Healthy Gaming Guide

From 6-hour grinds to 12-hour coding sessions

I used to play games for 6+ hours a day. Now I spend 12 hours coding. So not much really changed, just the focus. Instead of grinding a game I grind code. I still don't go outside much, except maybe to the shop. My example here isn't the best one because it shows what happens when one thing takes over everything else. A better way would be leaving time for other stuff too, but I never really did that, so if you want to start coding, don't forget about real life too.

Time management

A lot of people use timers or planners. I don't. If I feel like coding, I code. If I feel like gaming, I game. Sometimes both at the same time with a macro running. That's my example, but it's not ideal. It works for me, but for most people it's probably easier just to split the time instead of trying to mix it all together. My way is more of a "what not to do" kind of example.

Sleep schedule

My sleep is all over the place. Day, night, doesn't matter. Sometimes I even let a game run while I sleep. This is definitely a bad example. No routine makes it harder to stay healthy or keep energy up. A better example would be trying to sleep at roughly the same time every day. Even if it's not perfect, it helps more than just random hours like I do.

Avoiding burnout

If I'm too tired to keep going, I just take a nap or watch something for a while. That usually helps clear my mind. My example here is actually fine, because breaks do help. Forcing yourself to keep pushing through usually makes it worse, not better. So short breaks can save a lot of time and energy in the long run. And you won't have that feeling that what you're doing is pointless.

Forgetting to eat

When you're busy it's easy to forget simple stuff like food. I do it quite often unfortunately. This is a bad example, because skipping meals is not good at all. The better way is making eating part of your routine or as a goal, for example if you finish something really important in your macro, feel free to get yourself a sandwich or a proper meal so you don't miss it just because you're focused on something else. My way just shows what happens when you ignore it, which is not something to copy.

Gaming burnout

After years of grinding, games got boring. The fun wasn't there anymore. I spent hours on grinding gear and levels that later didn't matter at all. My example shows why letting gaming take over isn't good. Once it feels like work, it's probably time to slow down or stop. For me, coding was better because at least it gave me something that lasts. But the main point is knowing when to step back, even if you don't replace it with something else right away.

Community tips

Most people agree that breaks help and that gaming shouldn't be the only thing you do. Some like strict schedules, others don't. My way is just one example, and not a great one. The better example is finding what works for you without losing track of basic stuff like food and sleep. And if a game starts to feel more like a job than fun, that's usually the sign to step back. So don't make gaming your whole personality and in a sense "a job", make it a side quest and do it for fun when you have the time.