Gaming is like drinking

You need to know your measure of a dose. Like sipping your evening glass of wine or whisky on the weekend instead of getting wasted every now and then. And it actually gets harder with age. Though people react differently to it, so it's highly individual.

I was thinking about it recently, when I noticed that I started playing more than usual. And also, I started thinking about it more than usual. To the point that it was tough to motivate myself to do other stuff. And that's the red flag - you stop doing other stuff. Because it's not so fun as playing a game, I guess. The first thing that alerted me is that I got a bit more alone time than before and on the weekends once I started to play–I couldn't find a reason to stop. I felt tired at some point, but I still had quests to finish and it's a weekend...

I used to have this "periods" when some game hooks you up (long-waited game released) and it's hard to focus before you finish it. Getting little bit obsessed with it. And it's not that bad, at least I never considered it's as harmful as it's happened once in a while. But if you start another game soon after, that you get into a vicious cycle of having constantly occupied mind. Sounds familiar? Yes, just like drinking, when a drunk don't get sober weeks in a row.

Not a grand reveal, but I managed to get a hold of myself after a solid science-pop video about dopamine and the pit. And it all made sense. You complete quests, missions, tasks in the game with a completely straightforward rules in a limited world - it's simple. And you get to tick the boxes often–for the brain it's as good as your work and home todo-list. So you are getting that desired dopamine for achieving something. Nice! Dopamine is also responsible for motivation, so now you don't want to do anything else - because you are already good and it would require from you more effort for the same amount of the hormone. Why would you bother?

So after analysing my own behaviour I came up with a few rules for myself to follow to keep my gaming healthy:

1. Do boring stuff first. If you have some chores or work - do it first. After games it will be much harder to find the strength and energy.
   1. Consequence rule: never play games before lunch if you are not ready to waste the whole day. Because chances are you just might.
2. Play with a time limit. I usually set a timer for a few hours. I don't always follow it, but it brings me the awareness of the time passed and helps to reason myself.
3. Make plans. It's very easy to end up playing games if you didn't have plans. So if you want to include stuff in your life - plan it. So you know what you planned for today.

It might sound simple, or even silly a bit. But it helped me.

The thing is, when life get tough, video games can be a sanctum of peace. Because life is complicated and games, however hard-core you are, are simple. The rules are coded. In life not so much. You can think you nailed it at some point, but usually it means that life is saving a nice punch somewhere around the corner. Escapism it is called.

People drink for the same reason. To make everything simpler. And it's addictive.

But you can handle it.