[Frankie Grimes]

I'm having problems about how i spend my free time...
I love to draw and paint, and I have other things to do when i'm home (such as get some info for my radio program, send photos, etc), but when i have time for myself, i just turn on the pc and play video games. And I play for hours...

The problem starts when the time pass and I realize that I've wasted a whole afternoon in front of the computer doing nothing but playing games. Since I don't have too much time for myself, this becomes an issue.

I discovered that I use the video games to make my mind stop.... I'm so anxious that I want to do everything at once (drawing, checking info, etc, etc). Even, for example, when I finally decide to sit and draw, it's a tedious and tiring process 'cause I have a thousand ideas in my mind at the same time.... and, as you can guess, I want to paint all of them at the same time.

It's hard (almost impossible) for me to choose what to do in my free time without feeling that I could use that time for something else. Is then, when I turn on the pc and start playing...to calm my mind... to do not think.

I don't know how to control this behavior, I tried, but it's too hard for me.....

[MyUserName]

Hey Frankie Grimes,

I have this problem myself, i find it extremely difficult to do anything other then log on to my computer and spend the day on it, doing absolutly nothing. I have began to wonder is this doing me more harm then its worth? I allow things to become messy, work to pile up and i dont really interact with other people, wether it be family or friends. All i do is lie in bed and mess on the computer.

What im gona start doing is making out a little plan and plan out how im going to spend my time. It is going to be extremely difficult to stick to it, but i think a lot of will-power is needed. I know i really want to change around my routine of spending all day in the computer and use my time better, but with some commitment it can be done. If you think about it, your not really missing out on much the little time you spend away from the computer/video games, so your not losing out on anything important. It will still be there when you next log on.

Hope that helped you a little, i know its hard but if this is something you really want to change, then you, and only you can change it...

Good luck

[ECHOES]

Many people spend hours on hobbies they enjoy, and many people spend hours watching TV. Both are enjoyable and also a way of escaping, relaxing, calming the mind.

It sounds like you truly enjoy the games, so enjoy them If you want to limit the time you spend on them, maybe think of what would be a reasonable amount of time to you, then set an alarm clock or other kind of timer to remind yourself that this is all the time you want to spend on this activity. Have your next activity planned, such as taking a walk or something else that you want to do.

Good luck!

[jitters]

Hey and how are ya, from one gamer to another. I absolutely understand your predicament; once the game starts, you become completely immersed in a different world that requires 100% of your concentration...a few hours seem to evaporate in the span of a few minutes. I have a hard time quitting (a former shrink attributed this quirk of mine to OCD), and especially when I'm in dire need of escapism. What I've learned to do is make a list of tasks that need to be completed first, ordered from highest priority to lowest. Pick your top three and start on them immediately. You can reward yourself with a "game break" when you've finished. If you have a longish list, give yourself a 30 min. - 1 hr. game break after every three tasks completed (unless you have one task that's a sizeable time investment; the idea is to break up the monotony of task completion with rewards).

If getting on the computer is a trigger, try to stay off it until you're ready for a game break.

If I'm obsessing about a game and find it too difficult to focus on task completion, I'll take a break from gaming for a week just to clear my head and reset my brain. I always feel like I get my self-discipline back after these mini hiatuses.

Good luck!

[Frankie Grimes]

Thanks to all of you guys...

I'll try to put in practice your pieces of advise...

Later I'll write and tell you the results....

See ya.