Day 20/90:

Good day, productive, but interestingly I had an urge to play a game. It passed fairly quick as I rationalised that it's a waste of time and I have better things to do, so it was easy to avoid. Was interesting though as I haven't really had a big urge since I started the StopGaming journey. It might mean I'm starting to heal, though? Which is great.

On to tomorrow, see you all there 👍👍👍

Day 21/90:

I'm starting to think of earlier days when I played games that had been lost deep in the dark recesses of my subconscious 😂😂 Good memories, feel-good stuff, but I think this is definitely the brain healing itself from the prior infestation.

Should have another longer post sometime over the weekend.

Apart from that, everything is going well - I don't have time to game and as I think I mentioned before, it snowballs, because the busier you are, the less time you have to game, the less time you have to procrastinate, the less chance you have of playing a game, the less time you game means you think about the game less and the FOMO etc. and so you just don't play the game, until the snowball is so large that there isn't any going back.

See you ALL. AT. THE T-O-P ⚔🛡⚔🛡

Edit:

Just to add, and this isn't necessarily an issue for some people, but I've decided to also keep a no porn daily tracker. I won't go into too much details in my logs about it, as this is a game quitters forum and not a porn quitters forum, but as I'm enjoying the logging so much and it's keeping me accountable for games, I'd like to also log my counter for no porn.

Day 21/90 StopGaming

Day 1/90 PornFree

Edited October 22, 2025Oct 22 by Pulse
Added PornFree/NoPorn daily counter

Day 22/90:

Did watch a few gaming videos briefly, but no urge to play any games. Been really busy lately, quite stressed out because I've got a lot to deal with right now. I'm just looking forward to 2-4 weeks into the future when I don't have as much to deal with.

Staying strong, though.

Day 1/90 PornFree.

Day 23/90:

Real busy day again today, feeling tired, no time for even any game videos today.

I do need to get around to completing a full media blackout of gaming, but that will probably be in like a month or two, sometime in December, as I'll be too busy to do one within the next couple of months, realistically.

It's all about the 'See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil', but you can apply that to anything, and if you do, typically you can overcome your addiction. It really is about completely removing any traces of it from your life.

See you ALL at the very top. ⚔🛡⚔🛡

Day 2/90 PornFree.

Day 24/90:

Another real busy day, but did watch some of the UFC fights (Spoiler: What a bummer about the main event!)

Didn't have any cravings today as I was very busy. Not much to add, but a productive day.

See you all tomorrow!

Day 3/90 PornFree.

Day 25/90:

Supra busy as usual, no time for remotely thinking about games today. Although I did come across a box of old games, was interesting to look through them all, but then just packed them away neatly.

Onwards and upwards, see you all tomorrow!

4/90 PornFree

Day 26/90:

Good day today, did watch a quick video of a game as had a little downtime, but was all fine.

Not much to report right now, will hopefully write up slightly more insightful posts next week as I'm super busy right now.

See you ALL... tomorrow.

1/90 PornFree (I did peek at some, so gotta reset the counter for this, but we gotta keep goin'! Back on the horse!)

Day 27/90:

Very stressed out. Way more than I usually am. Don't have enough room in my brain for remotely thinking about video games.

"Itchy, tasty" (IYKYK 😂)

So an easy day in terms of StopGaming, but stressful in other areas.

See you all tomorrow, hopefully I'll feel a bit less stressed out tomorrow 😢

2/90 PornFree

Day 28/90:

Still stressed but it's to be expected.

One thing I was thinking about: It's so much more rewarding helping other people rather than spending time gaming. With helping other people, that energy gets puts out into the world and generally just makes the world a better place. It's important to know if people are taking advantage of you, though, but if you help people you trust, they're way more likely to help you out in times of need as well, and in turn helps others, and it spreads.

Kind of a weird thought but it came to my head and even if you don't have much time, just dedicating a bit of time even once a month to helping someone, that's just so much more fulfilling and worth the time.

On and up, see you all tomorrow.

3/90 PornFree

Day 29/90

Super quick one today guys; no games, feelin' good, but stressed, exciting things happening, see you all at the TOP.

4/90 PornFree

Day 39/90

Back again, should be okay to post daily updates again. Been extremely busy so haven't been able to come online to post updates.

That busy-ness makes it impossible to game, which is good!

Hopefully will have another more insightful update in the next few days. UNTIL THEN!

