How to quit video games

[ChrisGav]

Fastlaners, I need help.

I find myself binging on video games way too much. I currently own a pressure washing company, and do pretty well, but am not doing as much as I know I could be doing.
How have you guys gotten rid of distractions from your life, and removed time-wasting rabbit holes?

If I didn't enjoy them so much I feel like it could be a lot easier..

thoughts?

 

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[Sethamus]

Wake up workout, work 12 hour days, and cook your own dinner. Hard to find extra time after that, you will have to decide to play video games or work on another business.

 

[aeden]

Fastlaners, I need help.

I find myself binging on video games way too much. I currently own a pressure washing company, and do pretty well, but am not doing as much as I know I could be doing.
How have you guys gotten rid of distractions from your life, and removed time-wasting rabbit holes?

If I didn't enjoy them so much I feel like it could be a lot easier..

thoughts?

Gaming consoles? Sell them. TV? Sell it, or at least disconnect all services (cable, streaming, etc). Games on your phone? Delete them all. Games on your PC? Delete them all. You control your choices.

 

[Visionary96]

Video games are probably the worst as they take up so much damn time! Watching a movie now and then is fine as its only 2 hours taken out your day but yeah as the reply above says, just sell it all and there is no temptation.

 

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[Sethamus]

Gaming consoles? Sell them. TV? Sell it, or at least disconnect all services (cable, streaming, etc). Games on your phone? Delete them all. Games on your PC? Delete them all. You control your choices.

Yup this too, my biggest time waste was apps on my phone. Deleted almost all of them.

 

[SharmCity]

I don't think these 'just do it' type of answers address the root of the problem.

Games, porn, youtube, browsing, etc are ways that we avoid uncomfortable feelings. Is there a certain trigger that brings out the craving? Is it a certain situation?

Is it when you sit down to work on your business? Is it just at the end of the day when you are alone with your thoughts? There might be something below your level of conscious awareness that you're self medicating.

Awesome that you have a successful offline business, btw. You've def got what it takes to transfer to any other kind of entrepreneurship. What do you mean by 'Not doing as much as I could be doing?' What could you be doing? Do have a clear vision? A 'why' that drives you? Or do you just feel like you should be more busy and not 'wasting time'.

What I'm getting at is, I don't think beating yourself up is productive. It's not going to actually help you break the cycle and get moving. You need to find something to pursue that makes you more excited than the games. How can you make real life the 'ultimate game'?

 

[ChrisGav]

I don't think these 'just do it' type of answers address the root of the problem.

Games, porn, youtube, browsing, etc are ways that we avoid uncomfortable feelings. Is there a certain trigger that brings out the craving? Is it a certain situation?

Is it when you sit down to work on your business? Is it just at the end of the day when you are alone with your thoughts? There might be something below your level of conscious awareness that you're self medicating.

Awesome that you have a successful offline business, btw. You've def got what it takes to transfer to any other kind of entrepreneurship. What do you mean by 'Not doing as much as I could be doing?' What could you be doing? Do have a clear vision? A 'why' that drives you? Or do you just feel like you should be more busy and not 'wasting time'.

What I'm getting at is, I don't think beating yourself up is productive. It's not going to actually help you break the cycle and get moving. You need to find something to pursue that makes you more excited than the games. How can you make real life the 'ultimate game'?

Great points, I appreciate the pointers.

I notice the cravings pop up more recently as being "quarantined" leads me to knowing less of a direction to move in.

I mainly feel as if I should be more busy though and tend to start beating myself up for "wasting time" on rabbit holes like video games.

Overall, I notice that the lack of a sense of direction is what brings it out the most. As well as having the excessive amount of free-time currently.

Thanks.

 

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[GuysLevelingUp]

Great points, I appreciate the pointers.

I notice the cravings pop up more recently as being "quarantined" leads me to knowing less of a direction to move in.

I mainly feel as if I should be more busy though and tend to start beating myself up for "wasting time" on rabbit holes like video games.

Overall, I notice that the lack of a sense of direction is what brings it out the most. As well as having the excessive amount of free-time currently.

Thanks.

Now is a great time to grab a book and start reading anytime you feel the itch to play a videogame.

 

[SharmCity]

Great points, I appreciate the pointers.

No worries. I don't think anyone has a magic bullet for this. We all have vices we grapple with. Some days, weeks, months, we are more in control and others we lose ourselves completely. I just know from my own experience, that trying to suppress your desires and white-knuckle it is counter productive.

Have you tried using the gaming as an anchor to set another positive habit? I.E. I will do 1,2, whatever... hours of focused, distraction-free work on the ONE thing I've been avoiding but will actually move the needle for my business... and then afterwards I can reward myself by playing for the rest of the day.

