Think about the time the gamer spent gaming. Once the games have been removed from a person’s life, there will be a huge empty space there. Here is a list of things the recovering gamer can do, in his/her real life, to fill that hole. The goal is to add “healthy” things back, so the recovering gamer will be come a feeling, empathetic, spirit-filled person again, rather then a shell of human being.
1. Make a list of things I can do instead of gaming and print it out, so I will have that reference near, should I crave the games.
2. Keep a daily diary/blog/journal
3. Get to know who I am, and journal that.
4. Write my life's story
5. Get a hug
6. Get a pet
7. Go biking or jogging or fishing
8. Go on a walk
9. Go to the park
10. Go on a hike
11. Play outside
12. Lay in the sun
13. Go swimming
14. Go to the beach
15. Go to church
16. Pray
17. Before going to sleep, thank God for a beautiful day
18. When waking up, ask God for a blessed day
19. Make “real” friends
20. Renew friendships
21. Call someone I have not talked to in a long time
22. Get to know the neighbor kids
23. Invite friends over
24. Have a sleep-over
25. Visit relatives – grand parents, cousins
26. Watch TV
27. Go to the movies
28. Paint something
29. Do things he/she has been putting off
30. Take music lessons
31. Write a song
32. Write stories
33. Block on-line games
34. Clean my room
35. Clean my closet
36. Clean my drawers
37. Start a memory box
38. Make a scrapbook of those memories
39. Go shopping
40. Go on a trip
41. Sleep
42. Read
43. Go to the library
44. Congratulate myself on another day of being game-free
45. Make a bucket list, and get started on it
46. Learn a new language
47. Take a hot bath
48. Eat meals with my family
49. Write a letter
50. Smile at people and say “Hi”
51. Do something nice for someone
52. Do something nice for myself
53. Treat myself
54. Visit a museum
55. Go to the zoo
56. Listen to music
57. Dance to the music
58. Play chess
59. Buy and play board games
60. Play cards
61. Watch my favorite sport
62. Go to a ball game or my favorite sporting event
63. Do my home work
64. Do extra-credit work
65. Go to the play ground
66. Take pictures, as a hobby
67. Get pictures on my phone printed out and put them in a book.
68. Feed the birds at the park
69. Rake leaves
70. Wash the car
71. Work jigsaw puzzles
72. Do crossword puzzles
73. Get a job
74. Go ice skating or skiing
75. Go snowmobiling
76. Make a snowman
77. Make a sculpture (with play dough or clay)
78. Read a comic book
79. Say something nice to someone at least once a day
80. Say something nice to myself, at least once a day
81. Tell my parents and family that I love them
82. Learn to love myself again.
83. Tell myself, I love me and will take good care of me, because one else knows me and can take care of me like I can.
84. Surround & paying attention to the people that STILL love me.
85. Go at night to the astronomy club and watch the stars and planets
86. Make a family tree
87. Go to a concert
88. Write a poem
89. Read poetry
90. Push negative thoughts away and embrace positive ones.
91. Learn to meditate
92. Meditate
93. Go to an amusement park
94. Go to a water park
95. Visit sea world
96. Make a web page
97. Become actor or join a theatre group
98. Go out kayaking or hire a boat or water bike (or rafting)
99. Go on a boat cruise
100. Sew my own clothes
101. Go Sight-seeing
102. Go on a train ride
103. Join the choir at church
104. Go fishing
105. Do scientific experiments
106. Plant a garden
107. Grow herbs
108. Cook or bake
109. Make something to eat
110. Learn to cook
111. Learn/do magic tricks
112. Make a life plan
113. Go to a therapist for more guidance
114. Learn who I am.
115. Be honest about everything! It's liberating!
116. Confront my problems - it is the best way to recover from them.
117. Learn to breath properly.
118. Breath.
119. Be kind
120. Learn to code.
121. Think up some coding projects and do them
122. Learn a sport
123. Listen to the radio
124. Find more friends, by going out.
125. Go out more
126. Learn photoshop
127. Go snowboarding
128. Volunteer
129. Plant trees
130. Go bowling.
131. Join a bowling league
132. Go to a local farmer’s market
133. Go to a garage sale and find some trinkets
134. Have a garage/yard sale and sell some of my stuff, to make money
135. Think about what my purpose in real life could be, and think about how I can achieve my purpose.
136. Walk the dog.
137. Learn to drive
138. Get my driver’s license
139. Do exercise
140. Go to the gym
141. Work out
142. Lift weights
143. Play with my pets
144. Send out birthday cards
145. Make a snack or sandwich to eat and eat it
146. Get rid of old/unwanted stuff. Give it to charity
147. Go bird watching.
148. Learn to identify the types of bird that sing outside my window every morning just from their song. Research online and memorize them.
149. Change my hairstyle
150. Get a hair cut
151. Get a hobby
152. Start a collection
153. Watch the movie "What About Bob"
154. Take baby steps