Find More Time To Play Games Between Work And Family

I want to play more games, dang it!

I want to blast my way through enemy strongholds, protect the innocent and punish evil. I want to piece together small puzzles that solve big mysteries that ultimately save the whole world! AND… I want to do it WHENEVER, WHEREVER the mood to stem digital mayhem strikes!!

Is that too much too ask? Well, yes, it seems.

When your job demands that you actually do work for your paycheck (how dare they!)… when your wife wants you to keep her company in the kitchen… when the kids start calling you by your first name instead of “dad,” you can’t just pull out a controller and start playing.

At least, not without the risk of getting beaten to death with it.

That said, I think finding more play time is definitely doable under the right circumstances. Dare I say, it’s even easy (gulp) if you know when, where and how to focus your attention. And the best part is… You don’t have to quit your job, get a divorce or abandon your kids to do it.

Here are 5 simple ways to find more time to play games. You owe it to yourself (and the NPCs who depend on you) to try them out. And, if you’re anything like me, combining just one or two of them can make a really big difference.

1 – Wake up a little earlier.

Would you binge-watch one or two fewer episodes of your favorite show every night if it meant crushing new achievements in your game? I would — and I have.

Just go to sleep a little earlier so you can wake up a little earlier. Sure, it might require some extra coffee before you’re in full fighting form.  But I find getting into an early morning tussle with bad guys exhilarating — especially knowing that my superpowers will soon be curtailed by a dreadful commute.

2 – Stay up later than usual.

Okay, so you’re not a morning person. I get it. Maybe you could shower the night before, iron your clothes, set the coffee on a timer and “go to town” before bed. If everything is done ahead of time, you can reward yourself with some extra playtime at night and some extra sleep in the morning.

The only downside to staying up extra late is that it may be hard to wind down after an adrenaline-pumping session. So, keep that in mind.

3 – Use your lunch breaks to play.

How fast can you eat? I can personally scarf down a hefty spinach salad with chicken in about 5-10 minutes flat. When I factor in travel time to my “remote” out-of-the-office location and back, I have about 33 minutes to play. Not a lot, I know. But if I’m looking to complete a shrine in Breath of the Wild or start a new side mission in The Witcher 3 on my Nintendo Switch, it’s better than nothing.

4 – Commute on the train.

Sure, it might be a little awkward when the passenger next to you sees Geralt of Rivia shirtless in a wooden bathtub but that’s the price we pay to play on the train. Of course, you could just stick to less embarrassing puzzle games, such as Puyo Puyo Tetris, but that’s entirely up to you.

I think the train is perfect for playing video games as long as they don’t require a steady internet connection. If your commute is anything like mine, you’ve got a solid hour of uninterrupted screen time.

5 – Carpool.

Let someone else do the driving while you do some racing. There’s nothing like strapping yourself into a Mario Kart racer and whipping ‘round a track, weaving in and out, going bumper to bumper in an intense battle to finish first while your friend battles bumper-to-bumper traffic on your behalf.

Depending on the game, you may even be able to manage a conversation while you play. But if you can’t, it can get awkward if your friend is a real conversationalist. You need to focus.

Of course, it takes a special kind of friend to allow this without feeling like you’re taking advantage so just keep that in mind. Maybe kicking in a few extra dollars on top of gas money can ease the annoyance.

BONUS IDEA – Get your friends and family to play.

If all else fails, or if you just appreciate having a sidekick (like I do), you might try getting your loved ones onboard to join the fray. It may not be easy, especially if their time is just as limited as yours. But if you find the right multi-player game on the right console at the right time, they’ll be just as invested as you are — and then you can play guilt-free.

Or, at least, the guilt will be shared as you all lament not having clean underwear since none of you did the laundry.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it. Five simple steps that you can take immediately on your quest to enjoy more gaming. These are no-brainers, my friend. Add any or all of them to your lifestyle and I promise you’ll run through that backlog of games before you know it.

Got any ideas of your own? I’d love hear them! Let me know in the comments below how you find more time to play.