@Welc0r
Watched the video a few months back and I have to say the 2 minute rule changed my life entirely. I use it almost in every aspect of my life. Doing chores, reading, gaming, watching tv shows, movies. I tend to get distracted easily and jump from one thing to another. But ever since I started using the 2-minute rule a I finished many games, completed many tv shows and watched a few movies and read some books as well! Everyone should use this in their everyday life!
@micmur
I personally do a 30 minute rule with STARTING new games because there's a weird part of my brain that is convinced that I won't like it or I have to be in a specific mood. So starting a timer is a good mental indicator of how I actually feel. Checking the timer too much? Clearly not too focused on the game. Kinda annoyed that the timer went off while I'm playing? That means I'm nice and locked in. now I wanna try the gaming journal tip too. thanks for the video!
@GewaltSam
I found a good strategy for me. Often times it's overwhelming getting into the game where you left it. But restarting it often feels like a chore, and you have the feeling you want to get back where you were. That's the beauty: I play the tutorial and go from the beginning to get back into it, and when it start's to feel familiar and I get the hang of the game again, I go into the old savegame and see how that feels. Then I decide from where I wanna continue.
@Taima
I've wanted content like this for so many years. Seriously at least a decade, because I've struggled with this damn near my whole life. I'm 32 now, laden with depression and ADHD, and that shit can wreak havoc on one's abilities to find, get into, stay into, or later return to a game. Every step of the way is compromised in some fashion. If I can get something to click with me, I'm usually in it for a good long while, but I still fall off many games that aren't done in < 20 hours. I fell of Tears of the Kingdom and couldn't remember why till you reminded me with your own reason, as it was the same for me. Starfield, that disappointing game that was super exciting for a little while and then it wasn't. My ADHD compels me to seek out novelty and new shiny stimulating things (though not necessarily in the form of like, fast paced games. Euro Truck Simulator has been a shiny stimulating thing to me at various points lmao). Your second technique I literally laughed out loud when you said because I didn't expect to hear it and it's something I rely on very heavily, especially if I'm trying to get into something I "want" to play but can't get the rest of myself on board with it. That could be returning to a game or it could be a game I've never played before but I want to love, like Souls games (still haven't been able to pull that off. Patience is a colossal barrier that I can't goddamn overcome). Another weird "technique" I've discovered for at least deciding on what I want to do for the first part of the day is - well, I've come to the realization that my brain, and probably others, are most impressionable when we first wake up. I realized after a streak of happenings where I'd browse my reddit homepage on my phone as I woke up in bed and something would really catch my eye and make me go "ooh" either as the post itself or even in the comments. Most recently this led me to going on a cowboy kick, primarily led by Clint Eastwood and the three Dollars Trilogy films being watched for the first time with ample Red Dead Redemption 2 in between. Shortly after that was a brief flirtation with Lawrence of Arabia (didn't finish the movie, though I was enjoying it lol) and remembering that there were some Lawrence of Arabia related missions in Battlefield 1 which I went back and played and had some fun with. I think I got maybe 2 days out of that and it fizzled out. The struggle never ends, that's for sure. Recently I got back into Star Wars Jedi Survivor now that it's not utter shit on PS5 (though still not perfect), but I already feel like I'm slipping away from that again as I retread old ground, having started from the beginning because of the cognitive load of trying to come back into the middle of something that was at least halfway through and all of the mechanics, lore and other knowledge and aptitude that would have to go along with it. The gaming journal is sort of a neat idea, but for things like this I don't think it would be able to offset. Dunno who tf is gonna read this long ass thing but maybe someone like me will see it and relate to it. Now to find out what that one big sword fantasy game you were playing through half the video was (not Valheim or TotK) maybe I'll put that on my list too lol.
@TheRealSnaxolotl
This video found me at the right time, it describes exactly what happened to me numerous times, and showed me why it happens. Thank you so much for it.
