MMORPG and real-life balance....how do you do it?Follow

relationships? school? work?! wtf is that?!

kala how could you forget to add "**** quality time" to the schedule!

I didn't start playing FFXI until I was already in college so balancing the game and high school I can't much help you on.

As for not letting it take over my life well..

My suggestion would be to try and get your real life responsibilities taken care of first. Do your homework when you get it assigned, if it's a project do as much of it in advance as possible (heck this is just general good student advice). If you get a weekend assignment don't slack off until sunday night so you can play all weekend.

The less you slack off in your real life responsibilities the more enjoyable the games will be because you won't be thinking about your homework n such constantly.

As for exercise...well.. I play DDR. S'bout it.

I have to say for me, the way I do it is RL responsibilities first, then spend the balance of my time playing.

I know from time to time I also "cheat" and put off the RL stuff until tomorrow, but for the most part, I stick to this "schedule" that I have made.

I work for myself, so I have a lot more freedom, and therefore, alot more opportunity to ***** myself over ^.~.

I get up, bring kids to school first. Next I spend about an hour checking forums, reading email, getting into my day (What I'm doing now LOL). I spend the next several hours on customer needs, and on generating new customers.

I get my kids from school, help with homework, and wrap up any other RL work, or get into some light activity in game if I don't have any other project for the afternoon. Sometimes *gasp* I'll even hang out with the kids and goof off instead! (shhhh it'll ruin my totally addicted MMORPG rep here! >.>;;)

Dinner and Kids to bed, and then I really get into whatever other activity in game I want to do, be it our static party, or a linkshell event, or leveling some other job.

You're young still, enjoy life, whether it's playing the game, or hanging out with your friends. Don't sweat the details too much, as long as your real life work (your homework, and any part time job you may have) gets done. If playing the game gives you enjoyment, then do so. If you feel like you're missing out on something outside of the game, take the following 7 steps:

1. Locate the logout button on the second long menu.

2. Select the logout button.

3. Answer yes when it asks you if you are sure.

4. Choose the quit option.

5. Locate the power button on your PS2 or PC.

6. Press that button.

7. Get up, get out, and go see what's out there.

Have fun!!! ^.^)v

Really, there is no secret, other than learning when to turn the game off. I am in college in the moment, and I am pushing hard to get into a good graduate school, so grades are important. It is hard sometimes to say "Ok, this party is really rockin', but I have a nasty paper to write...which is more fun? Hmmmm....lets do the paper." It has to be done though. I have gotten to the point that I only play after all homework is finished, and I play on weekends during the day, and only at night on weekends if there isn't a social obligation. I don't want to get trapped in RL < Game. That can get dangerous.

Edit: Oh! Part of knowing when to turn off the game is knowing when to go to bed too. That one was also hard for me, heh.



Edited, Mon Oct 17 09:33:44 2005 by Katarine

Hmmmm. Well 17 is kind of a rough age. But there really are so man other things you can do socially. Try for starters on weekends going out on one night, and then gaming on the other. If you are trying to kick your gaming habit or atleast control it, set a goal for yourself. Say you game maybe 3 hours a night. Set an alarm for 10 minutes less every week until you get it down to where you want.

Good Luck, and yes you are missing out on life if you devote it all to your computer screen.

THese games are addicting

I juggle police work, wife and a soon to be here son , a home amongst other stuff

key to all that is knowing you have other stuff to do and dont get on the game, take a day off here and there from ffxi or wow to get things done, ie...laundry,cleaning take wife/gf out to eat, movies, yard work

this is just how i do it, sometimes it works sometimes it dont , being in a hnmls doesnt help either as im always needed somewhere

best advice i can give is learn to control the game not the other way around

I used to play FFXI alot more than I do now staying up late during the week when it was hurting my work performance, and sitting in a chair all weekend long instead of doing something else with my hubby.

We both stopped that. We go out on weekends. We have a "date" night on fridays where we try to either go out or just watch a movie at home. We spend more quality time together rather than FFXI time together. It makes FFXI not work anymore but fun again when you take it in several small doses and the occasional long session.

I look at this game as a last resort for things to do. However, I don't watch TV and exersize is a part of my job, so I do have that advantage. Med school, and a 40 hours a week job... you want a way to keep yourself off the game, give it a try. So much work you'll be lucky to get sleep. I don't know how I manage to play myself, but I do it. ^^
Oh and my RL friends play too, so thats also a bonus for me ^^.

Yeah man im 17 too, man just make freidns with ppl in school and chill with them on the weekends, then only play during the week when your supposed to be studying or doing homework (or some **** like that, I think thats what they call it) and your good lmao

strangely enough I manage to find time for just about everything I need to do, but i do most of my heavy playing on weekends in the morning when no one else wants to do anything.

<.<;

time management isn't easy, the key is making the most of your day

i.e.
1. cut down commute as much as possible
2. see how little sleep you can get away with (most people do fine with 6-7 hours tops).
3. prioritize

that being said I'd like another 4-5 hours in the day.

I tell myself "It's just a game."

I also tell myself "It will be there tomorrow, a week from now, and a month from now." And then I go on my merry way.

It's easy... do RL stuff during the day, then play after it's all done. I don't log in to FFXI until at least 9 or 10 EST, but I usually play for 2-5 hours. Not everyone can live off 3-4 hours of sleep though.