It's easier said than done, but 1-2 hours of intense productivity is infinitely better than 0. Habits are made with incremental steps. The important part is taking an honest account at the end of every day to ask if you've hit your target... and then also giving yourself the reward and not asking too much of yourself once you hit that 'small' goal. That's the way to build a positive association with the 'work'

Good luck, keep us updated. Any progress is good. If you're not sticking to what you said a week from now, come back here and post about it and we'll help hold you accountable

 

[Guest24480]

I was a console gamer, the only thing that worked for me was unplugging everything, packing up my monitor and console, and storing it somewhere that inconveniences you ever so slightly if you want to play. I don't think selling it is necessary unless this doesn't work for you. If you still find yourself going into the attic to get it and rewire everything, the only option is to sell it in my opinion.

 

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[JHZ]

Put some barriers between you and the activity you are trying to quit

Videogames: unplug the console and store it somewhere difficult to reach, same for the games. Now everytime you want to play you have to unpack the console, plug it, etc

Social-media: erase the apps (fb, instagram, snapchat) now every time you want to check your social media you have to download the app.

I would suggest the book Atomic Habits to dive deeper into making/unmaking habits.

Also, it seems that you might have a dopamine related issue, I suggest you watch the following video by Alex Becker and see if it rings any bells (dopamine is a HUGE factor on motivation and productivity)

View: https://youtu.be/eBPsWni-3Fs


Good luck bro!

 

[GWan]

I struggle with this a lot too and just started to seriously tackle it. I've packed up my gaming PC and swore off gaming countless times only to unpack them again a few days later.

What really helped me was understanding the reasoning why videogames and other destructive activities are so addicting. I've linked a few videos below that explain it really well.

The basic summary is that stuff like videogames give you unnatural amounts of dopamine, which is linked to pleasure. It makes productive activities like reading, working, etc. boring because your brain is used to all the dopamine from videogames. To remove the urges, you have to completely cut out everything that gives you unnatural amounts of dopamine. This is different for everyone, but it can include porn, scrolling through social media, YouTube, etc. It will be hard at first, but your dopamine levels will be reset to normal. Basically you will get so bored that you'll start finding productive activities fun again.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QiE-M1LrZk

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBPsWni-3Fs

 

[Tomipiccoli99]

Maybe creating new habits like physical activity or reading will help you get out of your gamer zone and focus on your business. go little by little
and the process won't be so overwhelming

 

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[ChrisGav]

Put some barriers between you and the activity you are trying to quit

Videogames: unplug the console and store it somewhere difficult to reach, same for the games. Now everytime you want to play you have to unpack the console, plug it, etc

Social-media: erase the apps (fb, instagram, snapchat) now every time you want to check your social media you have to download the app.

I would suggest the book Atomic Habits to dive deeper into making/unmaking habits.

Also, it seems that you might have a dopamine related issue, I suggest you watch the following video by Alex Becker and see if it rings any bells (dopamine is a HUGE factor on motivation and productivity)

View: https://youtu.be/eBPsWni-3Fs


Good luck bro!

Great video, thank you so much for that.

 

[ChrisGav]

I struggle with this a lot too and just started to seriously tackle it. I've packed up my gaming PC and swore off gaming countless times only to unpack them again a few days later.

What really helped me was understanding the reasoning why videogames and other destructive activities are so addicting. I've linked a few videos below that explain it really well.

The basic summary is that stuff like videogames give you unnatural amounts of dopamine, which is linked to pleasure. It makes productive activities like reading, working, etc. boring because your brain is used to all the dopamine from videogames. To remove the urges, you have to completely cut out everything that gives you unnatural amounts of dopamine. This is different for everyone, but it can include porn, scrolling through social media, YouTube, etc. It will be hard at first, but your dopamine levels will be reset to normal. Basically you will get so bored that you'll start finding productive activities fun again.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QiE-M1LrZk

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBPsWni-3Fs

thank you for these videos, going to try the dopamine detox as well.

 

[Minuz]

I have the same problem, i love video game but is such a waste of time! When i quit video games i start to focus on so many things that i dont when im playing games

 

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[MHP368]

I just deleted steam. If your a console guy box it up.

Make the habit you want to break hard and the ones you want to cultivate easy.

 

[sparechange]

What game? Maybe I'll join a match hahah

 

[ChrisV]

HOT! - MINDSET - Dopamine. The missing piece of the success puzzle. (Improve Locus of Control, Motivation, Self-control)

Okay, we’re going to get into some deep and really cool stuff here. I bounced back and forth for almost a year on this forum as to whether I even wanted to post about this, since I’m planning on saving the materials for a book. But the more I think about it I think it's such an essential thread...

www.thefastlaneforum.com

 

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[knz]

I don't think these 'just do it' type of answers address the root of the problem.

