (Goal: 8 hours, 11:00 pm - 7:00am)
12am - 8am (8 hrs), continuing back 15 minutes every day
Daily exercise (Goal: 30 min)
Walk around the neighborhood with my brother and niece
Things I am grateful for today (Goal: 5 things)
1. I am grateful for sunshine and warmth
2. I am grateful for music
3. I am grateful for couches
4. I am grateful for apples
5. I am grateful for nap time
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In regards to technology, one thing I have done is disable all notifications on my phone that are not call, text, calendar, or alarm. That way I am only checking email / Facebook / etc when I set aside time for it, and not when I randomly get pinged.
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In my experience with meetings, the best thing is to be prepared for the agenda and know what you want to get out of the meeting. It sucks to sit through meetings without knowing why you are there...
Glad you're doing well and good luck with your challenging day tomorrow.
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Day #7
Summary of the day:Took a break from algorithms in the morning and decided to read for a couple hours instead. Made good progress in friend's book, over halfway finished now. Watched the lectures for week 2 on stacks and queues. I had a friend help me with the assignment I was struggling with and I feel a lot better about it now. Even though I failed, I think I can say that I learned something from it. I've definitely come a long way in only a few days, not just with programming but with not gaming and everything else. Sometimes I think it helps to think about how far you've come. Try not to beat yourself up over the little things. Get back on the horse and keep riding. Use every opportunity to improve yourself, especially failure. Look to others not for social comparison, but for inspiration and guidance. In times when you're feeling stressed or bored or inadequate, show some grit. Keep going and don't give up so easily, and be proud of yourself for that. Change doesn't happen overnight. It takes constant and consistent effort to become the person you want to be. The best version of yourself. So for that, I will keep going. But don't forget to exercise and meditate every once and a while 🙂
Sleep (Goal: 8 hours, 11:00 pm - 7:00am)
Roughly 12am-8:15am, tonight: 12am-8am
Daily exercise (Goal: 30 min)
30 min walk at the park + meditation
Things I am grateful for today (Goal: 5 things)
1. Dad
2. Mom
3. My cat
4. My niece
5. My aunts and uncles
6. My roommates
7. Almonds and Prunes
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Day #6
Summary of the day:Again, another pretty frustrating day with programming. Not much to report, but still haven't been gaming so that's good. I'm going to move on with this assignment towards other things. I think I got the general gist of it; just the auto-grader put more points into timing than I thought. My approach was geared more towards full correctness, but i still couldn't get a passing grade. Not that it matters since this is all for fun and learning anyway, but still pretty frustrating. Tomorrow I will be starting Stacks and Queues. I hope the next assignment will be easier now that I got the hang of Java.
Sleep (Goal: 8 hours, 11:00 pm - 7:00am)
7hr 45 min (1am - 8:45)
Daily exercise (Goal: 30 min)
Didn't get to it today 😞
Things I am grateful for today (Goal: 5 things)
Will report back tomorrow
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Congrats on your first week! It seems you are keeping busy with work, school etc. Good luck.
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Day #5
Summary of the day:A bit frustrated today. I've been working hard on my coding project but run into several roadblocks, making it take longer than expected. I think I just need to slow down and think about what I want to get out of it. I really enjoyed the lectures but the assignment was just frustrating since my Java skills are not so great. I don't want to overwork it and get frustrated, but I also don't want to do it too slowly because I wanted to finish it by Monday June 15th. Right now I would be slightly behind that schedule.
I'm going to try to get on track to at least pass the assignment (over 80%) by working on it some more tonight. If I can at least pass, I think I will move on to the next topic. I mainly wanted to learn the algorithms, whereas this exercise was more about Java syntax and implementation. I hope it will go smoother as I move along in the course.
At this right I might not have the energy to do more Project Euler questions like I had hoped originally. Perhaps I will save these for after completing the course. I can't do too much because I also need to start thinking about cleaning the house in preparation for moving out.
Sleep (Goal: 8 hours, 11:00 pm - 7:00am)
Not sure, I think 1am-9am? I tried to go to bed at 10:30 but couldn't fall asleep. Going to try pushing it back 15 minutes each day.
Daily exercise (Goal: 30 min)
15 minute walk today. Really wanted to get back to programming
Things I am grateful for today (Goal: 5 things)
1. I am grateful for my mom!
2. I am grateful for the conversations I had with my family today
3. I am grateful for the sunny weather during my walk
4. I am grateful for this programming challenge, it would not be any fun if it was too easy!
5. I am grateful for the people who are thinking about me
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On 5/8/2020 at 10:20 PM, PianoLearner said:
There is so much to achieve but I have to take it one step at a time. It would be impossible to become a piano god, a profitable forex trader, building a gym habit, learning to paint, becoming a senior business analyst and be the perfect boyfriend all at the same time. One step at a time, for now School, then piano it is
One day, one hour at a time my friend. You got this!
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5 hours ago, obelix_mtg said:
Today is day 6. I went through Module 2.
