What I’ve done since UNINSTALLING WoW:
- I fixed pennyhero.net! omg! (and made two posts! omgx2!)
- I found, registered, and started Networking Essentials class
- I started Intermediate drawing (photos of art at some point soon)
- Holy crap exchanged facebook emails with a cousin I haven’t seen in something like 18 years!
- I’ve danced every day because I’m not playing WoW
On the to-do list for the rest of the quarter:
Upgrade website to wordpress 2.7 and get a theme that plays nice with sub-categoriesDone!- Finish reading Finding Time and End of the World Blues
- Lose 5-10lbs (i.e. work out and eat less.)
- Finish Metroid Prime III (ow this game hurts my wrist) and Zelda TP
- Get back in touch with some friends and try to go hang out with them more (you’ll know who you are shortly)
- Go to the Oregon Brewers Festival
Go visit my mom in Utahlooks like this will be next quarter.- Go to the dentist
- Dance every day because I’m not playing WoW!
If you’re curious why I took a break, all the usual reasons apply: I wanted to focus on “real life” and get a healthier perspective on things… fix some priorities, get back into reading for fun and drawing again.
The first week of the break was everything I hoped it would be; I was super energetic and happy to have all kinds of free time. I kicked serious butt at work, I read half of an ENTIRE BOOK, and started on a second one. I did all the research into taking advantage of education benefits at work, signed up for one class (lined up a second one too) and started attending, and I got brave and asked my manager if my “I feel like a slacker at work” feelings were visible to anyone else besides me (No, he said they weren’t.).
However, now the honeymoon is over and I’ve got to make a conscious effort to keep working at fixing my brain. I know there’s a real chance I’ll get sucked into some other addiction… Even “reading the internet” can be a dangerous activity for someone like me. But at least I’m conscious of it and actively working to refocus my sanity. There’s hope. :)
Anyway… time for sleep.
6 Comments
Emily,
I’ve cut back drastically on my WoWing. I only play a few hours a week. I’ve done so by not having a level 80 character and, therefore, by not raiding.
I’m having fun leveling a lower level character (my “main” right now is level 47), and I don’t worry about when he’s going to ding 80.
I may decide to take one to 80 at some point (my highest level right now is 79), but I firmly believe that raiding is the problem. If you don’t have a level 80, then you have a real life.
Dennis
Hey Dennis! Thanks for stopping by!
I think I’d have had LESS of a problem if all I did was raid. Raiding was on a schedule, and I could keep the non-raiding days open for other things. My problem was alt-addiction… and the addiction to “ooh shiny!” when I’d get new things or accomplish some retarded (but rewarding) grind. When you’re playing solo, time invested ALWAYS equals more reward, and -that- was my biggest problem.
Anyway, I’m happier now. Although it’s becoming more and more of a struggle to not fall into old habits with some other game.
Emily
Congratulations on breaking free of WoW. I could never get into online games because I always figured it would be like time wasted offline gaming x 10.
I like the new Wordpress look. I’ll email soon for a full Emily status update :)
Hi!
I found this site googling the name of my own website.
I hope you’ve managed to stay out of Warcraft. It’s inspiring to read all of the things you’ve been up to with the extra time you have now. I’ve started a website for people who have quit, and we’d love to have you as a member if you like.
Thanks!
Hi “Stop”. Thanks for stopping by!
I actually took a 3 month break as a way to restore my sanity and it was the best thing I ever did. :)
I am playing again, but at a much more healthy level, in my opinion. Your website seems like a great idea. I may come visit. :)
And someday if I decide I want to quit, I’m sure your site will be a great resource/support group.
You have a good point that there is probably a middle ground between quitting and playing the game unhealthily. It was such a good thing for me to quit, its easy to recommend it to others, but I do need to recognize there are many options instead of just playing too much and not at all. Recognizing that should make the site a better place.
Thanks!
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