Lengthy question for gamers (and former gamers)...

I am a compulsive gamer in recovery. I think it could work if you knew how to moderate. It would not work for me because I would probably just spend all my time on the Switch and neglect my other responsibilities. And then slip up with my PMO.

Games produce too much Dopamine. I cannot safely use them.

 

48 days without video games here

 

I want to two of my opinions on your question. One for Switch and against.

My against opinion is opportunity cost, would you rather use the money to buy video games or in pursuit of a hobby. I think powerlifting defiantly beneficial and learning a skill like a guitar does allow you some down time. It is important to find a community with your interests. Look online for a band you could join or talk to people in the gym about exercise. My positive for the switch is, sounds like a nice investment but go for something that is leans towards casual gaming like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Super Mario Odyssey and Mario Kart 8. Like for my first point, if you can find a community to discuss and play multiplayer games is better decision then enjoying games in isolation.

 

Hey Joseph. Thank you and I appreciate your perspective on things in general as well. You’re welcome

ommmmmm

right being a gamer!
My best thought on this is. If it’s harm reduction it’s a win so keep trying to moderate games instead of abstaining.

if it’s harm increase then maybe take a break and think about it.

For example for me. I kept going too hard the the gym and randomly just ending up exhausted over trained or worse going back for mma and getting more brain damage and injuries. XP

Id also just get more fussy and not be able to chill cause I had only so many outlets

I took a three year abstinence from games. I was playing genshin stupid late at first like till two AM. But I reminded myself. This is still harm reduction. You aren’t physically burned out or injured for once. The physically safe mild video game violence has been an adequate substitute. Not going into an evolutionary psychoanalysis and theory on why I and many people crave some of that lol.

What’s important is that you recognize what games are replacing and if they’re helping accept that it’s imperfect harm reduction. Which is progress not perfection. And is a win! Darn it!

I’ve learned that I’m all good with stuff like offline rpg or even non competitive online. PvP online is a door I haven’t unlocked yet really

So basically I’m telling you to ply some Zelda and pokemon if you want. Like it’s all good man. I think it’s taking your grog weed and P down a peg or even altogether. If games get the substances and P out I’d 1000% back you on that. Just make sure you keep your life together.

I was shaking in my boots on day one. Wondering if this awesome life I built would revolve into P weed and games like it did years ago. But good news, I’ve kept it together! You can possibly too. Y not? I’m not much different than you and have addictive tendencies too.
I mean my bulma helps me cause I always put In the effort to keep us good. And my job and fitness come first too. But I got to say I’m much happier (and not injured) since getting a ps5. I’m climbing in genshin and maybe gonna try to do some online pvp tho it’s outside the comfort zone atm.

Hope this helps! Happy to give my insights and honest opinion. I was very strict with myself at first saying it it messed up any area of my life I’d pull the plug. I loved the games again tho and found a way to moderate with continued effort ups and downs haha

 

I say go right ahead. I have a Switch and I love it. There's Fire Emblem Engage, Bayonetta 2 & 3, Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Smash Bros Ultimate. There's lots of stuff you keep you busy.

 

I think it depends on the person I have a group of friends that I play Black Desert Online with and ive put somewhere around 1,500 hours into for me its something I enjoy and its a way to stay connected with my friends through a common pass time. It never like gets in the way of my work or anything I just like to play in my free time its also something to do

 

Hey, I would recommend you get a switch, but I’d recommend you find a time to restrict yourself. I’ve never played console games from Monday-Thursday except for special circumstances. I’d also not play games on Sunday nights, and keep them out of your bedroom unless you can maintain your normal routine with them in the room.

 

Thanks for your reply too

I honestly day dream about hitting the Dojo or the Commercial gym again. But haven’t done it.

I’m on a schedule to do calisthenics MW with yoga Friday and swimming/calisthenics Saturdays. It’s really nice and full. I shadowbox JEETKD sometimes as a warmup.

I mean I’m happy I’m starting to hit the meetups again too and get my job going.

Bonding with my cat and girlfriend deeper.

I would love to get more hardcore and all that physically. But I feel the way forward for me is to train at parks for calisthenics.

So I guess ?????? Idk how I’d hit the park unless I changed my schedule later on for it. Just working that freestyle and backstroke with some push ups now

I guess if we did a diff schedule

it’d be like. Idk workout with bulma at our home gym in the evening on a Monday.

Or I just solo the park and go hard or go home hehe

Are you feeling like gyms in the cards for you lately?


I’m really happy training at home and have a nice pull-up bar and all here. So time effective hehe

maybe me and bulma train Monday evenings tho. I could go to the gym in the apt with her I suppose

what’s your training schedule or whatever’s been like?

 

hahah you don't have to be like me unless you want to

I think it's awesome you're doing the lifting. That stuff gets you hecka big! Yea I'm pretty happy and comfortable with my at home training with a bit of swimming with bulms thrown in.

I'm tough jacked flexible and have some cardio. That's a good character build I think haha.

I'd really love to drop by the martial arts studio that's a 3 min drive from me. Miss the sweat hehe. But I'm already so gassed from my training like I'd have to sacrifice some muscle mass to give more energy/time to the martial arts and that's really not something I want to do right now XD

I like being buff hahaha. Even Bruce Lee said that the body's physical condition is to be taken care of before the condition of your fighting skills. A fit guy with little training can beat an out of shape guy with a black belt in a real fight sometimes.

Yea I mean the MMA guys are so tough. The get up and do strength training, cardio. Then go and do MMA 1-2 hours in the evening 5 days a week of double days. Even just two days a week of double days like that would be too grueling for me man. I just want my relaxing time in balance with teh training. I mean if I were retired at 35 right now I'd give it a shot but not with full time work. jeez. You'd have to really have a strong passion for it and be willing to go through all that. I'll see how I'm feeling by about 5pm tonight if I have the guts and energy for it I'll drop in for a kickboxing class tonight to round out my double day