We’ve long past the point where leisure itself, the thing that’s supposed to be the OPPOSITE of work, has been fully colonized by productivity logic. Even in gaming. So just play a game to have fun and to waste time. Wasting time on leisure activities is not wasted time.
Totally agree, the routine isn’t about turning fun into work, it’s about carving out space where you can genuinely spend time and enjoy it without guilt creeping in.
I love this article. I think this is something important that grown up gamer kids need to understand.
I think also having gaming as a healthy balance in your life will make you more conscious of your gaming decisions, as opposed to using it as an escape.
As a (fairly recent) father of two and someone trying to get further in their career, this article hit a string. It also made me think of Henry Cavill's quote, "I’m the only one being completely honest about what I do to unwind. For me, it’s gaming — it keeps me grounded and happy."
"When I feel good, I work better. When I’m burnt out, everything suffers." That's me as well, man. It's like you're in my head. As a married man and father, I spent the early years of my marriage "sneaking around" playing games, as if I needed to hide it. To this day, I still feel uncomfortable if I'm playing a game by myself when my wife and kid are home with me.
I know I'm not ignoring any responsibilities or house chores, but I'm always worried about being criticized for playing a game when I could be doing X thing that otherwise could be done at any time, but the guilt makes it seem more urgent than it really is. I'm still a work in progress.
On a lighter note, I think my favorite aspect of gaming is whenever I feel an emotional connection with the game being played. It doesn't happen often, which makes the moment more special to me.
One moment in particular was when I finished Final Fantasy 6 for the first time, around 2018. An incredible soundtrack plays over the credits. But at the very end, it transitions into the prologue theme that usually played near the beginning of most earlier FF titles once the adventure had gotten underway.
At that moment, it hit me what a perfect song it was to end the game. It captured that feeling of having truly gone on a journey. It felt like a reassuring "well done" from the game. I was also impressed that Square didn't forget to include it. Actual tears welled up in my eyes unexpectedly. It's a moment I will always cherish.
That FF6 moment you described is exactly why games matter, those rare emotional payoffs feel earned, like the game acknowledging the journey you actually took, not just on the screen but in your life too.
We’ve long past the point where leisure itself, the thing that’s supposed to be the OPPOSITE of work, has been fully colonized by productivity logic. Even in gaming. So just play a game to have fun and to waste time. Wasting time on leisure activities is not wasted time.
Totally agree, the routine isn’t about turning fun into work, it’s about carving out space where you can genuinely spend time and enjoy it without guilt creeping in.
Amen! I just posted about how gaming can be a hobby that helps recharge us.
Exactly, that recharge is the whole point. When life is draining, a good game isn’t avoidance, it’s how you come back with your batteries full.
Totally!
I love this article. I think this is something important that grown up gamer kids need to understand.
I think also having gaming as a healthy balance in your life will make you more conscious of your gaming decisions, as opposed to using it as an escape.
As a (fairly recent) father of two and someone trying to get further in their career, this article hit a string. It also made me think of Henry Cavill's quote, "I’m the only one being completely honest about what I do to unwind. For me, it’s gaming — it keeps me grounded and happy."
Kudos to this post!
Glad it resonated, and kudos right back to you for being intentional about how you spend your time.
Love it. This is how I game anyway. I try to include gaming as part of my life.
That’s the healthiest way to do it, Well done!
"When I feel good, I work better. When I’m burnt out, everything suffers." That's me as well, man. It's like you're in my head. As a married man and father, I spent the early years of my marriage "sneaking around" playing games, as if I needed to hide it. To this day, I still feel uncomfortable if I'm playing a game by myself when my wife and kid are home with me.
I know I'm not ignoring any responsibilities or house chores, but I'm always worried about being criticized for playing a game when I could be doing X thing that otherwise could be done at any time, but the guilt makes it seem more urgent than it really is. I'm still a work in progress.
On a lighter note, I think my favorite aspect of gaming is whenever I feel an emotional connection with the game being played. It doesn't happen often, which makes the moment more special to me.
One moment in particular was when I finished Final Fantasy 6 for the first time, around 2018. An incredible soundtrack plays over the credits. But at the very end, it transitions into the prologue theme that usually played near the beginning of most earlier FF titles once the adventure had gotten underway.
At that moment, it hit me what a perfect song it was to end the game. It captured that feeling of having truly gone on a journey. It felt like a reassuring "well done" from the game. I was also impressed that Square didn't forget to include it. Actual tears welled up in my eyes unexpectedly. It's a moment I will always cherish.
That FF6 moment you described is exactly why games matter, those rare emotional payoffs feel earned, like the game acknowledging the journey you actually took, not just on the screen but in your life too.
Great messages here. Very healthy approach to gaming. Thanks for writing this!
Appreciate that. My goal was exactly this, helping people feel good about enjoying something that’s already a positive part of their lives.