I was talking to my wife recently, telling her how life sometimes feels like a goddamn roller coaster. And honestly? I’ve caught myself having this same thought over and over again throughout the years.
One moment, you’re grinding—learning a new programming language, diving into Kubernetes, smashing Machine Learning courses, picking up Spanish, hitting the gym, and actually seeing your abs for the first time in 30 years.
The next moment? You’re sitting in front of a massive-ass TV, controller in hand, sinking 20–30 hours a week into whatever the hell the hottest new game is. And that’s all you do in your free time.
The Witcher 3 & Beer Era 🍻🎮
I remember when I landed my Account Manager job in Corporate B2B Sales years ago. After getting comfortable (and honestly, pretty successful), I completely relaxed.
Every night:
✔️ Crack open a beer.
✔️ Fire up Witcher 3 on my PS3.
✔️ Live the dream—at least that’s what I thought.
And it was fun. Until life decided to kick me in the ass.
The 5-Year Game Detox 🏋️♂️
Moving to a new country meant starting from scratch. New job market. New rules. And no fucking safety net.
So I made a decision:
🚫 No TV (we didn’t even buy one).
🚫 No gaming—not even on my phone.
🎯 100% Focus on getting my career right.
For 5 years straight.
(Yeah, someone should give me a damn medal for going game-sober for that long.)
I love gaming. Grew up with it. It was a massive part of my life. But I had to figure out how to earn my bread—ideally with some butter on top. So I went all in.
Fast forward to today: I’m a Senior Frontend Engineer, full-time employed, doing what I enjoy.
The Xbox Comeback (And The Mindfuck That Followed) 🎮🤯
Now that things were stable, I thought, “Okay, time to relax.”
💰 Bought a big-ass TV (the kind that makes you question why you don’t just live inside it).
🛒 Realized watching only movies/shows was boring, so I got an Xbox.
🎮 Started playing like a maniac.
And suddenly, my entire daily schedule in my head became:
➡️ “Okay, get this and that done… then game all night.”
Not the other way around.
For almost a full year, I gamed like crazy. But something felt off.
Even while playing, my brain kept running this background process:
❓ “What the fuck is happening?”
❓ “You deserve this. You worked hard. Enjoy it.”
❓ “But… is this it? Is this what life is now?”
That thought never left me.
I even asked my friends for their honest opinions. But at the end of the day, I kept asking myself.
Selling the Xbox & Choosing to Create, Not Just Consume 🚀
At some point, I just stopped turning my Xbox on.
A few months later, I sold it.
And most importantly? I didn’t replace gaming with movies or TV shows.
Because guess what? It’s the same damn addiction, just different levels. Same chemical-hormonal bullshit in your brain (Dr. K on YouTube explains this shit well—check him out).
Now, I’ve flipped the switch:
✔️ Early bed, early wake-up—even weekends & holidays.
✔️ Less alcohol (because recovery after 30 is pure fucking garbage).
✔️ Tighter diet & gym at least 2x a week—not to get jacked, just to maintain.
✔️ Grinding on personal projects & programming every morning.
✔️ 9-to-5 full-time work, but still keeping my energy levels high.
And guess what? I feel way better than when I was gaming 30 hours a week.
Creating > Consuming 💡
Look, we all consume.
You have to consume to create. But sometimes we overconsume and never return anything.
For me, I’d rather build something, even if it’s small—so I can look back and say, “Yeah, I fucking made that.” Not just, “Yeah, I watched that.”
And honestly? I have way fewer regrets now than I did before.
If this helps someone, even one person, I’d be genuinely fucking happy.
💪 Go create something.
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