14/90 PornFree

Day 40/90

Going smoothly, I'll have some time to post something a bit more insightful again tomorrow, but no issues today.

Onwards and upwards, thanks for being here.

Until tomorrow, see you ALL at 90 days (and beyond!)

15/90 PornFree

Day 41/90

So something more insightful: It's accepting that life will never actually ever be as good as video games. That sounds crazy, I know, but the reason life is the best when video games are involved is because they really help to hide anything that you're worried about. Your brain just shuts off and because you're so deep in concentration, you don't think about those things. Imagine you had a magic pill to make anything bad you're thinking about just disappear? That's what games used to be for me and for a lot of people (some people just don't know it).

It's accepting that life will simply just not be as naïve as it was back then. I won't be so blissfully ignorant anymore. I mean I've been feeling awful today, would video games fix it? No. Would it make it worse? Definitely. But would I forget about it for the time I'm playing the game? Absolutely.

I don't have the urge to game at all now, I'm feeling too low and stressed out, especially recently (not due to not playing games, just life circumstances) but games were that thing of 'Wow I can't wait to play now that new content has dropped'. It was something to constantly look forward to. Real life just doesn't move as fast as that, it's rather slow and uneventful.

I know not a ton of people read this but if you do, I gotta be honest, I'm feeling terrible. But I digress. Tomorrow is another day, onwards and upwards.

I know I'll see you all at the top, until then!

16/90 PornFree

Maybe use a pinch of salt when reading this, as I'm not on a detox streak yet - but I do want to speak from memory of 5 months off in 2023.

Firstly, sleep was way more natural when I'd stopped playing. It still is - though the decision to take a break from games itself seems to knock me out - then the next day it is actually scary how 'all guns blazing' I begin my routine. I wonder if you've noticed your own sleep quality?

Secondly, do your friends/family know about your quitting goal(s)? How serious it might look to you, with some perspective? - Yesterday afternoon, I outlined my habits/journey honestly over the years in a video call; it wasn't even difficult for me to say - perhaps thanks to practice here - but it felt like cure. -> Your progress posts look great, but some vocal talk therapy with people who could be able to listen and hear you even better probably wouldn't go amiss. You aren't alone.

Thirdly, and this is the hard part - maybe everyone (or every ex-gamer who remains mindful) needs a list of mantras/self-affirming statements for tough moments/days. If, during my first detox, on a day out with two social peers, I had been able to ground myself, I wouldn't have felt so let down/betrayed when they both seemed to forget an agreement we made with a parent present - and then retreated/relapsed back into my ex-game. That first detox was fuelled mostly by a whole lot of physical exercise and posting online/text messages. Motivation is a lot more conscious now, at least, for having some basic sentences I can repeat silently to myself. 'You're not alone' counts as one. Some can be egocentric, but when we've got a load of minute but otherwise harmless detail in front of us, we might need other statements like 'I am the master of my fate', or some such thing. Lol

I know your detox is possible. NoFap is also very worthy. Be included in fun or meaningful things with others though!

~ Matt

P.S. - Upon waking, I resisted focusing on the news and wordle puzzle on my phone to stare around and check GQ - but to call that fate.. you still had to post. 🫡

Day 42/90

Thanks for the reply @wheatbiscuit , I will respond in full tomorrow as I'm really busy tonight, but I will get around to it 👍

Due to so much going on in life right now, not even a tiny thought of video games, so the streak is pretty easy. Feeling a bit better today (in general) as well but it's still tough.

Until tomorrow!

17/90 PornFree

On 11/11/2025 at 9:54 PM, wheatbiscuit said:

Maybe use a pinch of salt when reading this, as I'm not on a detox streak yet - but I do want to speak from memory of 5 months off in 2023.

Firstly, sleep was way more natural when I'd stopped playing. It still is - though the decision to take a break from games itself seems to knock me out - then the next day it is actually scary how 'all guns blazing' I begin my routine. I wonder if you've noticed your own sleep quality?

Secondly, do your friends/family know about your quitting goal(s)? How serious it might look to you, with some perspective? - Yesterday afternoon, I outlined my habits/journey honestly over the years in a video call; it wasn't even difficult for me to say - perhaps thanks to practice here - but it felt like cure. -> Your progress posts look great, but some vocal talk therapy with people who could be able to listen and hear you even better probably wouldn't go amiss. You aren't alone.

