Hello!

This last few months I have been working around 60-80 hours a week in my dream industry. My position is still very entry, but I am given a lot of responsibilities and there is tons of room to grow. However, when I get home, I started to realize that my life is so empty. I just sort of turn on my MMORPG, and stare at a screen.

I am by no means a far gone addict. I have a job, I work out, and I think on the surface you wouldn't think that I have a gaming problem. I think in the past, gaming was much more of an issue. I was unemployed, gaming maybe 60 hours a week on the same MMORPG, eating unhealthy and it was just bad overall. Despite the fact that I am now a contributing member of society, I absolutely feel like I am not living up to my potential. I used to have more friends, I used to date more, and just overall this isn't the life that I want.

If I'm only alive for 80 years, I'd like the next few decades to be memorable. The truth is that very few moments in gaming are deeply memorable to me. I can remember trying to get the scarab gun in Halo 2 as a kid, or playing some friend slop games. But the ratio of hours spent to actual memories is so lopsided. The vast majority of time, I don't remember anything and nothing was gained. You can argue that real life is like that too, but I disagree. I think fondly about my real life memories, the photos I took with my friends, the places I went to, the feelings I had.

So anyway, I have decided to take a 90 day detox. I am already 12 days in and this is the first day I've felt cravings. It's honestly just nostalgia, I don't actually think playing the games would make me happy.

Honestly shout out Cam too for this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hlroDQ_Qvo

I feel like I am on the edge of achieving something great. At a fork in my life where my dream job is at the tip of fingers. I have good friends and my family is well. I'd be a foul to be distracted right now. I'm not even unhappy in my real life, I am actually much less happy while gaming than even my worst day at work.

End of day 12.

Sold my gaming PC and got a nice $2,400 for it. Honestly the guy that bought my PC kinda reinvigorated why I'm quitting gaming. Drove a nice car, probably in his 40s, but so socially inept and neurotic. He was so worried about parking it was weird. I've sold a lot of computer parts in my life and I will say that a lot of people I've met (gamers) are really freaking weird. Poorly socialized, rude, missing social cues, not the best hygiene and overall unkept appearance. I notice these traits in myself too especially when I get too sucked into a video game - my social skills definitely get rusty and I'm just suddenly less extroverted overall.

Was watching a Steve Jobs talk, just something motivational to get me through this craving period. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYAnJ_QyCQg

What stuck out to me was Amor Fati. It seems yesterday I was 18. I had so many dreams. Then I was 22, I started to realize that my dreams might require a lot of work to achieve. Now I'm in my mid twenties and I am making good progress towards those dreams. I just need to have laser focus and video games are a hinderance to that. I want a life full of good friends, abundance, and a loving partner and family. Video games genuinely don't play into that lifestyle.

Edited December 11, 2025Dec 11 by LetsTryThisOut

Two weeks down of quitting gaming.

Had a disaster happen at the start up I work for. Was up 20 hours. Honestly, moments like this made me wish I locked in more when I was younger. I could be working at a cushy 9-5 job, probably making more than I do now. Overworked, and underpaid for what I'm bringing. But this is another reason why I never want to touch games again. I just want a better life for myself.

Was tempted to build a new PC, but I realize I'm just chasing the dragon and I don't think I will ever feel that spark again. Chapter of my life is over

Hi! Read all your posts through. Have a pat on your back from me for taking the courage to fight against a habit and a pattern of thought. This is arguably one of the hardest thing to do as a human being. Habits make us develop a certain hormonal balance (reward cycle) which is why when we try to change them we are literally experiencing withdrawal simptoms.
That applies even to smaller habits, but that is especially extremely so, when we are talking about such a huge sucking black hole as Gaming, on which the members of this forum presumably have spent a very big chunk of their daily time for long periods.

Stay strong as you go through the withdrawal. As time goes on your body will find a way to get those hormones from other sources. But you can expect it to be painful for some time.
The longer you go though, the milder it should get. Now is the hardest time. Remember that every day and keep patting yourself on the back for even daring to take such a huge undertaking.

Also 12 days is nothing to be underestimated, on the contrary, that is, in my humble opinion, quite the progress.

One more note: Pay attention you don't put all your being and hopes on this job. Because your promotion, or even keeping this job does not depend 100% on you.
It is very completely fine, and may be helpful to concentrated on getting ahead in it. But just keep somewhere in the back of your mind, that it is just a gift from god, borrowed to you, and may be taken away at any moment. Yes, it is painful to think that some things like our loved ones, our health, our abilities may be taken away from us tomorrow. But it is so.