- I have reached out to a couple physical gaming stores to sell my full Magic The Gathering collection (slow progress here, I should probably follow-up)
- I have sent a request to Blizzard to fully delete my accounts, which will erase forever my WoW and Hearthstone progress (this one was not easy, proud of it)
- I have installed and activated Cold turkey for a couple days - which is helping a lot with avoiding side distractions like consuming content about the game. I will reactivate Amazon, Netflix and Youtube, though, and I must remain careful not to find gaming videos.
I also went through Modules 3 and 4, but I am yet to complete my worksheet for new activities. That last part is proving difficult for me to do, because part of me is struggling to completely give up games, I miss them and they do feel more interesting than other activities I can undertake. I know it's a very important step, and I will get to it soon.
I found the worksheets extremely helpful. I don't remember which module but one of them is about filling up your daily schedule. Once I had a bunch of activities I wanted to try, I just filled up my calendar with them as much as possible. Now I don't even have to think about what I want to do today because everything is already there, and I have something to look forward to. It's good to figure out those activities right away because it fills up time that you would normally want to game.
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Day #4
Summary of the day:Finished Respawn today! Also got my laundry taken care of and cleaned the bathroom. Showering in a clean tub is the best feeling ever... My right ear was feeling kind of clogged up, so I did some research on how to fix that. Some people suggested hydrogen peroxide, but I'm a bit leery of just putting stuff in my ear. My right ear's always kind of been like this, so I think it's probably better if I just go to a ENT at some point. Unless it starts to hurt or something I think I will wait until this virus stuff clears out. Started working on Algorithms homework 1 which is a percolation problem. The course has been more difficult than expected, just because it uses Java and it's been over 4 years since I had to code in Java. I'm going to try to relearn things as I go. Hopefully the required Java knowledge doesn't get too in depth because I really don't feel like becoming a Java expert. I just want to learn the algorithms.
Had more cheeseburgers and guac today... So tasty. Practiced my guitar for a bit this evening since my mom wanted me to play for her on mother's day. Today went by so fast, probably because I woke up a bit later than I wanted. I will try to get to bed early so I can get up earlier. I think 7 hours is still not enough for me, so I'm going to try to get 8 hours consistently and see how that goes. I think the lamp by my bed is keeping me up, so I'm going to try reading in a different room with minimal light (after brushing my teeth), then head straight to bed.
Sleep (Goal: 8 hours, 11:00 pm - 7:00am)
10 hours? (11:30pm - 9:30am) - I slept in today..... Guess I need to get to bed earlier.
Daily exercise (Goal: 30 min)
30 minute walk after lunch - I ate too much food, so I was waddling more than walking...
Things I am grateful for today (Goal: 5 things)
1. I am grateful to have fresh food such as the cheeseburgers and guacamole that i ate today
2. I am grateful to have a clean shower so that I can relax and feel refreshed for the day
3. I am grateful for my glasses that allow me to see clearly
4. I am grateful for this time to reflect and improve on my life
5. I am grateful for my hands which allow me to do so many things
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Hi,
I just finished Respawn, and based on that I'm sure there is a lot of good content in Cams' 30 day challenge.
However, I'm not sure if I should start this right away or wait for quarantine to be over, so i can go out and do more things.
What do you guys think?
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5 hours ago, Erik2.0 said:
Hello, welcome to the forums. Hope you're doing well.
Thanks Erik, to you as well.
Day #3
Summary of the day: started out with another module on the game quitters program. Then started the Algorithms 1 course on Coursera. The content and pacing was a bit more difficult than expected, but definitely manageable. I think I will learn a lot, and I hope it will make me a better programmer. I downloaded a meditation app on my phone and did a guided meditation after lunch. It was nice. Had a phone call with a family member and spent some time planning my schedule and logistical things for the next couple months. At this point I realized the weather was clearing up, and took the opportunity to finally get to the grocery store (even though I didn't want to.) My fridge was almost completely barren, so I was really happy to have everything stocked up again. Fresh fruits and vegetables never tasted so good. I think in the future I might try to make a habit of always going to the store at the same day/time. I made some guacamole and cheeseburgers which really hit the spot (probably ate too much.) Since then I've been vegetating on the couch, getting ready to wind down for the night.
Sleep (Goal: 7+ hours, in bed by 11:30 pm)
7 hours (11:30pm - 6:30am)
Daily exercise (Goal: 30 min)
Didn't go for a walk today, but I did get out of the house and go to the grocery store, so I'm counting that since it's raining now 😛
Things I am grateful for today (Goal: 5 things)
1. I am grateful to have fresh food again
2. I am grateful that the weather was nice at least for a while
3. I am grateful for my friends and family
4. I am grateful for this comfy couch I am laying on now
5. I am grateful to be full (not hungry) and content
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One thing I did not realize when quitting games is that my life did not only revolve around the game itself. 90% of my YouTube feed was also gaming content. Many of my friends are gamers. So it makes things much more difficult.
I agree about the numbness and relationship issues... This is another big reason I decided to quit gaming.
I am frequently amazed at how much extra time I actually have to try other things now.