@justinbaman1451
absolutely phenomenal video, both this and the xbox game pass video. such great psychological insight about real life behaviors that im so many people feel the experience of but probably dont know how to characterize and respond constructively to with their video game consumption approach. A few strategies that ive developed to find success in not falling into the SDT pains by leaving games is: 1) if i am still enjoying a game in any meaningful capacity, i continue playing it with the goal of ultimately seeing it through (whether that be a plan to simply finish the game, get as far as i see fit at the moment, or achievement hunt w an end goal in mind etc). i continue playing it even if i am more excited to start something else. i actively try to keep the thrill of novelty from robbing me of the great experience that i already found myself cozied into. 2) avoiding spoilers related to fundamental game experience/progression/average time completion stats/etc, as it is effectively junk food dopamine that really disincentivizes starting or continuing experiencing anything first-hand...which is tricky situation with the 3rd arm of SDT being connectedness. thats almost where having a backlog of games that you know are widely praised but no longer actively viral is such a beautiful zone for personal immersion. single player games thrive here. knowing a game is considered great, but not knowing what for, and its yours to discover. you may lose out on that 3rd arm but man do the first 2 arms really get to shine. being able to make custom lists on sites like dekudeals is phenomenal for putting a pin in an exciting game you hear about (since it also has metacritic ratings, price/sale watching notifications, etc) without spoiling yourself so you can properly go experience it later when you're ready. it really helps build the thrill of novelty like i mentioned in the first point, which is great, once you have worked to develop the discipline to not act on it right away to steal away part of the experience of the game you're already on. 3) if i can, i try to not leave a gaming session with a daunting task immediately sitting in front of me. when i finish a session, i make sure i dont know exactly what is on the horizon in order to try to re-instill the feeling of freedom and endlessness for the next time i plan to sit down. like you said in the gaming journal section, having a fun (key word fun and not daunting) direction i want to investigate/explore next. that keeps the immersion feeling inspiring and not like a brick wall that i have already seen and will be immediately returning to whenever i consider sitting down to play again. i fucking love your gaming journal voice memo section. its such an interesting and intimate way to feel more of what you experience (obvi, its journaling haha but still its really nice) this type of stuff is what brings me so much life with the field of psychology. im about to graduate med school going into psychiatry and behavioral tenants like these are so meaningful for helping people understand how and why certain psychotherapy techniques work, by taking the time to really get to know the relationship between their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. thanks so much for the amazing content :)
@tragedtea
this keeps on happening to me because of school... I focus on school -> break from games for a few months -> get a break -> can't pick up a game again -> my game library with a thick layer of dust (and I do other things like brain-rotting social media scrolls)
@HumbleKoopa
Great video on an extremely relatable issue. I appreciate the research that went into this! I'll have to give the gaming journal a try, and I may try the two minute rule to get back into a replay of FF9. You're one of the more refreshing gaming channels I've discovered recently--keep up the great work!!
@cyntheticgaming
Good video bro, really well researched and put together :). I used to have this problem all the time, where I'd find it hard to pick up and finish games, but over the past year I've been working on implementing similar techniques to get through as many as I could from my backlog. Knocked out about 36 in the past 18 months, which is heaps for me :)
@backlogbaldie
This is one of the best researched, articulated and presented videos I’ve seen in a very long time 👍
@RetroMaticGamer
The best way: don't. There are way too many games in my backlog to be concerned about whether or not I forced myself to slog further through one that wasn't interesting enough to keep my attention.
@RtsFps1
I forced myself to finish Dragons’s Dogma 2 and for Dead Space remake I finished the game in about 11 hour. One is a hate-play, the other is a rushed experience. What I learned from these is that you shouldn’t feel bad about not finishing a game. Your time is limited and gaming should be entertaining. So what if you wasted money on a game you stopped playing? Move on and do something you’d rather enjoy.
@Evanz111
I’m afraid I expected this video to tell me nothing new from similar “how to complete your backlog” essays, so I was pleasantly surprised. Especially the idea of journaling! I have to do that for lots of other things in my life, so the idea of doing voice memos at night is 100% something I’m going to start doing, especially for big open world experiences!
@vulcan4d
Simple you want to feel like you once did playing games but now you are older and your brain is now too worn out and tired from your daily hard work to enjoy anything else.
@kylearpe7168
For me it is a feeling of not wanting the game to end. If I roll credits there is no incentive for me to play the game again. So I end up not finishing with the subconscious notion of "well I didnt beat it so I can always come back and play later" Still havent finished RDR2......
@PrincessAquos
This kicks ass. I had a friend recommend this to me after I expressed this same sentiment over several games. Will definitely start implementing this!
@Linkzelda99
I’m experiencing this with Outer Wilds unfortunately, I’ll def try the 2 minute rule.
@novaonthecoast
this is the first time any of these "try this" videos actually helped. Most of the time it's just someone spouting nonsense and giving no real solution other than "change your mindset" so it is MUCH appreciated. I also never leave YouTube comments but felt this on was warranted:)
@carlstevenwilletts
Let's Play videos are useful for getting back into games. They help me recall where I was and what I should be doing, or was about to do.
@Deadmeme64