[Saefyr]

Alright, so let me just preface this by saying I know that this seems like a stupid gripe. I find that most everyone can limit their computer use and time spent on video games, Youtube, and the like. It's just become a big problem for me that I'm hoping has a simple solution.

So, I spend a good ~70 hours a week on the computer. I play games, watch Youtube, screw around on Stumbleupon, etc. Anything I can do to entertain myself. This takes up all of my free time. I would very much like to motivate myself to do other things, though. I have a very vested interest in art, animation, learning violin. Hell, I can go and do anything if I used the internet for what it was meant to be used for. Every time I try to go off and do something productive, though, I feel completely disinterested in it. I think I'm used to the instant gratification that the internet provides. Want something? It's only a few clicks away. To create something or practice a skill, it takes time and work that my brain just immediately rejects. It's very difficult to make any progress on violin when you're thinking "you'd be a lot happier right now if you were watching that new video [Youtube content creator] just put up." or "That sounds terrible! It's gonna take so long for you to get any good at that, and even still, you don't even know if you'll ever be good. You know you're good at [frequently played video game]. You should go play that". But afterward, it's always the same thing. I want to have spent more time on hobbies and skills I'm interested in rather than waste time on a video game that doesn't even matter in the long run.

But, that was a rant and I'm just taking up your time at this point. What I'm asking for is if someone has any way to reliably redirect the passion I have for wasting time on technology into more productive skill cultivation. At this point, I'm desperate. I'm in a trench I've spent 5 years digging myself into and it boggles my mind to think about how much I could know and how much of a better person I could be right now if I had spent all that time I've dumped into video games on learning things that interest me. I just need to set up a system, or a project to trick my brain into thinking that I'm getting just as much instant gratification doing something worthwhile.

Thanks, guys.

[CANDC]

Welcome to Psych Central Saefyr. I am sorry you feel you are overdoing time on computer but glad you are seeking a more balanced lifestyle.

Why not start by using technology to get away into actual experience.

Trying yoga online, is one way.

Another is qi gong.

Another is to be an active member on Psych Central, reading and responding to posts of people.

There are other ways too. Best thing to do is start with one thing today and build on that.