JustTom's Journal 2: Summer Edition

[JustTom 165]

Previous Journal: https://forum.gamequitters.com/index.php?/topic/6141-justtoms-journal/

I don't know what to write as an introduction to this journal, so I'll just dump some of my notes:

Here's the core todo:

1. Quitting Video Games
    - Gradual Staged Detox
    - Including video and text content

2. Establishing a Sleep Routine
    - Going to bed even if not tired
    - Not guilting myself for oversleeping
    - Evening Routine
    - Always have a fallback plan for oversleeping

3. Work Hard
    - 8h/day = 56 hours per week
    - Dedicated Work Place

5. Eat Healthy and Exercise
    - The gym 3x/week
    - Intermittent Fasting every day except the night game days

Number 4 is a "Play Hard" section, buuuuut I'll keep this one private for now ha! Number 5 is easy, I don't really have to focus on that. Number 3 will come automatically if I succeed at number 1 and number 2. 

So.. if I feel like gaming, I will fiddle around with music instead. I'll be home for two months now, so I have instruments and the desktop PC to make music on. 

Progress Check #1: 14.7.2018
Progress Check #2: 21.7.2018
Progress Check #3: 15.8.2018

At each of these progress checks, I will evaluate my growth rate and look at myself to see if I'm on the right path or not. If not, I will take a 7-day retreat in the nearest forest or a mountain. I mean a serious meditation retreat, just literally doing nothing, no internet connection. I will take some books and just camp. It's more of a "something needs to fucking change yo" rather than a punishment. 

I would also like to have a reward at each progress check, if I conclude I'm doing good, but I can't think of anything, to be honest. 

The main things to always cling to are getting out of the house to work and going to sleep at a normal time. And not engaging with the gaming community, of course. Not watching content might be tough, but as I said, whenever I feel like watching some gaming video, I will search for some how-to on music. Gradual detox means I will do a series of very short detox periods, that are quite "easy", working my way up to not gaming in longer and longer periods. The same way as when I'm really procrastinating hard, it is effective to start doing very short 2-5 minute pomodoros and work my way up to full 25 or 27-minute pomodoros.  I have some more specifics on the other points written down, but that's the gist.

Let's go.

Edited July 7 by JustTom

[JustTom 165]

Day 1/3 

Starting with a 3-day detox. I can do 3 days, right? Who cannot do 3 days of not playing or watching games? I mean come on. Of course there is much more to it tan just gaming, but that's the hard condition. Yesterday was good, mostly traveling and drinking in the evening as I met with friends after half a year. Today will be the first "challenge".  

Edited July 7 by JustTom

[JustTom 165]

Day 2/3 

Woke up late after night's drinking, as was expected, then hung out with mom, went to the gym and slept essentially the rest of the day. Strange though, maybe it's because I didn't drink any coffee or just the sudden change in temperature - it's much much hotter in this city. Oh well, as long as I crush it the next day, it's fine:)

[Cam Adair 4,874]

Think it's hot everywhere right now. 

<---- currently trying to survive the heat in California. 😰

[JustTom 165]

Day 3/3 

Alright, the first mini-detox completed! 🙂 Spent the day playing guitar and watching stuff.. as is always the case, I was unproductive at home. Tomorrow I have a dedicated workplace to go to, so that should change things around. I also have this little excuse I tell myself - I still haven't gotten my business bank account details so I can only buy stuff privately. 

2 hours ago, Cam Adair said:

Think it's hot everywhere right now. 

<---- currently trying to survive the heat in California. 😰

In the past week, the maximum temperature in Amsterdam was like 26°, what a bliss!

[Cam Adair 4,874]

😍😍😍Omw to A'dam

[karabas 139]

Nice, I like small goals 🙂 

It's 37 where I am, but it's not even the worst of it so I'm OK 😄

What's the plan after the 3-day detox?

[JustTom 165]

Day 0/90

The gradual detox was a mistake, apparently. After completing the first 3 days, I got stuck gaming a lot. Shame, I thought it might work just like I can work my way up with the pomodoro technique gradually increasing the time. So I'm committing to the standard again, but I acknowledge that I can't stop watching vids just yet. This is not an excuse or anything, it's just a fact. 

Going to work at a friend's place now and dad is coming on monday so hopefuly I'll be able to get myself together. If not, it's camping in the mountains for a week.

 

Edited Saturday at 01:16 PM by JustTom

[karabas 139]

On 7/13/2018 at 2:21 AM, JustTom said:

Day 0/90

The gradual detox was a mistake, apparently. After completing the first 3 days, I got stuck gaming a lot. Shame, I thought it might work just like I can work my way up with the pomodoro technique gradually increasing the time. So I'm committing to the standard again, but I acknowledge that I can't stop watching vids just yet. This is not an excuse or anything, it's just a fact. 

Going to work at a friend's place now and dad is coming on monday so hopefuly I'll be able to get myself together. If not, it's camping in the mountains for a week.

 

:( Read your deleted post too. It can definitely feel like that sometimes.

This is a bit radical, but: do you really need your computer?

If you can get everything you need done at the university/town library or something like that, maybe the radical step of getting rid of your computer would do you good for a year or two.