Games, porn, youtube, browsing, etc are ways that we avoid uncomfortable feelings. Is there a certain trigger that brings out the craving? Is it a certain situation?

I like this answer. It indeed has to do with a trigger. Your response to the trigger is playing the game.

I'm familiar with ''The Power of Habit' (book from Charles Duhigg) and 'The Hook Model' from Nir Eyal. I suggest checking this stuff out and implement it in your daily life. Also, 'Atomic Habits' is a big bestseller so definitely worth checking this out. Read it, get conscious about your environment, triggers etc, then change. There's even an academy for this: The Habits Academy: Master's

Lastly, I work in the gaming and esports industry for 14 years now, used to be a professional gamer in the past for 10 years, and I know 1 guy that kinda works with people that want to stop playing games. Though, it's not like he has an online course I believe. It's more a big PDF file with what you have to do and some exercises. However, there's quite some people in his community and on the forum. It's called 'Video Game Addiction: Ready To Quit? Join Game Quitters Today', owner being Cam Adair.

My own business is focussed on helping parents with gaming children, so I have similarities with this topic. However, I (not yet at least) work with people that want to slow down or stop gaming.

Of course, removing all the apps, remove the consoles etc work. Though instead of removing apps, I also suggest something like The Light Phone. No apps etc, just simply a phone to call.

Best of luck

 

[Bobby_italy]

Stop cold turkey, best method.

I only play clash royale and during times were I don't even have 10 minutes to waste I just delete it, even for months.

 

[Thinh]

Sell your console and TV, or if it's a PC, sell your graphics card a buy one so shitty the thought of playing video games at 320x240@5fps will instantly make you want to go out and hustle yourself the f*ck out your current rut.

 

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[Zcott]

Not to undermine any points about the bigger picture, as there is logic behind it, but the end of the day you just need to get rid of the temptation.

Hide your console. Delete games off your phone. Install social media blockers. It sucks at first and you'll notice your brain panic for that dopamine fix. When I deleted social media I found myself opening my calculator app just because. Same applies to games from my experience. Give it a week and it won't bother you.

I know it might not feel that simple and yes it is hard, but no one said this was an easy thing. You have to make a choice, and you know the one you have to make.

 

[Fr33zerPop]

I had the same problem with time-wasters. Here are my favorite solutions, among many new changes and habits I'm trying to foster:
-- Thought exercise: Imagine people of greatness, who are highly effective and productive. Do they have daily indulgences like mine? If I want to be like them, I need to share more of their habits.
-- Best action-item: Shift my sleep schedule two hours. I used to go to bed by 11pm and get up by 7. But what did I do from 8-11pm? Played, usually. So, I started slowly shifting my wake-up time back a little bit each week (maybe 30 min each week.) Now I get up at 5:15, and go to bed with my kids at 9pm. You can guess what happened: The two hours I used to spend playing at night, became two extra hours in the morning before my family was awake. And I'm a lot less likely to watch a movie at 6am!

"Night me" doesn't beat-up on or steal from "morning me."

 

[pumpking]

With almost all things I've tried to "quit" doing, nothing was really effective until I learned that it's not about stopping something, it's about starting something else. At a glance you may say they're the same. They are. But not psychologically... and that's the important difference.

Find something else that you are passionate about (Like starting a fast lane business...) and you'll find that you passion for games will fade away.

 

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[trevmooshka]

With almost all things I've tried to "quit" doing, nothing was really effective until I learned that it's not about stopping something, it's about starting something else. At a glance you may say they're the same. They are. But not psychologically... and that's the important difference.

Find something else that you are passionate about (Like starting a fast lane business...) and you'll find that you passion for games will fade away.

Piggybacking off of this: It's important to have things already lined to replace the time spent with videogames. If you don't have any other activities that you're working on, you'll just default back to videogames. The activities you choose to replace videogames with should also have the similar qualities that make videogames attractive (sense of community, sense of achievement, etc.) This website Video Game Addiction: Ready To Quit? Join Game Quitters Today was a pretty good guide for me (If you go looking for it, you can download his pdf Respawn for free off the internet). What worked for me was coming up with hobbies I would like to have and slowly replacing videogames with them. It could be reading, playing instruments, lifting, sports, photography, drawing, writing, etc. etc. What initially worked for me was making myself read and play an instrument for 30 minutes per day, and only after that I would play games. Slowly this turned into an hour per day, two hours per day, then I picked up other hobbies, and before I knew it I didn't even want to play games anymore because I was having such a great time with my other hobbies.