When you accept that, it will help you not completely break down when the inevitable earthquake eventually comes. This might be very far ahead, or might not, but eventually it will happen, because the only constant is change. In any case, that's just a thought to keep in the back of your mind.

I am very grateful for all the opportunities I have had in my life up to now, and I have been slapped today once more, by not reaching the external goal I was aiming at. This post is just here to pose a reminder to myself, as it is to give you possibly helpful advice.

In conclusion, once again, all the stuff I've written now are not something to focus on, you now need all your energy on the big undertaking you have taken. But just remember to keep it in the back of your mind - That the only thing you can control, is your actions. That is, however quite a bit of power if you ask me. :)

Best wishes. Feel free to share your thought openly. I accept and consider criticism :)

6 hours ago, Yan said:

Hi! Read all your posts through. Have a pat on your back from me for taking the courage to fight against a habit and a pattern of thought. This is arguably one of the hardest thing to do as a human being. Habits make us develop a certain hormonal balance (reward cycle) which is why when we try to change them we are literally experiencing withdrawal simptoms.
That applies even to smaller habits, but that is especially extremely so, when we are talking about such a huge sucking black hole as Gaming, on which the members of this forum presumably have spent a very big chunk of their daily time for long periods.

Stay strong as you go through the withdrawal. As time goes on your body will find a way to get those hormones from other sources. But you can expect it to be painful for some time.
The longer you go though, the milder it should get. Now is the hardest time. Remember that every day and keep patting yourself on the back for even daring to take such a huge undertaking.

Also 12 days is nothing to be underestimated, on the contrary, that is, in my humble opinion, quite the progress.

One more note: Pay attention you don't put all your being and hopes on this job. Because your promotion, or even keeping this job does not depend 100% on you.
It is very completely fine, and may be helpful to concentrated on getting ahead in it. But just keep somewhere in the back of your mind, that it is just a gift from god, borrowed to you, and may be taken away at any moment. Yes, it is painful to think that some things like our loved ones, our health, our abilities may be taken away from us tomorrow. But it is so.

When you accept that, it will help you not completely break down when the inevitable earthquake eventually comes. This might be very far ahead, or might not, but eventually it will happen, because the only constant is change. In any case, that's just a thought to keep in the back of your mind.

I am very grateful for all the opportunities I have had in my life up to now, and I have been slapped today once more, by not reaching the external goal I was aiming at. This post is just here to pose a reminder to myself, as it is to give you possibly helpful advice.

In conclusion, once again, all the stuff I've written now are not something to focus on, you now need all your energy on the big undertaking you have taken. But just remember to keep it in the back of your mind - That the only thing you can control, is your actions. That is, however quite a bit of power if you ask me. :)

Best wishes. Feel free to share your thought openly. I accept and consider criticism :)

Damn you're right. Thank you for the kind words and also the foresight. Definitely coming to terms that this start up obviously has a very high failure chance. I'm not actually too bought into it anymore. It just beats video games by a long shot haha. Got to see some pretty nice views (had to be in the field) during this 20 hour catastrophe, dealt with a lot of different stakeholders. I definitely want to put more time into finding a regular 9-5 so I have more time to myself. Going to work on some personal projects and apply to other positions for sure.

The itch to play the games is still there. The itch to build a nice PC. But I will let these feelings come and go. Also rewatching game quitters videos is really helpful :)

Thanks for reading again man!

Not gonna lie, a bit down today. Kind of realizing that whilst a lot of people developed interesting skills like guitar, bushcraft, playing a sport, I was chasing ranks in video games. I missed out on so many social events growing up and lots of experiences.

Going skiing soon and I realized how uninformed I am about what I need which is sort of embarrasing considering I live in a very cold region. Not too down on myself, it's exciting starting a new adventure, but I do realize I have a lot of catching up to do.

2 hours ago, LetsTryThisOut said:

Not gonna lie, a bit down today. Kind of realizing that whilst a lot of people developed interesting skills like guitar, bushcraft, playing a sport, I was chasing ranks in video games. I missed out on so many social events growing up and lots of experiences.

Going skiing soon and I realized how uninformed I am about what I need which is sort of embarrasing considering I live in a very cold region. Not too down on myself, it's exciting starting a new adventure, but I do realize I have a lot of catching up to do.

