How Quitting Video Games Made Me A Productive Person
I used to be an introverted kid who would always spend time on computers — mostly playing games. Gaming, specifically multi-player games, allowed me to introduce to a world I dreamed of living. It allowed me to meet new people and make friends. I used to play Rainbow Six Siege and Rocket League, which both are multi-player games that you can play with your friends. I remember learning different strategies online to improve in the game. It was fun, for the time being, but soon it became an addiction. I couldn’t stop thinking about the game, the funny moments, while I was doing anything else — studying. Even if I were doing anything important, I would just ditch on the task and start playing the game when my squad came online.
I’ve spent 2–3 years doing just that. My school results were mediocre. Only I know if I tried studying for real, I could have had impressive grades, but that was not possible back then. I didn’t even bother trying out different hobbies or any other creative skills. For me, gaming was crucial in my life because I could win some local competitions and make some fun content on YouTube.
I can’t vividly remember when it happened, but one day, I really got bored with all of these games, and I decided to take a break from gaming. During that break, I was astounded to realize how much time I spent just playing games. And from then, I started trying out various things aside from gaming.
I Started Seeking Discomfort:
Since I was not busy with gaming anymore, I had lots of free time. And I explored some ways to improve myself, not just as a student but also as a person. I challenged myself to get out of my comfort zone. I did the things that I never thought of doing — taking part in a public speaking contest and pitching my ideas in front of hundreds of people. Even though I didn’t win many competitions, I gained a lot of experience.
I Learned Web Development:
I always had this interest in creating websites, applications. But, I spent no time learning the skills needed for web development because I was too busy playing ranked matches with my squad. But after I took a break from gaming, I got back into web development, and I learned HTML, CSS — the basics of website developing — and, eventually, Javascript and Bootstrap.
I Learned To Read And To Write:
When I was into gaming, I didn’t have any proper routine. I used to wake up at 10 AM, and the first thing I would do after waking up was to start my computer. And you know what happened after that. With the games out of my life, I learned the benefits of waking up early and practicing a skill; I started building new habits.
I never enjoyed reading. Not because I didn’t understand what the author was saying, but because I had no interest in the topics. But soon, I realized the benefits of reading and read different articles, books. Now, I can proudly say, I read at least 2 hours every day, and I love reading. As I read, I learned a lot and wrote what I learned, also known as note-taking. I started Journaling, which helped me with my writing, and it also became a way for me to preserve my memories.
Here I am after 18 months writing about the impact it had on my life. I feel more productive than ever, more organized than ever. Although I still love and will always love playing games, I have overcome the addiction to gaming and have learned to prioritize other things over gaming. If you are reading this, and you are an avid gamer, I want you to take a break from gaming; it can be a month, or maybe just a week; all I want you to do is to figure out the time that you spend on playing games and think the number of creative things that you can do within this free time. The next decision is yours.