Edit: The anonymity is interesting... I feel almost the other way around. O don't care if people know who I am. I am fine with it, this is who I am and what I am going through. I am trying to be honest with myself.
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For me, it is easy to do life on "autopilot". The challenge is to be intentional with our time. That is where we will see the most results, because we are measuring and budgeting our time as a resource, rather than as something to be wasted.
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I also get tired around 2 or 3 pm... Come wake me up when "paid naptime" is a thing...
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Day #2
Almost forgot to do the journal today. I've been keeping busy, which I guess is a good thing. I'll have to put a time in my calendar for this. Before or after reading, that is the question. I think it should be the last thing before bed.
Summary of the day: did a few modules on the game quitters program, followed by some tidying up on my YouTube feed and other digital distractions. I left many discord servers that I have been a part of for some time which was hard for me to do. A few members reached out to me to see how I was doing, which was nice. I told them my plans and everyone was supportive.
I found a collaborative drawing program called DrawPile that I might explore as a creative and social outlet. My options are fairly limited with quarantine for socializing, so I thought I might as well try something new.
After lunch I went to the park and did a quick walk and meditation. Previously I have only done guided meditation, so I'm not really sure if in doing it right. I was feeling tired / bored so I watched a few episodes of Fruits Basket anime. Motivated myself to clean the fridge and finished up leftovers for dinner. Called and chatted with friends for a bit. I was a little late to the call which made me feel bad. I need to prioritize the time other people give me more over my own needs.
Everyone is struggling with staying motivated during this time, so I am proud of myself for what I have accomplished so far. Finally started reading my friend's book today as well. It's really good, I hope it does well and that more people will read it. It's amazing that he wrote all of it by himself and he's been working on it for so long (over a year.) I am impressed by his resilience and I hope I can inherit some of it.
Sleep (Goal: 7+ hours, in bed by 12:00 am)
6 hours (3am - 9am)
Trying push sleep schedule back so I might be a little sleep deprived for a few days
Daily exercise (Goal: 30 min)
30 minute walk after lunch
Things I am grateful for today (Goal: 5 things)
1. I am grateful that I was able to have a fulfilling and productive day without gaming
2. I am grateful for grass (it smells and looks so nice...)
3. I am grateful for the newfound time I have to pursue my goals
4. I am grateful to be happy and healthy today
5. I am grateful for wool socks. They are cozy and warm.
"Although the scars of yesterday remain
You can go on living as much as your heart believesYou can't be born again
Although you can change
Let's stay together always"-Fruits Basket
Thanks for reading.
-Austin
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Day #1
This seems like a pretty good idea. It's a habit I tried a while ago but stopped after some time because I didn't know what to write about in my journal. It's kind of funny actually because I've also been going through this course on the science of well-being: https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being/home/week/1 They recommend keeping a daily gratitude journal. So I'll include that here, as well as my requirements I have chosen for Week 7 (exercise and sleep.)
Sleep (Goal: 7+ hours, in bed by 12:00 am)
9 hours (4am - 1pm)
Daily exercise (Goal: 30 min)
30 minute walk around the park after dinner
Things I am grateful for today (Goal: 5 things)
1. I am grateful for this community to help me achieve my goals
2. I am grateful to be alive and well today
3. I am grateful for my friends and family supporting me
4. I am grateful for the life that surrounds me, the birds and other animals that made my walk interesting today
5. I am grateful for the time I have to consider and achieve my goals
Don't know whether I want to report on these daily, so I'll research them more later:
(Meditation)
(Visualization)
(Daily affirmation)
(Goals)
Thanks for reading.
-Austin
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Hi Dave, I think we are all here because we have things in our lives we'd like to get back to. I hope this community can help you find those things.
-Austin
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Hi Mathieu, thanks for sharing your experience. I also try to play games casually but I end up investing way too much time into them. When I play games I always get obsessed with one game for a long time. I try to become the best, then realize it's not worth the time like you said (even though already wasting thousands of hours... heh...)
I also play piano, I hope we can learn some tunes together 🙂
Best,
Austin
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Hi, my name is Austin and I'm from Columbus, Ohio. I'm 22 years old and have been a gamer my entire life.
I want to quit gaming because it allows me to ignore everything else in my life. When I have important decisions to make or things to do, I throw all of it under the bus and just start gaming.
Gaming is keeping me from forming meaningful personal relationships. When I am with friends or family and all I can do is think about gaming and not even appreciate the time I am spending with them, then I know there is a problem. The relationships I make from gaming don't feel real, because I don't really care about the other person, and they don't really care about me. We're just two random strangers. When I think about investing however many hours I spent playing games into real personal relationships, I feel like I could be much happier.
I also don't like the person I become when I am gaming. I can get very angry, frustrated, or upset over a simple game, to the point where I become a completely different person. I become like a child. I say unkind things. It's not like me and I never want to be that person again.
Cheers,
Austin
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I hope this works
in Daily Journals
Posted
Sorry about your stressful situation, I hope it gets better for you. Remember if you feel like playing games: you feel like playing games "for now".... It's just a feeling and it will pass eventually as all feelings do. If you recognize the feeling it will have less power over you.