You know, college is really a fabulous place. You set your own rules, go where you want, do what you like. It's all very liberating and it's probably this chill atmosphere that allows me and Player Two to play video games as much as we do and write these blogs.
"Victoria!" you admonish, "What about your schoolwork?"
Okay, reader, now you just sound like my mom. I won't lie to you. It's hard, especially with our intensive course loads, and sometimes (like everyday) we find ourselves studying into the wee hours of the morning to get it all done. Yet, as ill advised and unhealthy as this sounds, (and I can't speak for Player Two here, though I assume she feels the same way (otherwise she may have already suffered a mental breakdown by now)) I personally believe that it's something that I can handle and that I'm probably happier this way. With that said, it certainly isn't easy. The truth is that balancing life and gaming is a delicate art that should be undertaken with the greatest of caution. Otherwise, you might just end up 40 years old and still living in mom's basement. Trust me, you don't want that.
Now, while Player Two and I haven't absolutely perfected this art, we have found a satisfactory pattern that hasn't killed us yet. Yes, sometimes I'm exhausted enough to entertain the notion of selling my soul for a few hours of sleep but, hey, that's what class is for! ...Just kidding, seriously, stay awake in class guys! (Though a tiny nap during a really boring lecture never hurts...)
Also, if you have to nap during a class, fine, but for the love of all that is good, don't skip! Especially if you're in college, that's money thrown away. Remember, you're paying for that class (and, if you're like me, will be paying for it for the rest of your life) so don't miss it!
The secret to balancing college and gaming (or any leisurely activity, really) is to follow one simple rule. Are you ready for this?
Schoolwork should come before all else.
It's as simple as that. If you have a test, study for it. Is an essay due soon? Write it. It isn't really a difficult notion. Now I'm not saying to dedicate yourself entirely to school and never see the light of day. I'm telling you that you'll be a lot less stressed if you can knock out some homework before taking a break to immolate some zombies. Even if you just take care of what's due the very next day, you'll still feel a lot less guilty about picking up that controller. Player Two and I have a great system that works by us setting specific gaming nights for ourselves and taking care of everything we need to do before hand. It also helps if you study with friends, as you can better keep from goofing off by reminding each other that gaming night will be a lot less stressful if you get more studying done beforehand.
If this has all sounded intimidating to you, don't worry! Gaming, like any recreational activity, is a great stress reliever. Imagine hiding yourself away in your dorm and doing nothing but studying for the rest of the semester. That's a horribly dismal existence! If you can manage to balance all of it out well, you'll be a much happier person for it.
What do you guys think? Do you guys have a system that works for you or would you rather just say, "Screw it!" and proceed to outfit your mom's basement for an extended stay? Let me know!
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