Thirdly, and this is the hard part - maybe everyone (or every ex-gamer who remains mindful) needs a list of mantras/self-affirming statements for tough moments/days. If, during my first detox, on a day out with two social peers, I had been able to ground myself, I wouldn't have felt so let down/betrayed when they both seemed to forget an agreement we made with a parent present - and then retreated/relapsed back into my ex-game. That first detox was fuelled mostly by a whole lot of physical exercise and posting online/text messages. Motivation is a lot more conscious now, at least, for having some basic sentences I can repeat silently to myself. 'You're not alone' counts as one. Some can be egocentric, but when we've got a load of minute but otherwise harmless detail in front of us, we might need other statements like 'I am the master of my fate', or some such thing. Lol

I know your detox is possible. NoFap is also very worthy. Be included in fun or meaningful things with others though!

~ Matt

P.S. - Upon waking, I resisted focusing on the news and wordle puzzle on my phone to stare around and check GQ - but to call that fate.. you still had to post. 🫡

Day 43/90

@wheatbiscuit So I've recently moved house and it's a bit of a pain in the butt getting used to everything, it's kinda scary etc. Good for me, though, it's just that initial pain period that will eventually subside.

1. Sleep isn't too bad actually, which is good.

2. They do know, I have mentioned it briefly. I think just because I was so ready to give up games anyway, it has been a very easy process. But like I mentioned before, life seemed (and was) a lot simpler back then and I just remember feeling happier more often. I'm sure that will come back again in time, though.

3. Yes, I definitely agree with the affirmations, really for anything in life. I don't feel as though I need them so much for games now, at this point it feels like quitting games is academic, as is this journal - the goal has pretty much already been reached because I'm so checked out with games primarily because I don't have time to play them anymore. Okay yes you could argue 'will you be in the same position in a few months when your daily routine is solidified?', yes, there is that, but it would feel too much like going backwards rather than forwards, that's why I am majorly put off by playing them again. It's devolution.
   Porn, on the other hand, is tricky to completely overcome because it's much more accessible than games are. With games you have to switch on the console, or install the game on whichever hardware you're playing on, then boot it up, config the settings, yada yada. Porn is like a couple of clicks and you're in. But again, I don't want to discuss that too much on this forum as it's primarily for video games.

I do need to get back to working out, again just been soooo busy with moving, work, etc.

Socialising has also been on the backburner, maybe that's why I brought up the 'accepting life will never be as good as games, but accepting it and quitting anyway'.

Thanks for the insights, a few solid points 👍👍

In terms of progress: All good, like I said before: Quitting games for me right now is academic, so it's very easy.

Onwards and upwards to tomorrow, see you all there!

18/90 PornFree

Edited November 13, 2025Nov 13 by Pulse

Day 44/90

Been another REALLY busy day today. Not thinking about the vidya games, though, so that's always good.

Not much else to report today, feeling less stressed out which is good.

See you all tomorrow!

1/90 PornFree (damn 😂 but we go agane!)

Day 45/90

Half way there!

Another topic I wanted to touch on was the fact that video games are more for people who already have everything they want in and out of life. Let's just take the roundabout example of the married, 2.5 kids, 1 dog, two cats, white picket fence surrounding your 4 bedroom house in the suburbs kinda deal (not everyone necessarily wants this, but just as an example).

In my opinion, if whatever you want out of life you don't have and instead you spend the time playing video games, that's a great reason to quit playing them. They're only for the 'privileged' people who have done it all in life, they've accomplished everything they wanted to accomplish and hey, God forbid if they were in a car accident and died the next day, they'd be happy with their life. That's not for you, and it's not for me, it's for them.

The funny thing is, most of those kinds of people wouldn't even think about playing video games anyway because they want to move onto the next thing (that's what keeps us human and keeps us alive, that desire for more exploration, more accomplishment, etc.) but the point still stands; if there is something missing in your life, don't drown it out with video games, or porn, or junk food, or whatever. Cut that stuff out first, accomplish what ever it is that you want to accomplish and only re-evaluate after that.

Honestly, though, I want to achieve a state of being where I don't need these bad habits ever again. Because we become extremely powerful without these bad habits, and that's what I want, to be powerful in my own life to do what I really want to do.

We're half way up the mountain, see you again tomorrow.