Sounds like maybe you feel a bit embarrassed because you don't know how to ski? I don't know how to ski but I did take a few ice skating lessons when I was younger. It was really fun, lots of exercise. Hope you enjoy the skiing. Everyone is on their own journey. Don't compare yourself to others or you will constantly think about how much you need to catch up. If I compare myself to you, I've never skiied and I would wish I could ski too. I don't have a job. Do I need to catch up to you? No, of course not. Everyone is on their own journey and you could compare yourself to who you were a day ago, an hour ago or even a moment ago. That's where the growth and confidence comes from in my opinion.

On 12/14/2025 at 7:47 PM, allanjchiang said:

Sounds like maybe you feel a bit embarrassed because you don't know how to ski? I don't know how to ski but I did take a few ice skating lessons when I was younger. It was really fun, lots of exercise. Hope you enjoy the skiing. Everyone is on their own journey. Don't compare yourself to others or you will constantly think about how much you need to catch up. If I compare myself to you, I've never skiied and I would wish I could ski too. I don't have a job. Do I need to catch up to you? No, of course not. Everyone is on their own journey and you could compare yourself to who you were a day ago, an hour ago or even a moment ago. That's where the growth and confidence comes from in my opinion.

I agree with you man, comparison really is the thief of joy. I have really learned that success that you see that is external is just that - external. I think I have come to meet a lot of people who are doing well on paper, but maybe not so much in private. Grass isn't always greener on the other side. Sorry I replied very late. I've really been reflecting on my life, what I want, what I value and I realized that I do have some screws not quite right up there that I gotta address. I'm just really grateful that I have the time and clarity to address my personal flaws and how they are preventing me from being better, happier and healthier.

On 12/15/2025 at 1:36 AM, Rosa A. Soles said:

This is a really honest and self aware post. The way you described the gap between hours spent gaming and actual memories really hit home.

Cravings around this stage are normal, especially when gaming used to be your way to unwind. Noticing that it is nostalgia rather than real happiness is a big win. You are not running from life anymore, you are choosing what actually matters to you.

It sounds like you are at an important turning point, and you are handling it thoughtfully. Keep going, the empty space you feel now is where better things usually start.

It's crazy that I've been seeing friends more, redecorating my house, doing a bunch of things off my list, walking more, sleeping more, working out consistently. I've realized it's not just the time, but the mental energy. Video games take a lot of focus and brain power. Now I finally feel that I am motivated to do what I should be doing haha.

Day 20

Time has been flying by. Feeling better, craving gaming less. Figuring out what I value and what I really want out of life. It's confusing, it's a lot to deal with. Definitely haven't figured myself out as well as I thought I had haha. Been eating healthier, spending more time on my health outside of just working out. Clarity, definitely have a lot of clarity.

Day 22:

Had a lot of space, mental space I suppose, to process everything lately. I'm realizing that one of my issues, and I suppose this is an issue for most people today is the inability to focus and get into a deep flow state. Overstimulation leads to more overstimulation. I find myself too often chasing one source of dopamine to another. Dare I say it that doomscrolling is worse than playing a good single player story game.

I'm seriously rethinking my relationship to digital content in general. Half the time it isn't good quality, it isn't really even entertainment. It's ragebait, tabloid nonsense in the form of reels, just junk. If I'm going to watch rubbish, I may as well play a well made video game. But again that's not the point.

The point is to actually make good use of that time - not every hour, but more hours. I am not a perfectionist (anymore). So first goal of Q1 2025, is to be more present. Completely cut out multi-tasking. If I'm going to do something, I'm only going to do this one thing.

Also realizing I need to get a healthier social life. My socia life is really just night life right now and one on one hang outs. I'd like to be more fulfilled, maybe do some group sports, make some friends at the gym that type of thing.

Day 32 (I've definitely been counting wrong):

Wow a month! I feel like so much has happened in this last month. I've had a lot of time to myself, frankly too much time. I'm definitely feeling that boredom. I think I've just been going out a lot, meeting more people, building better relationships. With the new years coming up I'm going to take some time and reflect on what I really want out of this life and all that good stuff. Been very consistent with the gym, but I still don't feel nearly at 100%. I'm still wasting a lot of time just watching shows and movies. Nothing wrong with that, but I'd like to live my life everyday. Feel like more than half of my days are just working, and maybe gym. Not how I want to live my life, I want to grow a bit everyday.