Chapter 1: Acknowledging My Past

Many of you might know that I struggled with a serious addiction to two video games that nearly derailed my life. My obsession with gaming reached a point where it consumed my thoughts, but I never intended to turn it into a career. In this post, I’m going to explore what I would change if given another chance to experience those games.

I have attempted to revisit those titles in the past, but it often led to negative consequences for my mental well-being. Despite my best efforts, I found myself prioritizing gaming over other important aspects of my life, something I desperately wanted to avoid. I tried to impose limits, but this only fueled my desire to play more. My strategy was to restrict myself to an hour or two daily, but even that wasn't beneficial, as I felt compelled to fit those hours into my daily routine.

One unhealthy habit I developed was doing favors for my girlfriend with the expectation of earning some gaming time in return. This mindset ultimately strained our relationship. Even when I wasn’t gaming, I would spend time watching YouTube videos about those games, which intensified my urge to play.

Now, I have gained a better understanding of my needs. While I still appreciate gaming, I recognize the importance of not allowing it to interfere with my responsibilities and overall life. Moving forward, I want to ensure gaming contributes positively to my life instead of being a mere distraction.

Section 1.1: Setting Boundaries

I plan to limit my gaming sessions to weekends after fulfilling all my responsibilities. I’ll allocate a maximum of an hour for gameplay, inclusive of any wait times. My priorities include maintaining my physical health through exercise, practicing good hygiene, and completing two writing posts each day. Additionally, I’ll ensure all my household chores are done before I sit down to play. I won’t impose strict times for gaming; if I can’t play, that’s perfectly fine. Some weekends I might game, while others I won’t, and that’s completely acceptable since it’s just a hobby.

Subsection 1.1.1: Making Gaming Productive

I aim to turn my gaming experience into something more productive. For instance, I could write about my gameplay experiences during my weekend writing sessions. Perhaps I’ll even create YouTube videos, linking them to my blog and vice versa, to create a synergistic relationship between the two platforms.

Chapter 2: Knowing When to Step Back

The first video titled "3 Things I'd Do Differently If I Started A YouTube Channel Today" discusses strategies for creating engaging content. It highlights lessons learned from previous experiences, emphasizing the importance of planning and setting realistic goals.

The second video, "I wish I would have done things differently..." reflects on personal growth and the lessons learned through various experiences. It encourages viewers to think critically about their choices and adapt accordingly.

If I notice myself becoming frustrated while playing, I will stop immediately and try again the next day. Previously, I would have continued playing out of anger, which negatively impacted my relationships and daily life. If I have a great gaming session, I’ll celebrate, but I must remember to keep the negative emotions from spilling over into my real life since, ultimately, it's just a game.

Summary

To summarize, I plan to stop playing immediately if I feel frustrated and will enforce a time limit. Additionally, I will restrict gaming to weekends after all my responsibilities are completed. If I miss out on gaming time, it’s no big deal. I will also focus on specific modes and aim to make my gaming experience productive. Always remember, it's just a game.

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