PornFree 1/90

Day 46/90

Quick one today: No issues although strangely I did think about a game and GOT A CRAVING?! It's weird because I even said 'quitting is academic'. I mean admittedly I forgot about it again a minute or two later, but it's kind of crazy how a craving can be so strong after it being so easy for so long.

Always gotta be prepared, gotta be ready.

Stay sharp out there, people, and I'll see you at the top.

PornFree 1/90

Day 47/90

Another quick check in on day 47: Not much to report although I do REALLY need to dial it in. Sometimes I like to fry my dopamine receptors with TV shows, movies, YouTube, etc. I gotta reel it in. It's because of the big changes in my life that I feel I need to 'reward' myself. I know exactly what I have to do to reel it in, and the past few hours I have reeled it in, but it's when maybe I go out for drinks on the weekend or I get ill or something, it all goes by the wayside again and I unravel all the progress. Gotta learn that we're human and thus imperfect, just gotta get back on the horse. I'm adding a NoSurf counter as well, which means no pointless TV shows, movies, YouTube videos, porn viewing, etc. if I want to achieve my dreams.

Until tomorrow!

2/90 PornFree

1/90 NoSurf

Why are you trying to stay away from surfing? Looks like a fun sport.

The moment i got injured during my rock climbing session, i increased daily films. I looked at ways to counter that and decided to watch the most boring films. They eventually pushed me to work more, but i cant go without distractions completely.

Day 48/90

3 hours ago, Amphibian220 said:

Why are you trying to stay away from surfing? Looks like a fun sport.

The moment i got injured during my rock climbing session, i increased daily films. I looked at ways to counter that and decided to watch the most boring films. They eventually pushed me to work more, but i cant go without distractions completely.

Haha, so if you're serious I mean surfing as in pointless web surfing (I think there's still a NoSurf subreddit as well).

Tbh maybe movies is harsh, as yes on the odd occasion a movie isn't too bad. And I lied about TV shows, I've disciplined my brain to watch an entire TV show before starting a new one, so I haven't watched TV in a while, but pointless web surfing (YouTube etc.) is a big problem I have when I have free time. I could be either working on my actual job or working on my side professions.

Supra busy today again as it's the week, but the streaks are, surprisingly, going well! Staying on the horse, y'all.

I'll catch you ALL at the very top

PornFree 3/90

NoSurf 2/90

Day 49/90

Really busy today as it's mid-week. Not much to report, no thoughts of vidya etc. so pretty easy again today.

Until tomorrow!

PornFree 4/90

NoSurf 3/90

Got you now. I never used this term, but used browsing instead so I didnt immediately pick up on what you were saying. I actually took some beginner lessons in real surfing and it was great fun.

I steer clear from rock climbing because i got an injury from it and then repeatedly injured myself by trying to get back in the sport.

I had full recovery from screen addictions a few years ago until I got into work that was too stressful and this made me go back to watching stuff. Another thing that happened was that some memories related to the past work issues resurfaced and that somewhat knocked me down.

I rallied people not to give in to sadness on this forum and went a good two years without being sad or negative. As work problems mounted, I suddenly gave in to doubts. Doubts spiraled into stress. I realized it takes little to throw me off course even after i used a recovery plan by following some guides.

My work environment generally wasn't conducive to recovery.

Edited November 19, 2025Nov 19 by Amphibian220

9 hours ago, Pulse said:

Day 48/90

Haha, so if you're serious I mean surfing as in pointless web surfing (I think there's still a NoSurf subreddit as well).

Tbh maybe movies is harsh, as yes on the odd occasion a movie isn't too bad. And I lied about TV shows, I've disciplined my brain to watch an entire TV show before starting a new one, so I haven't watched TV in a while, but pointless web surfing (YouTube etc.) is a big problem I have when I have free time. I could be either working on my actual job or working on my side professions.

Supra busy today again as it's the week, but the streaks are, surprisingly, going well! Staying on the horse, y'all.

I'll catch you ALL at the very top

PornFree 3/90

NoSurf 2/90

10 hours ago, Pulse said:

Day 49/90

Really busy today as it's mid-week. Not much to report, no thoughts of vidya etc. so pretty easy again today.

Until tomorrow!

PornFree 4/90

NoSurf 3/90

Well done on staying porn free for 4 days in a row. I can appreciate your effort in working on yourself. Keep it up.