In my previous post, I mentioned my new challenges, or areas I'd like to improve on.
But since maybe you didn't click that link, (oh you!), here's a quick reminder of my next two challenges:
- Going to bed early 10pm.
- Stop playing WoW (World of Warcraft)
Before we embark on this new journey, let's find out why we are doing what we are doing. This way we won't lose our way and stay focus on the path.
Start with Your Why 🤔
Sometimes we do things without knowing our real reasons. And since I have the attention span of a squirrel, I can easily get distracted.
In addition, writing down the reasons reminds you and motivates you on why you are in the path you are on.
Bed by 10pm ⌚
- (Start) Go to bed early 10pm.
- Wake up earlier...say 6am.
- Get nice start on my day, no rushing, enjoy my morning runs, etc.
- Get to the office early
- avoid morning rush hr
- get a head start
- shift my working hours (come in early, leave early)
- talk to some people / do some work before stand-ups
- avoid afternoon rush hr
- Get home early
- early dinner
- more quality time with family
If I'm honest with you, I want the very last item in that list. That is my current priority and motivator.
Notice how going to bed early will have super awesome cascading effects in other areas in life! This is the reason why I decided to go on this challenge!
Stop Playing World of Warcraft 👿
It's not the game. It's me.
I'm dead serious. I'm the problem, not the game. 😖
I have an addicting personality. I can easily get sucked into a game and loose track of time.
Recently, I was playing over two hours on weeknights. Weekend hours were much higher than I care to admit (near double digits in total for both days easily...).
As mentioned in my previous article, this isn't my first time wrestling with this beast.
A decade ago, my addiction with the game drove me to a 12-step program. If you are interested in finding out more, you can check out my Developer On Fire interview:
This time around it was cutting deep into my personal time.
Here are other effects it had on me:
😴 Less sleep
👀🔥 Burning eyes
⌛ Wasted time
😡 Annoyed (yep, I was!)
💔 Not having fun
🏃💨 Impatient / feeling rush to play
In short, I burned out and should've stopped playing the game a few months back. But it's never too late. Now, you get to be part of this journey.
Prepare for some with-drawl rants 😅
Wrap up
Thank you for taking your time to read this.
I'm already cooking Day 1 entry for this journey. We got off to a rocky start but not where I expected it to have!
What will your journey say?
Till very soon!
Update:
Top comments (7)
My brother played WoW for a good 2 weeks straight. During this time my mom lost it, because she did not see him once go to the bathroom. Fast forward 15 years later and he is now a Game Developer. Not sure it hurt him all that much, but it never hurts to break an addiction. :P
Thanks for sharing your story, wweihs.
I'm never became a game developer, but I am a developer today thanks to playing video games back in the early 90s (NES, SNES, Sega, etc.).
IMO, addiction is addiction. Anyone fighting any kind of addiction, should seek help.
Good luck! Keep us updated :)
Will do. Thanks for reading, Lynne! :)
I can completely relate to your struggle with balancing gaming and getting enough rest. As a dedicated World of Warcraft player, I've found myself countless times drawn into the immersive world of Azeroth, losing track of time while trying to level up my characters or tackle challenging raids. I remember one night in particular when I was exploring the Cataclysm Classic content. The nostalgia of revisiting familiar zones and engaging in epic battles made it nearly impossible to log off. It felt like I was a kid again, completely absorbed in the game.
While playing, I realized that farming gold took up a significant amount of my time. I enjoy questing and raiding much more than grinding for currency. That's when a friend in the game recommended that I check out options to buy Gold in Cata Classic from sites like WowVendor. At first, I was hesitant about using such services, but it quickly became apparent how beneficial it could be. With the gold I purchased, I could focus on the fun parts of the game—like gearing up for raids or exploring new content—without the monotonous grind of gold farming.
This change not only improved my gaming experience but also helped me manage my time better. I found that I could still enjoy long gaming sessions without sacrificing my sleep schedule. I would log in, jump into some exciting quests or raids with friends, and not worry about whether I had enough gold to buy that new piece of gear. So, while it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of WoW, finding ways to optimize the experience, like buying gold, has made my journey through Azeroth even more enjoyable.
So, for anyone else struggling to find that balance, remember that it’s okay to use the resources available to enhance your gameplay. Just like any other hobby, it’s all about finding what works for you and enjoying the adventure without letting it take over your life!
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