How can I stop playing video games forever? Eventually your life will get to a point where you straight up just don’t even have time to think about playing video games. It was only when I went to get an eye exam in my 20s that I found a solution. Before joining this guild I decided to quit the game. For the next 5 months I played Starcraft 12-16 hours a day. Then, make an effort to police yourself when using your computer in the future. So here goes! I’ve covered all four pieces! Let's see some answers on how to stop playing video games! This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. You aren’t going to please everybody but if they aren’t down with it they aren’t worth it. If you look at the best and most addicting games out there they all comprise these core pieces. Many of the online games that people waste so much time on are based on real games that you can play almost anywhere, like billiards, golf, darts, bowling, and poker. That’s why playing a non-multiplayer game is fun but only for a limited time. My video game career (I’m not kidding, I viewed it as a career) began playing the original version of Starcraft when it first came out. See a pattern here? You may be surprised at how many people there are in your area who enjoy the activity. Request the child to help and cooperate with you in this matter. I love playing video games so much, and I really want to stop. ", https://gamequitters.com/how-to-quit-playing-video-games/, https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/video-game-addiction#1, https://lifehacker.com/how-i-cut-back-on-playing-video-games-1796340031, https://lifehacker.com/how-can-i-start-and-shut-down-my-computer-automatically-5831504, https://mystudentvoices.com/how-to-balance-videos-games-and-studying-b9037866e602, https://wealthygorilla.com/20-reasons-quit-playing-video-games/, https://everydaypower.com/why-stop-playing-video-games/, https://www.amenclinics.com/blog/how-to-overcome-video-game-addiction/, https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/xbox-one-hard-drive-how-to-delete-re-install-games/, https://focusme.com/blog/how-to-stop-gaming/, https://medium.com/vladimir-novick/treat-life-like-a-video-game-df6ca3d60579, https://theweek.com/articles/771213/sorry-nerds-video-games-are-not-sport, https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/27/wii-video-workouts-dont-beat-real-sports/, https://vocal.media/geeks/beginners-guide-to-larp, https://mylarpworld.com/how-to-start-larping/, https://medium.com/personal-growth/how-to-enjoy-reading-books-2d10d13905c7, https://www.inverse.com/article/20770-best-video-game-novels-bioshock-uncharted-mass-effect-ico-halo, https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/tips-for-finding-lasting-love.htm, https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2013/jul/31/gamer-communities-positive-side-twitter, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Find out WHY your parents dislike your hobbies. I had the #1 ranked hunter on the server I played on and after transferring to a new server (one of the more popular ones) I was recruited by a top 10 guild in the world to be on their roster. Thanks! So let’s bounce some ideas around. It worked! And soon this turns into a major addiction, and one of the hardest ones to break. Assign video game time limit. Approved. Do you parents have some valid points? Eat healthier and drink more water. It pulled me in, so I played more and more. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Have played since the don king kong country and NBA Jam era. (If this is you, you’ve come to the right place.). Playing video games may begin as an innocent hobby, but can turn into your comfort zone where you try to escape reality.It can become an addiction, and you may unconsciously leave all other aspects of life behind. Free Guide: The #1 question I get is what do I fill my time with? Learning how to stop playing video games so much requires dedication and a measured approach. Thanks, buddy. Your efforts (or lack thereof) do not go unnoticed. This means that you’ll actually be training your mind while you entertain yourself. The deal was this. It depends. "I'm at the computer too much, but I just can't stop! Only let yourself play in the evenings after you’ve done everything you need to, like homework and chores. Put your earnings straight into the bank and take up a new hobby. If you often play with other gamers online or in-person, inform them of your intention to quit, as well. LARPers are encouraged to create original characters with unique traits and backstories, make their own armor and weapons, and lend a hand with duties like scheduling meet-ups and scouting for locations. Find this and you’ll seriously never have another desire to play video games. 3. [14] :)", unfinished work. Last Updated: January 9, 2020 Now check your email to confirm your subscription. But I also don’t always do it by myself. If you’re a PC gamer, you can even set your computer to shut itself down at a specified time, which may be helpful if you’re not sure you can pull the plug on your own. I improved rapidly and as I began to get better Ben started to play more and more as well. The reason they are playing video games is to avoid studying! I pretty much did nothing else. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. If it appears that he is becoming more aggressive with his siblings or friends during the period that he is playing violent games, stop him from playing the games. If played too much, however, they can begin to consume your time and attention, and even have the potential to become a harmful obsession. Just go outside, hang out with friends, go to the gym or play soccer at a local field. The important thing is that you stick with it and fight the impulse to play for longer than your predetermined time frame. I mean you seriously have to mean it. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. The second and third pieces to the puzzle explain it perfectly: video games are a challenge. Do your best to be present with whatever you decide to do. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. I want to stop gaming but I don't want to sell everything I own that is related to gaming. Do I have to quit forever, without ever playing it? Free content. If you do most of your gaming on the computer, uninstall addictive programs from your hard drive and delete any accounts you have for online games. Hopefully, they'll be supportive of your decision, but if not, you'll at least be giving them a heads up that they may not be seeing as much of you. I would spend my time studying strategy, watching film, and playing as much as I could. Video games hack into a psychological pattern in our brains called the triumph circuit. I really do want to stop, but it's hard. He thought this was funny. