A friend alerted me to this post because he thought it was me. I too have (or had, just left) a well paid contracting gig at bigco and have struggled with computer game addiction since I was 13 (now in my early 20's). My addictions are Dota 2 and online poker. I've long since lost count of the number of times I've stayed up all night or until 7 or 8 am.
The procrastination, feeling like I've gotten nothing done over a long period of time, and switching to a computer game when bored or hitting a sticking point are all things I can relate to. It becomes a life of mediocrity, which I can't stand.
Unfortunately there is no easy solution. Addiction is a strong force, and it takes an equally strong force to overcome it. Things I do that help:
- Uninstall all games and get rid of any mouses or other hardware that are used for games.
- Tell close friends and family about what you're doing. Have social accountability.
- Find other activities that pull you away from your addictions. I push myself to regularly work out and get a good night's sleep.
Ultimately I know that every time I feed my addiction, it grows stronger. It's either being fed or slowly dying.
The procrastination, feeling like I've gotten nothing done over a long period of time, and switching to a computer game when bored or hitting a sticking point are all things I can relate to. It becomes a life of mediocrity, which I can't stand.
Unfortunately there is no easy solution. Addiction is a strong force, and it takes an equally strong force to overcome it. Things I do that help:
- Uninstall all games and get rid of any mouses or other hardware that are used for games.
- Tell close friends and family about what you're doing. Have social accountability.
- Find other activities that pull you away from your addictions. I push myself to regularly work out and get a good night's sleep.
Ultimately I know that every time I feed my addiction, it grows stronger. It's either being fed or slowly dying.