Playing video games as an adult can either carry over from childhood or be a newfound hobby. Regardless of how you got into it, gaming can be a wonderful de-stressor and escape from reality, much like reading a book or watching a beloved television series. However, gaming as an adult does come with drawbacks. Some obvious ones are money and time (especially when you have kids). Before I reveal my biggest drawback, I’d like to kick it off and ask you: what is the hardest thing about gaming as a hobby for you?

The biggest drawback I’ve come to realize for me, and I’ve heard from several of my friends as well, is the fact I’ve been staring at screens all day for work. What does this have to do with video games? Well, after eight hours of mandatory screen time for my job, I am often hesitant to stare at another screen for the remainder of my day. I’ve noticed this more recently in my mid-thirties as eye strain has actually become an issue. I’ve purchased blue-light glasses to deal with the amount of screen time, and thankfully, it’s helped.

When I was a kid in the late 1990s, “screen time” wasn’t as much of a buzz word as it is today. My parents limited my television use, and other than that, I barely looked at a screen. At school, we used books and blackboards. There was no Chromebook. No smart phones. No social media. We have computer class once a week at most. At home, I’d ride my bike or wander in the woods until it was time for dinner. If anything, I was craving some screen time with my Game Boy Color and Nintendo 64. Sure, as a minor I had little say in what kind or how many games I could buy or rent, but the last thought I’d ever have back in the day would be, “I don’t feel like gaming because, man, I’m sick of looking at a screen”.

Even in college (circa 2006), I only just acquired my first smart phone and laptop, and Facebook was such a novelty. Although my screen time went up, I still spent most of my day interacting with my peers, reading books, and moving around. The bulk of my day was still screen-free, so when I wasn’t off chilling with friends or doing homework, I was more than happy to pick up my Wii and play The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

It was only when I entered the workforce and accepted an office-style job did I notice a slight impact on my desire to play games. And don’t get me wrong, it was not for lack of desire. The Nintendo Switch had launched with Breath of the Wild, and I hunted several stores until I could get one ASAP. But once that novelty wore off and work like took off, I noticed that some days at five o’clock, the last thing I wanted to do was LOOK at another screen (even if it was for fun). My eyes were tired, my back started to ache, and I had an innate sense of guilt to “touch grass”.

I never thought my days would revolve around screens, even if out of necessity for my career. There’s this sense of dissatisfaction of waking up, eating, sitting and working on a computer, eating, finish working at my computer, eating, then getting up only to sit down in another area of my house to playing my Switch 2 or PlayStation 5…on my T.V. I’ve reached a definitive cap to screens, and I’m sick of it. While not sick enough to get rid of my gaming hobby all together, it did whittle my gaming time even further. It was a deliberate choice, spending it on a walk outside or even just lying on the couch to “rest my eyes” (if I didn’t sound ancient by now, I don’t know what else will). Then, it’s just a matter of whether I am still awake and alert enough to play at nine or ten o’clock at night.

I yearn for the simpler times. While I can’t switch careers with a snap of my finger, I can at least find ways to break up times on a screen. I’m even working on spending less time on my phone. Whatever it takes for me to feel less burnt out on screens, and I can’t help but wonder if I’m the only one.

Do you have this same struggle? What has posed challenges to enjoying your hobby? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.

Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games

The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship show of Boss Rush Media and The Boss Rush Network. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig, LeRon Dawkins, Stephanie Klimov, and Pat Klein, as well as their friends, fellow creators, developers, and industry veterans, share their gaming experiences. They discuss what they’ve been playing, explore rotating segments, debate the Boss Rush Banter topic of the week, answer community write-ins, and more. Patreon subscribers at any tier enjoy exclusive access to the Boss Rush Podcast Patreon Show twice a month along with other perks and extras.

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