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. It took a strong will but I was eventually able to break the habit and as time went on it became easier and easier. wikiHow's. So I decided to go to the Internet cafe to watch my friends play games. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. When we weren’t practicing, I would practice on my own. “I downloaded the guide and found new activities to try.” -Rusaw. Straight up. When you’re looking to just relax for a minute and kill some time, what do you do? It also won’t hurt to have an honest outlook on the severity of the problem, a healthy dose of self-discipline, and a support system in the form of your closest friends and family. Inability to Stop Playing Video Games Ask your child to keep a record of time spent on gaming. ", "I found how to get rid of Clash of Clans.". Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. The appeal of today’s video games is based on sound value: games are fun, action is fast, challenges are inviting. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself away. Go for a walk with your friends and later go out and you'll see that gaming is nothing compared to being with family and friends. You play video games. There was an error submitting your subscription. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. But believe it or not, the average gamer is 34 years old, and 60 percent of Americans play video games daily, reports the … Well, anything you are actually passionate about will work. A Michigan man allegedly stabbed his mother and stepfather after being told to stop playing video games last Friday — and the stepfather died four days later, authorities said. I was thinking about stopping playing video games and instead do exercise and buy a video camera instead of a PS3. But remember playing guitar is missing one key piece: the social side. Set a timer so you don’t forget and lose track of time. Use the timer on your smartphone to keep track of how long you’ve been playing and alert you when your allotted time is up. The tragedy is that many of the people playing video games night after night are aware of this too! Sell your console, controllers, and games. All of these things will take up time that you might otherwise devote to gaming. It really isn’t that hard. I get good grades in school, and I'm on the baseball team. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. An inability or unwillingness to get your gaming addiction under control could end up taking a serious toll on your health, studies, career, or relationships. This is just asking for an unexpected all-nighter. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. I didn’t touch a video game at all for almost two whole years. What else could you do? 1. I wasn't really that much on the computer before I saw a game, "I don't know how I got addicted to these games, but once I started controlling myself and saying that I got some, "I'm a gaming addict, and some of these ways are able to help me. I competed competitively in Counterstrike 1.6, playing in both CAL and CEVO leagues. They are social. No, I am not being sarcastic here. But the games that keep you around for a long time are the ones that are social. Delete downloaded games from your console or device to reduce the temptation that you might feel to play them if they’re just sitting there. It all goes back to making a purposeful commitment to not be a slave to your urges. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that leveling up is a very addicting aspect to the game. Well done, pat yourself on the back for this. The temptation faded. “Social Dynamics” obviously offers all 4 of those areas which is why taking it seriously works to get over your video game addiction. [18] Let yourself get absorbed in the world around you the way you would a good game. Being challenged can be an extremely motivating factor for someone. I told him not to do it because I wasn’t playing any games anymore. Shortly after I met some friends which kick started my journey into self-improvement and the life I live now. Anytime you're tempted to sit down and play, take it as a challenge to get stronger. Can someone please help me stop? Don’t quit playing them completely, just limit your time. I have never answered a question here on Quora. But what I’ve learned over the past four years is that it all comes down to five simple steps. Learning how to quit video games is without question one of the hardest obstacles to overcome when you first get involved in a journey of self-improvement. Figure out that problem and you have a better chance of getting that person on a treadmill. Disclaimer: This article is for people who have a desire to quit playing games. If you enjoy competition, let that show in the classroom through measurable means, such as your grades and the scholarships you may receive because of them. References These games added a major social aspect to each game and that is why they have millions of players worldwide, millions of players who play them for a long long time. This was right around the time that I decided to make a few last ditch efforts to save my relationship (which didn’t work). Humble in defeat I made the decision to do whatever it took to make sure I could crush him anytime I played him from here on out, without cheating of course. Yet it’s also one of the most important. Make school your hobby. If he could beat me at chess, then he could play video games. Then, reduce it to 1 hour a day to make things easier for yourself. We play video games with our friends and with our son. Going to a friends house seems like good advice, except their friends are likely also playing video games, so now you are just making the problem worse, and limiting the time you play never works at all. You must make the decision not to touch them at all ever again. If you want to have a healthy relationship with video games, you must learn to be more judicious with your time. Now I want to buy a video game system, PS3, and I don't have the condition to buy, even thought I gonna have the money. It became my passion and there was never a reason to stop. There are some that have been successful in kicking that desire and others that have not. If you have friends that just sit around all day playing video games… get new friends! Sure, sometimes that sucks but you need to remember that this is your life and if there’s anything you should take seriously, it’s your life! This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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