How to detox from video games

Are you a video game lover ? In that case, know that you are in very good company, since the interest in the gaming sector is getting stronger. Today there is an impressive variety of games and some of them can even boost one’s memory and cognitive skills and abilities. However, care must be taken not to play video games too much, otherwise, in extreme cases, it is possible to develop a form of addiction to them.

If you are reading this guide, perhaps the problem concerns you (or it concerns a loved one) and, for this reason, you would like to know how to detoxify from video games . If this is the case, know that this is the right guide: in the next paragraphs, in fact, I will have the opportunity to provide you with various practical tips that will certainly be useful to free yourself from this addiction (or to help a family member or friend to do so. ).

If you’re ready to get started, I’d say don’t waste any more time chatting and get to work right away. Strength and courage: make yourself comfortable, take all the time you need to concentrate on reading the next paragraphs and, more importantly, try to implement the “tips” that I will give you. There is nothing left for me to do, except wish you good reading and, above all, wish you a big good luck for everything!

Index

• Check the time devoted to video games
  • Console
  • PC
  • Smartphones and tablets
• Block the download of games and in-app purchases
  • Android
  • iOS
• Replace video games with other activities
• Get help from others

Check the time devoted to video games

Checking the time spent playing video games is important to realize how serious your addiction can be. Once this is understood, of course, it is also important to limit the playing time. Let me tell you how to do both by working on consoles, PCs and mobile devices.

Console

On game consoles it is possible to check the time dedicated to video games through some ad hoc functions. On the PS4 , for example, you can do this by setting a time zone for each child. To do this, go to  Settings> Content Filtering / Family Management> Family Management , log in to the PSN account, click on the Set Now button and follow the instructions that appear on the screen to set the time zone , in case you do not have it already done.

Once you have set the time zone, to check the game time in a day, do the following: go to Settings> Content filter / Family management> Family management : you will find information regarding the game time in the login screen, in the in the upper right corner of the main screen, in the quick menu and also in the menu  Settings> Content Filter / Family Management> Game time for today .

To limit the game time on PS4, go to  Settings> Content Filtering / Family Management and select the limitation you want to apply: Change the game time for today , if you intend to adjust the game time during the current day or Settings Play Time , if you want to customize the default allowed play time settings.

In the latter case, to proceed, you must select the Limit item , so as to set when and for how long it is possible to play with the console: from the End of game time menu  , then choose the end of the game time you want to set ( eg Log out of PS4 ) and from the Game Duration and Time menu   select the game time for each day, or set specific limits for each day of the week. Remember, then, to confirm the changes made by pressing the Confirm button .

If you have other video game consoles, you can try searching the Internet for settings to verify and limit game time, such as the ones I told you about earlier: maybe you could do it by searching for terms like ” limit game time on [name / model of your console] “.

PC

If you usually play on the PC, chances are you do it using Steam , the famous digital distribution platform developed by Valve that offers the possibility to buy games (and also films and software) in a rather simple way and, above all, at advantageous prices. .

In case you were wondering, this also offers the possibility to impose limitations on video games, through the View mode for the family . To activate the latter, start Steam on your PC, log in to your account (if necessary), click on the Steam item  located at the top left and select the Settings item from the menu that opens.

Then select the item Family located on the left sidebar, click the link Manage the view for the family , choose the content they want to limit a PIN by selecting sections of the Library Content and Content and online features , and then click on the button Next . On the next screen, provide the email address to use to recover your PIN in case of loss, click on the Next button , enter the PIN you want to use in the text fields Enter your PIN and Re- enter your PIN and then click one more time on the buttonNext .

At this point, provide the secret code that was sent to you via email in the appropriate text field , click on the Next button and that’s it. At this point, when the Visual mode for the family is active, the icon depicting the two men at the top right will be green (and therefore the limitations on the contents you have decided to set will also be active), while when it is deactivate will be marked in  red .

Furthermore, I would like to point out the possibility of verifying and limiting the time dedicated to video games on PC through the use of software for parental control , such as Mobile Fence and Qustodio which allow you to control the activities carried out by your children on their respective computers and mobile devices. , as I showed you in the guides dedicated to how to inhibit Internet sites and how to spy on the cell phone .

Keep in mind, however, that solutions of this kind are not free: to be more specific, the subscription to Mobile Fence starts from 36 dollars / year, while the one to Qustodio starts from 29.95 euros / year. Alternatively, you can use Windows and macOS settings to limit the time you use your computer, as I showed you in this other guide .

