I recently got a job after finishing university, all is good. However, after 5 full days of being behind desk job, I feel a bit exhausted of being behind desk.
Thus my desire to game on PC has soured immensely. Despite having a huge backlog and actually want to finish games.
I’m debating to purchase a Steam Deck OLED in the hope, I can actually play some decent games on there without getting fatigue of desk/ screens but that’s a big investment (€670-700).
So I was wondering; how do the adults of Lemmy with 5 full days of work still get the time and desire to play their games?
My suggestion is to either change the context you play games in, or pick games that are very cognitively different from what you normally do at work.
You can change your context with a new console, but I think it may be cheaper to do something like buying a controller and playing games while standing up, or on your couch/armchair, or playing games while sitting on a yoga ball. The point is to trick your brain, because it’s associated sitting at a desk in front of a computer with boring tedium. Change the presentation and your subconscious will interpret it differently.
You can also achieve this by identifying the things that you have to do in your job that mirror videogame genres you enjoy and picking a game that shares few of those qualities.
I worked at the post office for years, doing mail processing, and my enjoyment of management and resource distribution style games went down sharply during that time because of the cognitive overlap- I played more roguelikes and RPGs as a consequence.
Any portable console is amazing for this, as you can literally change the whole context on a whim. A steam deck is nice, but even a used older console like a PSP / Vita or 3DS is amazing for a reasonable amount of money. As most of these systems no longer have legal ways to buy new games, I see no harm in pirating the games. I am doing this with a 3DS right now and going through the systems hit games is just an amazing ride. Currently enjoying Super Mario 3D Land and Bravely Default.
Yeah! Also, sometimes I use emulators that work well on phones to play older games, I had fun playing Final Fantasy Legends 2 with RetroArch.
While I sometimes go a while without touching it before picking it up again, the Steam Deck DID take away that “ugh computer desk” feeling that kept me from gaming.
So I recommend it, BUT it’s not a cure, either. It’s just an unfortunate side effect of desk jobs that will never completely go away.
Work/life balance.
I cannot upvote this enough.
Without Work-Life balance, you will be miserable and it won’t matter what you plan to do outside of work you won’t want to do it.
The fact that you’ve just left college and already have a job is a fantastic thing, but the ideal is to have a good work-life balance so that you can actually live life. It took me a long time, too long, to figure that out.
I remember when I first started working full time. The exhaustion is real. It doesn’t ever really go away but you will eventually learn to live with it.
Fuck capitalism. All my homies hate it
I am becoming more and more attracted to doing a masters before I graduate… stave off the misery for another year.
Probably worth doing if you can afford it
My gaming sessions on my Steam Deck are about 1-2 hours around 2-3 times a week. It takes me about 4-6 months to finish an RPG.
I second the Steam Deck, best way to pick games up and down and actually play whenever you can instead of having to plan it!
Thirded. You can also stream your PS4/PS5 to it if you want to play one of those games but don’t want to have to turn off your stories to play on the TV.
My stories!
Accurate.
I simply started playing less. At first I felt sad and angry, recalling my previous gaming years, but once I started to accept the fact that I was growing up and life changes, the sadness passed. Nowadays I rarely can sit on the PC to play for more than an hour every couple of days. But it’s fine. There really are not that many good games that are “must” play and there is no rush to finnish them.No stress about the back log. Also saves money on games, when you can just wait for the sales.
I do still play games on my phone, when I discover some what worthy games to scratch the itches.
Sounds like you’re mentally drained after work to be honest. Nothing you can really do about it except play on some days only when you have the energy for it, or on the weekends.
That’s my secret cap. I’m always exhausted.
The Steam Deck has been a literal lifesaver. Enabling me to play in bed.
Playing on the couch is a godsend.
Second this. Handhelds are great for adult gaming.
Plus in my case you also tend to gravitate away from more narrative, engaged experiences and towards more mechanics-driven, lighter stuff, which tends to be a good fit for the format, too.
Thirded. Triced? Anyway, I haven’t gamed in front of a TV or monitor in almost a decade. All of it has been handheld (either 3DS early in those 10 years, or now with either phone or a Retro gaming device of some sort, or a switch, I dont have a steamdeck).
And I haven’t had a long gaming session in almost that same time frame. Games that I can pick up and play for 10s of minutes before I have to go be an adult again are the ones that get played the most.
I watch other people play the games. Then when I’m tired I close my eyes and I have a nap. I can wake up, fully rested and maybe get to see the final boss! Or not. Maybe I just go to bed.
Username checks out.
That’s the neat part. You don’t.
Just get a bluetooth controller and use the SteamLink app on your phone. It let’s you lounge back and play games just like the steam deck and for way cheaper. I’m actually finding it hard to justify buying a Steam Deck when I have this option.
I’m in the same situation, working 8 hrs at a desk and I can’t join the discord group like I used to during school years. Now I just watch tv on the main monitor and use SteamLink on my phone
I think if you tried an OLED Steam Deck, you might change your mind. The screen alone is amazing… But also, the fact that it’s a fully functioning Linux device is great as well. So much better than Android.
I don’t burn out on screens. I can enjoy a game for 4 hours to unwind from 6 hours of work.
If you’re just starting out working, I wager to say you’re still… unoptimized. Putting in a lot more effort than necessary. New jobs are always stressful. Working for the first time even worse. Give it 10 years of working, and you’ll (hopefully) find your groove where you don’t let work drain your entire battery, and you still have energy left for relaxation.
To be honest, I don’t get a lot of time to game as an adult. For the past several years, my gaming is mostly restricted to fall/winter, like November through early March and even then, it’s primarily around the holidays when I have extra time off work. Even during my “gaming season”, I’m usually only able to get in a 45 minute session a few times a week. The rest of the year, I’m lucky to have the down time more than a couple times a month.
So, the big thing is: I have to really consider my time limitations and that restricts the types of games I play. No point in trying to play games with super complicated control schemes, complex story lines, or which require a lot of time dedication to “get gud” because I’m going to forget how to play, what I need to do to advance, and I’m just going to suck compared to kids who play 18 hours a day 7 days a week.
The Steam Deck actually did help me do a bit more gaming. Like you, I sit in front of a computer all day for work, so being able to game elsewhere and in a variety of locations is nice. Plus, I can fire it up when traveling.
I also stick to games that I feel like there’s a good chance I can “beat” over the course of my gaming season or games with simple mechanics and limited stories. Like this past winter I played Doom. The year before it was Cult of the Lamb. The year before that it was Hades. Short enough games (at least the main story line) and simple enough controls. Then there are games like Vampire Survivors that offer short, simple, self-contained and satisfying mini gaming sessions if and when I have a random bit of down time and feel like playing something.
At work and in game, every 90 mins try to take a 5 min breather and relax as much as possible, definitely stretch.
Beyond that, keep in mind how much sun and socializing you are getting and eat a protein heavy diet. That can drastically affect your stamina and will.
Beyond that it’s a matter of pacing yourself, being happy, and doing what works for you. If you don’t want to game, don’t force yourself to. Sometimes just watching tv and building something is better for you and your joy.
