Fortunately in my case it is spending time on things that I want to be working on, and which is therapeutic and healthy for me. Part of a realization in my mental health and “wtf is life” journey was that even though I think I want to have unlimited free time to just chill, having obligations that I enjoy and look forward to produces better results. After being medicated enough to have some energy and executive function of course.
In truth, my drift from gaming stemmed from very similar self knowledge, I have such a wealth of ways I can spend my time (including with my kids when I can convince the older one, lol) with stuff that has small but accumulative impacts.
No shade on gaming, engaging with art and storytelling and just straight up play all have deep value and I’d argue all people need those things, but yeah. For me a few games in particular that end up feeling like “Chores Simulator XYZ” and which I almost consider a genre of its own (Stardew Valley, Valheim, TerraFirmaCraft MC were my few) helped me better understand my changing preferences. I’m like “why am I building this fake house and collecting the materials and etc. when my office, garage, and outside areas all look kinda shitty?” I have pets who like activity, I have projects and chores and people to see.
Now, I also do feel overburdened pretty often and my job is challenging and tiring, but yeah. By and large I just enjoy more IRL time spent these days, while also missing the former thrill of gaming with this kind of deep ache.
I’ll add that I have a kid too, and that is the kind of relationship in your life that can really teach you how stupid you are to worry about “wasting” time with them you could do something productive or work extra.
The relationship CAN do that. Potentially. God damn are a lot of people horrible to their own children.
Zink@programming.dev 5 weeks ago
Fortunately in my case it is spending time on things that I want to be working on, and which is therapeutic and healthy for me. Part of a realization in my mental health and “wtf is life” journey was that even though I think I want to have unlimited free time to just chill, having obligations that I enjoy and look forward to produces better results. After being medicated enough to have some energy and executive function of course.
I hope you get to do the same before long!
PolarKraken@sh.itjust.works 5 weeks ago
In truth, my drift from gaming stemmed from very similar self knowledge, I have such a wealth of ways I can spend my time (including with my kids when I can convince the older one, lol) with stuff that has small but accumulative impacts.
No shade on gaming, engaging with art and storytelling and just straight up play all have deep value and I’d argue all people need those things, but yeah. For me a few games in particular that end up feeling like “Chores Simulator XYZ” and which I almost consider a genre of its own (Stardew Valley, Valheim, TerraFirmaCraft MC were my few) helped me better understand my changing preferences. I’m like “why am I building this fake house and collecting the materials and etc. when my office, garage, and outside areas all look kinda shitty?” I have pets who like activity, I have projects and chores and people to see.
Now, I also do feel overburdened pretty often and my job is challenging and tiring, but yeah. By and large I just enjoy more IRL time spent these days, while also missing the former thrill of gaming with this kind of deep ache.
Zink@programming.dev 5 weeks ago
🤜🤛
I’ll add that I have a kid too, and that is the kind of relationship in your life that can really teach you how stupid you are to worry about “wasting” time with them you could do something productive or work extra.
The relationship CAN do that. Potentially. God damn are a lot of people horrible to their own children.