Smartphones and tablets

To check and limit the playing time on a  smartphone or tablet , you can use some functions present “standard” on Android and iOS .

• Android– if your device is updated to Android 8.0 and later, you can check the usage time by going to the Settings> System> About phone / device> Status menu  and check the information under Usage time . Unfortunately, it is only possible to check how long the device has been used since it was turned on, but it is not possible to have specific information about the apps used.
• iOS – if your device is updated to iOS 12 and later, you can control usage time and set time limits on the use of certain types of apps. To do this, go to the Settings menu  > Usage time , tap on the item Activate the “Usage time” option , press the Continue button and follow the instructions displayed on the screen to set the code relating to the protection of the settings in question. To set limits in relation to the use of games, go to the Settings menu  > Usage time> App limitations> Add usage limitation , select the Games item , press the itemNext , set the desired time limit and select the Add item .

To have greater control over the time and limits of use of your children’s devices, I recommend the use of solutions for parental control, such as the aforementioned  Mobile Fence and Qustodio , both of which are paid: the subscription to Mobile Fence starts at 36 dollars / year, while the one at Qustodio, on the other hand, starts at 29.95 euros / year. I showed you how they work in this other guide .

Block game downloads and in-app purchases

If you are a parent and you want to help one of your children to overcome the addiction to video games, I recommend that you block the download of games and in-app purchases , so as to lead the little ones to play less (and avoid emptying the your credit card!). Here’s how to do it on Android and iOS.

Android

To block the download of games and in-app purchases on Android , start the Google Play Store app , tap the (≡) button located at the top right, select the Settings item  from the menu that appears on the left and then select the Parental Control item .

At this point, move on ON the switch next to the words parental control not active , create a PIN to protect the settings you’re going to customize, then tap on the item OK , then confirm the PIN on the form Confirm PIN and presses on OK .

Now, tap on the App and games item , select the level of restrictions you want to set ( PEGI 3 is the maximum level it can set) and tap the Save button . By doing so, you will have limited the apps, games and in-app purchases that can be made on the device in question.

iOS

To block the download of games and in-app purchases on iOS , you need to turn on Screen Time mode . To do this, go to the Settings menu  > Usage time and tap on the item Activate the “Usage time” option .

Then tap the Continue button and specify whose device it is (eg Is it my iPhone  or This iPhone / iPad belongs to a child ). Based on the option chosen above, follow the instructions displayed on the screen to activate the code relating to the time of use of the device, set a pause in use and create a parent code (if you have indicated the device as belonging to a child).

In this case, to set limitations regarding the download of games and in-app purchases, select the Content and privacy item and move the switch lever located in correspondence with the wording Contents and privacy to ON . Then, tap on the items Purchases on iTunes and App Store> App installation / In-app purchases and select the option  Do not allow to complete the operation.

Replace video games with other activities

Replacing video games with other activities can be another great way to overcome your addiction. Given that, at least initially, it may not be easy to be able to “detach” yourself from your console, participate in events dedicated to the topic, such as  holidays in the gaming sector or comics (in which there are often also areas dedicated to video games), it could incentivize yourself to do so.

By participating in similar events, in fact, you will be able to find other people passionate about this issue, socialize and, therefore, undertake new activities in the “real world”. Building new social bonds and, why not, also new friendships with people who share the same passions as you, will gradually help you to overcome your addiction and to have a healthier relationship with video games (which in any case should not be demonized). I guarantee.

Also try broadening your horizons . In addition to video games, you may have many other passions just waiting to be discovered: photography, cinema, reading books, art, music, theater, sport, hiking and so on.

Get help from others

Getting help from others is the best way to cure any addiction, including video game addiction. Who can help you? Maybe it would be advisable to talk about it with your parents , who will surely be of great help in overcoming the addiction you have developed from video games. Since they may have already noticed the problem, they are likely to reach out to you themselves – instead of refusing their help, try to make full use of it.

Also not to underestimate the importance of participating in discussion groups , both physical and online: look for someone on the Internet  and share your experience. Comparing yourself with other people who are in a situation similar to the one you are in right now, can only do you good and spur you to overcome your addiction.

If your gaming disorder has reached such a seriousness that none of the precautions presented in this guide have been of help to improve the situation, it would be advisable (if not necessary) to contact specialized centers in the treatment of addiction .

In these structures there are various professional and medical figures who can offer concrete help to those who have developed addictions like the one you have. Try searching the Internet for centers in your area and then don’t hesitate to go to the nearest facility.