I Used to Be a Gamer

How I Overcame My Gaming Addiction and Reclaimed My Life

Gaming was once the center of my world. For almost 20 years.

As a dedicated gamer, I could easily spend 12+ hours in front of my screen on days off. It wasn’t just a hobby; it was a passion that took up a huge chunk of my time and energy, even as an adult.

The Dual Impact of Gaming

Despite the long hours spent gaming, my work performance never suffered. I made sure that gaming didn’t interfere with my job responsibilities and never stayed late before workdays. My professional life remained solid, and I continued to grow in my career, earning promotions and recognition.

However, my personal life took a hit. Gaming began to strain my relationships. I sacrificed valuable time with family, friends, and, most importantly, my wife.

The hours spent in virtual worlds came at a significant cost to my real-world connections.

The Turning Point

The birth of my daughter was a major turning point. It forced me to rethink my priorities. Quitting gaming didn’t happen overnight — it was a gradual process. I realized I wanted to be more present for my family and build a stronger relationship with my daughter.

This realization led me to make a big change.

One day, I dismantled my PC piece by piece and sold each component on eBay. I started the auctions at $0.99, not for the money, but to symbolically let go of gaming. I also deleted all my gaming accounts, severing ties with that part of my past.

The Challenge of Competitive Gaming

My issue with gaming wasn’t just the time spent; it was also my competitive nature. I always strived to be the best, which often led to frustration and anger when I fell short. This drive to excel, while sometimes motivating, frequently intensified the negative aspects of gaming.

Turning Drive into Achievement

What helped me was realizing that life itself is a game. By channeling my competitive drive into real-life pursuits, I achieved far more. Focusing on personal growth and family allowed me to accomplish things that gaming alone could never offer.

Reflecting on the Journey

Does my story resonate with you? If you’re considering quitting gaming or feel it’s impacting your life, health, and relationships, you also know that quitting isn’t simple.

I won’t tell you that gaming is bad or that you need to stop or that you’re sacrificing too much for this passion — I’m sure you hear that enough already.

The decision to quit has to be yours; you need to genuinely want it.

You also need a solid reason for quitting and a clear plan for what you’ll do with the extra time and energy.

Embrace the lessons from your gaming experiences and use that drive to enrich your real-world actions and plans.

The fact that you’ve read this far tells me that you’re possibly at a crossroads: you can either continue following the same path you’ve been on or decide to make a change.

Your in-game characters are heroes, and when you play, you step into their roles. Because of this, gaming can serve as a powerful escape, just as it did for me.

You might not feel the need to become a hero, to become great in real life, but your loved ones might need your greatness.

Think about it.

Thanks for reading.

Adrian@SelfElevateJourney