I basically stopped using a larger percentage of my time playing video games. Every time I try to play a game, it just doesn't hold my attention anymore. The problem is now I am dealing with the question: "What do I do with all of this spare time?" I was using video games as a way to relax and also as a reward system for doing my schoolwork. Now, I just feel burnt out on everything.

I wanted to know if anyone has a suggestion for an alternative to playing video games as a reward system. Something simple and relaxing I can do to beat my video game addiction of 26 years.

I was actually thinking about getting a pet. I haven't had any pets in about 10 years, and I was pondering the idea of a gecko. I love dogs, but it may be a bad idea for me to get a dog since I am thinking about relocating for work. I could really use some suggestions.

Something musical. Also, look into stuff like meditation for relaxation. :D

Masturbation always helps. Fervent masturbation.

I have dogs

Gotta be careful of this though. Can easily get rugburn if you dont lube up nicely :P

Knitting can be relaxing if your into repetitive actions. Whittling/carving is also something to do. I don't know if those will fall into any reward category.

Master the art of whittling and make a terra cotta army chess set out of soapstone.

a pet won't hold your attention. they are fun to look at and play with, but they are not that exciting to spend all your free time with. perhaps in the begging, especially if it is a puppy or something, but eventually the fun wears off... anyway, try something more creative and/or artistic. someone already suggested music, which is along those lines. you could also try drawing, writing, building things, etc.

Get a friend and sit on a park bench or a mall bench and people watch and make up stories to go along with the people.

watch movies? lots and lots of them?
or you could take up reading, you know the things you do with books and stuff
exercising? running, biking, rock climbing etc

I used to be the same way. I would game every chance I got and find the same thing it just doesnt hold my interest like it used to. I have taken up reading. Getting lost in a good book really helps with the video game addiction and is a way to still live in a world that isnt your own and take your mind off everything else. You could also buy a house. Yard work seems to take up the other good chunk of my time.

Join a rec center and get involved in some fun pickup games of basketball or ball hockey. Who says you can't fill your time with fun and exercise.

Wow! Tons of great suggestions! I think I have a pretty good idea of what I can do! Thank you all so much!

What I do for my free time is hang out with my friends and just do things outside of my room. I read outdoors to get some color and go to the gym pretty often, those are the two main things I gained from giving up LoL for lent. It was nuts I sorta had the same problem you have now but you just end up finding things to do around you.

Wait, best idea ever... Get a girlfriend, and F*CK her all day every day.

I find working out 3-5 times per week is a great activity. It will obviously benefit you physically (loss of weight and/or muscle gain) plus I find it really helps to clear my head and allows me to concentrate on less physical activities like work, school etc.

How about playing a musical instrument like a guitar, piano, violin. I started playing the guitar in 1989 i took lessons and practiced for 2 to 3 hours a day i still practice for 2 hours a day.

So metalgod u just made ursef sound so old...89' damn old man here lol

But I stil gotta go with purples idea here get a girlfriend and some purple dildos then u both would have fun

this works really well^. I usually like reading, writing music or playing the drums with my spare time;)

Girlfriends are time consuming and worth it with spare time.