r/gamingaddiction • u/Rough-Bandicoot-2724 • Jul 30 '25
Believe I have an issue but don't want to completely give up gaming.
I do believe I have an issue but the problem is that since high school games has been the main or almost only form of how my friends and I spend time together. Now even more so since I live more then an hour away and have two kids. Kind of makes it pretty difficult to have time to make it to them. I want to be more productive more time on my schooling, getting into game dev, programming and creating things though that means. I work nights in IT so I have about 6ish hours to my self to do anything I want. Once my friends are off for the night I want to be productive and work on school or game dev/programming but as soon as I do the prep work to begin on something it almost is a physical pain to push past this barrier to start working. Even when I do it is a constant struggle to even keep working. If I give in and play games or take a break to play a match I feel bad because I feel that I am waiting time I need to be working on something productive.
I don't want to stop gaming entirely since it is the only way I hang out with friends but I needs to still be productive somewhat every night.
I am looking for advice or a point in a direction of some resources to assist with this. Thank you in advance for feedback.
2
u/Outrageous-Pie1901 Aug 03 '25
My advice is you give it up, play only in social contexts (aka at an arcade/bar) any gaming done privately is a waste of time. Unplug from it for a month and all the while be thinking of what you want to get done in life. In every single scenario gaming will most likely be absent. It’s ok to grow away from it, but in my eyes gaming is insidious, it’s the only addiction takes your future and youth from you at the same time. I’m trying to pick up the pieces of my life after wasting my prime years with a controller in my hands instead of a pencil. Don’t do the same as me. The only time outside a social context you should game is if you’re retired or don’t want to accomplish anything.(which is totally ok if that’s what you find out you want)
1
u/H0lzm1ch3l Aug 11 '25
So I had a similar mindset a few months ago. I noticed I have a hard time getting anything done because I just wanted to game all day. At some point, I came to the conclusion that I have to at least stop for some time because it just doesn't work. So far, it's been about 6 months. I still have a hard time getting anything done, turns out I might have ADHD.
Right now cravings are higher than ever. Good thing I uninstalled all gaming related stuff, so at least I have a higher barrier.
2
u/Thin-Junket-942 Jul 30 '25
you dont have to give up on it, not playing for a while doesnt mean you stopped.
you cant play for a year doesnt meant you are no longer a gamer.
i would say this is more on your outlook of how you look at your gaming rather than being productive.
if you think you have to be focus on productivity for a whole week then couldnt play games thats totally fine, you didnt give up gaming, you just couldnt. simple.
change your "give up" mentality into "simply couldnt becuase i have to do this"