Giving up Gaming...For a Month

JSL · Post by **JSL** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 2:52 pm

I have decided to give up gaming for one month. I want to see what my life is like when I am not playing any games. Lately I had been thinking about gaming too much and playing whenever I had free time. I also found myself rushing through things I had to do in order to have more time to play. I was also ignoring other things I like to do, such as reading. I have also been ignoring things I should do, but it is easier to play a game than take the effort to do these things.

As I am not completely crazy, I am still allowing myself to play small games while I am at work (when time permits). These games would take no more than 20 minutes to play a full game, such as minesweeper, solataire, or an independent game. I will also play a game with my girlfriend if she asks.

I am also going to be limiting the amount of game sites I visit and the amount of game news I read. This will be particularly tough as I have always enjoyed reading about games (even more than playing), but at the same time it beceomes to obsessive for me.

I made it through the first weekend of no gaming so far. It was tough. I found myself wanting to fire up a game when I had free time. It is especially tough with Darwinia sitting on my hard drive unplayed. I ended up cleaning up the apartment a lot and playing with the cats more than usual. I didn't end up using the computer very much, which is a rather big change from the past few months. I still am looking at game news too much, but the month of no gaming has just begun.

I'm not exactly sure where this journey is going to lead me, but I will post updates here every now and then. I am curious to see if my obsession with gaming continues even without playing anything for a month. I am also curious to see if I will be less stressed and happier after the month is over. I wonder if people who know me will notice any changes in my behaviour.

dbt1949 · Post by **dbt1949** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 3:40 pm

I had that forcd on me a few years back when I had problems with my Alienware.I think my wife was happier when it came back than I was!

Ridah · Post by **Ridah** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:01 pm

I know exactly where this journey will take you, because I've taken it a few times myself. You'll find that you have a lot more free time on your hands than you thought, maybe not at first because you'll have numerous ideas of fun things to do that seem fresh and entertaining. Soon enough though, you'll remember the OO effect, and why you like games in the first place, and when that one game comes out which tempts you enough to buy it, you'll be heavily back into gaming and wondering why you ever left.

That's at least how it goes for me every time.

lokiju · Post by **lokiju** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:02 pm

dbt1949 wrote:I had that forcd on me a few years back when I had problems with my Alienware.I think my wife was happier when it came back than I was!

Holy shit, it you didn't have the chance to post gifs and pics...I can only imagine what you must have done to make up for it!

And to the original post, I just came back after 2 months off, and I feel great! I just started Freedom Force 2, and glad I did. Sometimes you just have to take a step back. I now refuse to play any online rpg's and my wife and i blew our summer away with 500+ hours of game time (mostly City of Heroes).

Huw the Poo · Post by **Huw the Poo** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:16 pm

Ridah wrote:I know exactly where this journey will take you, because I've taken it a few times myself. You'll find that you have a lot more free time on your hands than you thought, maybe not at first because you'll have numerous ideas of fun things to do that seem fresh and entertaining. Soon enough though, you'll remember the OO effect, and why you like games in the first place, and when that one game comes out which tempts you enough to buy it, you'll be heavily back into gaming and wondering why you ever left.

You are correct, sir.

Odin · Post by **Odin** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 4:51 pm

Sounds awful.

I never intentionally gave up gaming, but when I got sick of playing WoW after 10 months of near-continuous play I suddenly had this "hmm, what should I do?" feeling because I had time to kill that previously I'd spent gaming. So I can relate to what you'll be experiencing.

Sith

Tareeq · Post by **Tareeq** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:42 pm

But can you give up the internet for a month?

lokiju · Post by **lokiju** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:44 pm

Tareeq wrote:But can you give up the internet for a month?

Now THAT would be horrible. No email? No porn? No OO?

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:44 pm

I've only played one game in the last two months, and it's one I'm contractually obligated to play (I wouldn't be playing it willingly otherwise). Unless SH3 gets a really good reception, I might easily go the next few months without playing anything. I'm supposed to be going to a John Tiller wargame convention in June, though, so I suppose I'd fall off the wagon then.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 8:45 pm

Tareeq wrote:But can you give up the internet for a month?

This I cannot do.

I do all my shopping online, all of my investments are online, and some of my bills are paid online. Not to mention communication with 90% of the people I know (including my family).

Archangel · Post by **Archangel** » Mon Mar 14, 2005 9:58 pm

I know what you mean as well, I had a whole year away from pc games and internet when I studied abroad (except from an email account on campus) and I appriciated the free time it gave me.

Allthough I must admit it was great ot get a pc running again so I could run away from everything once in a while for a few hours.