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| Image on Flickr by Peter Alfred Hess under license |
You are in a life’s phase where you’re thinking about a career. Jobs are hard due to which most people think it's arduous to manage them but I assure you this is not the case.
As a gamer, you need some ways to manage your job and gaming.
Jobs are not that difficult to control because of a fixed time schedule in terms of shift hours. Either you have a day shift or a night duty.
Employees that are doing 9 to 5 can easily manage their time but if you are busy in 2 jobs or moreover working at weekends then it could become troublesome.
Regardless of your situation, this post will help in maintaining a balance between job and gaming. Let's start
Ways to keep a balance “job and gaming”:
1) Don't discuss gaming with everyone.
Why it's important
that you keep your gaming desires to yourself and with few colleagues as
possible because not everyone has the same passion as you.
I have been
playing games since age 11. Played a lot of FPS like call of duty, FarCry
series, and Early rising games like commandos, true crime, house of the dead,
metal slug some sega, and other popular strategy games.
I am saying this
because of my experience as a supply
chain manager and working in the banking corporate sector for about 2
years.
All I can say
through my personal experience is when you try to discuss gaming with all, not
everyone will take your passion seriously and it will create self doubt feelings,
like games being a time wastage activity and finding less desire to play when
you return home.
So, it's better to
discuss your favorite games either single or multiplayer with those that have
experience.
2) Avoid multiplayer gaming during lunch breaks.
I have seen a lot of my colleagues play games like android FPS “ Call of duty mobile or PUBG”, angry birds , skudoo and many others during lunch hours.
I believe this is not a good idea because you will immerse yourself in the game so much that it will be difficult for you to regain focus again during work.
If you ask me I try to avoid all games during this hour because it's a time to relax instead of forcing in games. The peaceful way is to just rest a little bit during break hours.
Talk with somebody
or if you don't have anyone go to Facebook, Twitter or youtube.
When you are off
from your assigned shift play as much you want. There won't be any distractions
preventing gaming.
3) Assigned a specific time for gaming after work.
This one is really
important, you should assigned a time limit to games after work especially if
it's a Monday or middle of the week.
This will help because when you’re at home you couldn't perceive time as if you were at work. It's a little "Einstein Time theory"
but I am coming from my own experience. Time will rush so fast you will not know when it will be midnight and again sleep time for next hard day shift.
It will make you do less So, to avoid this I manage a “reminder alarm” on my phone mostly When I am playing strategy games.
This informs me if 2hr or 1 hr have passed So, I should stop playing and resume my other activates either its online freelancing or any other task which interests me most.
Take some free time for
your family who has waited a whole day, just to get your attention. Gaming
has its time but, this is a great way to keep your passion protected without damaging work-life balance.
4) Manage weekdays and weekends separately.
By creating a
separate schedule will make you feel, you’re not missing on games due to shift
hours or work interfering with your gaming desires moreover you can give some
free time to your loved ones.
This means keep your gaming restricted during weekdays and releasing it during weekends because of more leisure time. Even if you are working on Sat most jobs are half-day and people are free on Sundays.
Dedicate whole Sat
to gaming alone and on Sunday spend some time with a family gathering to form a
balance between the two.
You can say my friends are free on weekends or on a specific day why limit gaming then. All I can say is if you want to maintain a balance you need some discipline. Every goal requires discipline and prioritization.
So, gaming has its place and the
job has its importance.
When it's time to
work then only work but after work, you have other responsibilities you can't
do just games all day. People around you need you So, try to manage through
discipline and scheduling.
5) Diversify
Keeping weekdays and
weekend schedules separate, diversify your gaming style. Don't just stick to one
type of game.
I can appraise a
story about one of my co-workers who only play "GTA 5 online" when he
came from work. He often invited me to join as I was either tired or just
involved with my game naming" Black and white" at that time.
All I am saying is
to change your taste. As you know “strategy
games” will drain your time like there is no tomorrow.
Knowing this, the easiest way to manage balance is to play some
FPS or hidden objects games during weekdays and strategy games on
weekends.
Change of taste will keep gaming motivation alive moreover you can effectively manage time.
6) Single-tasking
Most people don't
like the concept of single-tasking may be due to society’s programming or their
own opinion but when it comes to forming a balance in games, jobs, and life as
a whole it works like a wonder.
I am talking about
single-tasking in terms of Keep your mobile devices on "airplane
mode" avoid social media and for that 3 hrs during work focus only the
desk .
Similarly when
playing games with friends don’t waste time in discussing how your day was or
other unnecessary chit chat at a multiplayer just complete missions and
establish team unity.
Discipline yourself
in single-tasking. This will keep the burden off and avoid any burnout from
trying to build a balanced gaming life.
7) Savings
What I meant by that
is, if you focus your efforts on building your salary up to the point where you
can buy new hardware for your gaming PC, you will naturally feel driven to your
job as well as gaming.
To discipline
yourself, you can say if you save X amount of money you can afford a new
Graphics, ram, or a new gaming PC.
This will motivate
you to work hard. Your co-workers and family will feel good that you're
planning to buy new things for a hobby as long as it is extra cash excluding
other important home expenses.
It will look good to
others that you're taking some time building a passion around your wants which
can sometimes inspire other gaming fans in workplace to do the same.
You will learn what
current devices are trending and some new game series. It will keep you up to
date with the gaming industry rather than becoming a work alcoholic.
Passion and purpose will return to your job because you're now working towards a healthy desire rather than trying to force everything in your life balance.
Summing up:
7 Ways to Balance Job Life with Games:
- Don't discuss gaming with everyone.
- Avoid multiplayer gaming during lunch breaks.
- Assigned a specific time for gaming after work.
- Manage weekdays and weekends separately.
- Diversify
- Single-tasking
- Savings
