I started my journey in game design and article writing in June. The funny thing is, I bought several game design books four years ago but never did anything with them until now.
To keep a balance between family (top priority), work, friends and hobbies, I set a few rules:
- Give up some free time: unless I’m completely burned out, I skip playing games/videogames and focus on designing or writing.
- Keep going while I’m focused: I don't try to finish entire projects but I ride inspiration while it lasts
- Stay up a bit later (CAREFULLY!): at night, when everyone’s asleep, I’m often more productive.
- Write everything down: If an idea hits me while I'm out, I just leave myself a quick voice note.
- Find the useful part: when I play, I watch mechanics, table flow and why fun happens or doesn’t. All of this helps me both design and write. Everything can spark inspiration. I know it sounds obsessive but I'm so focused on these things right now that I do it automatically.
- Social media: not sure how you feel about them; I removed EVERYTHING (didn’t delete the accounts, just the apps from my phone). I kept only Facebook for a few designer groups
- Willpower: basic but key. At first I forced myself to make games and posts; over time it’s becoming a habit.
I’m not sure how much this answers your request, but I get how you feel. Maybe I didn’t say it perfectly and I don’t know if these “ideas” will help.
Wishing you the best!
You made a pact with Lukewh, so I expect you to keep it😝
This was an incredible set of advice and principles I'll be incorporating. Seriously thank you for sharing! With the state of the world currently, I have been spending too much time on social media, doom scrolling to no end. That needs to be the first thing to go if I'm honest with myself, or at the very least screen timers need to be put into place. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to join the conversation 🙏🏻
Carry a notebook at all times. Write down any interesting ideas you have, snippets of conversations, strange social interactions, and even overheard conversations. Jot things down when you watch movies or read and might make interesting inclusions to a game you're playing or for seeds of something that can come later.
Carve out as much time as you can daily to work on a project. Try not to get sidetracked (difficult) and just finish anything. Start small, stay small if necessary, or build outward. Make a character sheet for your favorite game, a wandering monster table, a map, etc. Clean it up and make it available. Get feedback. Repeat.
I always remind myself to take notes in my phone, but I feel like something meatier and intentional, exactly like a notebook, is a fantastic idea. There's a certain amount of ostentatiousness that comes with whipping out a notebook in public, but I'm positive this is all in my head. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply!
I realized that the only way I’m going to get to everything I want to read, play and do…is to retire and/or win the lottery. Therefore, I set a retirement date! (Sadly I’m of the age of retirement) I’m scared and excited and determined not to waste too much of my time left here on earth.
As long as you're enjoying your time, I don't think it's possible to waste your remaining days. You've paid your dues, clocked in and clocked out, so it's time to tell the man to take a fucking hike! I am so happy for you and the chance you have to dive fully into your hobbies!
I feel this pain on so many levels too. I also feel like I want to post on here more, well thought out posts and deep solo playthroughs. Having the last 3 weeks off work my time has still disappeared into family and house stuff, next week I go back to work and I know that I will lose all time again 😞. Let's make a pact to write something once a month at the least 🤝
I promise you I’ll write once a month! You got this 🙏🏻 even if you only have five minutes to start a rough draft that’s gotta be better than nothing right? We can do this!
Exactly. Commute a bit earlier, sit in the car / station / whatever for 5 minutes when you're on the other side and write some thing rough on your phone. Make the reward at the end of the commute more valuable than work 🤝
This is great advice 🙏🏻 A subtractive approach instead of the usual piling of more activities. Dropped drinking last January just to realign my relationship with alcohol (I work in a brewery) and that removal has surprisingly been my greatest source of newfound motivation. Do I miss the occasional night of taste-testing all the beer on tap, yes, but that’s a small price to pay haha
Cheers! "Permanent Backlog" is fitting for so many of us!
I started my journey in game design and article writing in June. The funny thing is, I bought several game design books four years ago but never did anything with them until now.
To keep a balance between family (top priority), work, friends and hobbies, I set a few rules:
- Give up some free time: unless I’m completely burned out, I skip playing games/videogames and focus on designing or writing.
- Keep going while I’m focused: I don't try to finish entire projects but I ride inspiration while it lasts
- Stay up a bit later (CAREFULLY!): at night, when everyone’s asleep, I’m often more productive.
- Write everything down: If an idea hits me while I'm out, I just leave myself a quick voice note.
- Find the useful part: when I play, I watch mechanics, table flow and why fun happens or doesn’t. All of this helps me both design and write. Everything can spark inspiration. I know it sounds obsessive but I'm so focused on these things right now that I do it automatically.
- Social media: not sure how you feel about them; I removed EVERYTHING (didn’t delete the accounts, just the apps from my phone). I kept only Facebook for a few designer groups
- Willpower: basic but key. At first I forced myself to make games and posts; over time it’s becoming a habit.
I’m not sure how much this answers your request, but I get how you feel. Maybe I didn’t say it perfectly and I don’t know if these “ideas” will help.
Wishing you the best!
You made a pact with Lukewh, so I expect you to keep it😝
This was an incredible set of advice and principles I'll be incorporating. Seriously thank you for sharing! With the state of the world currently, I have been spending too much time on social media, doom scrolling to no end. That needs to be the first thing to go if I'm honest with myself, or at the very least screen timers need to be put into place. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to join the conversation 🙏🏻
Carry a notebook at all times. Write down any interesting ideas you have, snippets of conversations, strange social interactions, and even overheard conversations. Jot things down when you watch movies or read and might make interesting inclusions to a game you're playing or for seeds of something that can come later.
Carve out as much time as you can daily to work on a project. Try not to get sidetracked (difficult) and just finish anything. Start small, stay small if necessary, or build outward. Make a character sheet for your favorite game, a wandering monster table, a map, etc. Clean it up and make it available. Get feedback. Repeat.
I always remind myself to take notes in my phone, but I feel like something meatier and intentional, exactly like a notebook, is a fantastic idea. There's a certain amount of ostentatiousness that comes with whipping out a notebook in public, but I'm positive this is all in my head. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply!
I realized that the only way I’m going to get to everything I want to read, play and do…is to retire and/or win the lottery. Therefore, I set a retirement date! (Sadly I’m of the age of retirement) I’m scared and excited and determined not to waste too much of my time left here on earth.
As long as you're enjoying your time, I don't think it's possible to waste your remaining days. You've paid your dues, clocked in and clocked out, so it's time to tell the man to take a fucking hike! I am so happy for you and the chance you have to dive fully into your hobbies!
Awww thank u! I needed to hear that! In honor of the rest of the working class, I pledge to enjoy my time and fully embrace my hobbies! 🥰🥰🥰🥰
I feel this pain on so many levels too. I also feel like I want to post on here more, well thought out posts and deep solo playthroughs. Having the last 3 weeks off work my time has still disappeared into family and house stuff, next week I go back to work and I know that I will lose all time again 😞. Let's make a pact to write something once a month at the least 🤝
I promise you I’ll write once a month! You got this 🙏🏻 even if you only have five minutes to start a rough draft that’s gotta be better than nothing right? We can do this!
Exactly. Commute a bit earlier, sit in the car / station / whatever for 5 minutes when you're on the other side and write some thing rough on your phone. Make the reward at the end of the commute more valuable than work 🤝
Yo amen to this! Keep me posted on your journey to play more, write more!
This is great advice 🙏🏻 A subtractive approach instead of the usual piling of more activities. Dropped drinking last January just to realign my relationship with alcohol (I work in a brewery) and that removal has surprisingly been my greatest source of newfound motivation. Do I miss the occasional night of taste-testing all the beer on tap, yes, but that’s a small price to pay haha