I work online and need the computer, unfortunately. That's why part of my career goal is to eventually make enough money so that I could work only a couple of days in a week and then hide the computer somewhere for the rest of it. Even if it means less income total, I'd rather live middle-class without this addiction than be rich but addicted.

Anyway, if you're able to ditch your computer, why not? I did that semi-successfully during my last year of university by leaving it at my parents' place and using the library to do all my studying and assignments.

The problem for me after I did that was videos and phone games, but I think phone games are pretty easy to quit (they're never THAT good). Videos is a different story... but you could take it one step further and get rid of wifi as well. There's plenty available to the public and if you're cutting yourself off from people anyway, what's the point in having wifi? :D

Not joking about this though. If you can do it, you might want to consider it.

[JustTom 165]

Hey that's not a bad idea, @karabas, never thought about it. During this week it's probably not possible because I'll be staying at my dad's place, but after that yeah. I absolutely 100% need my laptop/PC for work and studying, but I can always leave my laptop at whatever my workplace currently is. Even at my uni I can take a locker to store my stuff in. I can't get rid of wifi in Amsterdam because I got flatmates, but abusing my phone was never a problem and even if it was, I'm sure I can figure out some solution. Thanks!

My problem is when I'm alone in a room with internet. Once I get to a place with people, I am a different person, so this might very well work.

Too bad you read that post. Alcohol is a bitch and I felt like complaining haha.

Edited Saturday at 04:40 PM by JustTom

[JustTom 165]

Day 1/90

The day went really good. Didn't do much work, but I felt much more conscious. Will go to the friend's place to work tomorrow again. Today was supposed to be the first checkpoint and if I were to evaluate myself, I would give it a resolute FAIL. Buuuuuut, I think RIGHT NOW I'm heading in the right direction, so I'll give it a few days. Yesterday, I finished the xcom 2 campaign (again), so that's done + I haven't played Starcraft for over a week and that's the type of game where if you don't play for a while, you really fall out of it and don't feel like getting into it again, or at least, it's not automatic as with other games. Anyways, I have hopes. I won't say high hopes, but hopes nevertheless. 

[karabas 139]

6 hours ago, JustTom said:

Hey that's not a bad idea, @karabas, never thought about it. During this week it's probably not possible because I'll be staying at my dad's place, but after that yeah. I absolutely 100% need my laptop/PC for work and studying, but I can always leave my laptop at whatever my workplace currently is. Even at my uni I can take a locker to store my stuff in. I can't get rid of wifi in Amsterdam because I got flatmates, but abusing my phone was never a problem and even if it was, I'm sure I can figure out some solution. Thanks!

My problem is when I'm alone in a room with internet. Once I get to a place with people, I am a different person, so this might very well work.

Too bad you read that post. Alcohol is a bitch and I felt like complaining haha.

Nice, glad that it's helpful. Yeah, if you can use it at work and then not have to deal with having it at home when you're alone, that could significantly reduce the amount of time you waste on it.

3 hours ago, JustTom said:

Day 1/90

The day went really good. Didn't do much work, but I felt much more conscious. Will go to the friend's place to work tomorrow again. Today was supposed to be the first checkpoint and if I were to evaluate myself, I would give it a resolute FAIL. Buuuuuut, I think RIGHT NOW I'm heading in the right direction, so I'll give it a few days. Yesterday, I finished the xcom 2 campaign (again), so that's done + I haven't played Starcraft for over a week and that's the type of game where if you don't play for a while, you really fall out of it and don't feel like getting into it again, or at least, it's not automatic as with other games. Anyways, I have hopes. I won't say high hopes, but hopes nevertheless. 

Slow steps, man, slow steps. That's what you gotta do. It also does seem like your relapses are generally growing shorter since you started journalling here, no? If so, that's a win in and of itself.

[JustTom 165]

Day 2/90

Feeling better and better. Woke up extreeeemely late, but after that, I went straight to the gym and then to my friend's place to do some work. Slow start but I'm getting into it. My will to "CRUSH IT" is coming back. I don't really feel like gaming right now. I know the cravings will come back, but for now, I'm quite happy. Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment so it's guaranteed I will wake up early and have a full day to hustle. Looking forward to it. 

[karabas 139]

Awesome! Here's to a successful 90 day detox!

[JustTom 165]

Day 3/90

Alright we're back bois. I spent the day at the doctor, working out and then talking a lot with my dad about business. He's a very smart man and has great experience in both business and politics, although he doesn't know the cutting edge modern e-commerce models and such. He still thinks I'm making a mistake, but is willing to give me advice and support, which is awesome. The talk gave me the good old mix of motivation and fear. Though now, I REALLY REALLY want to make it work. I am risking a lot, but what I can gain is unbelievable. For some time, it used to be my life directive that whenever I feel fear or resistance towards something, I should just go do it. You could say ahh, how can you succeed at business if you still struggle with pathetic shit like gaming or sleep schedule, but fuck it. If I lose money, I lose money. If I lose time and other job opportunities, it is what it is. If I do a major screw-up and go to jail, whatever, I'll go to jail. I believe I will find a path in life, as long as I remain a good person and strive for my goals. I will do absolutely everything in my power to make the business work and generate passive income. I fear many things, but that just means I should go for it. It's massively uncomfortable and it's going to suck really hard at times, but I will not give up.

Let's go.