intention to start reclaiming at least a little life force
I used to waste time when I was supposed to be working -- that is, when I was trying to work but too anxious to keep my mind on it --by playing weboggle or sudoku. Later I graduated to backgammon, which is more intellectually interesting but even more compulsive. Eventually I uninstalled backgammon. After a while, I decided I was doing better with things, so I reinstalled backgammon. Shortly after, I uninstalled it again. Then there was Pelpet, a cute but unexpectedly challenging game by ON. Eventually I tired of that, and then I spent time doing URL password games like n0tPron (but easier). That stopped when I tried God Tower and my brain melted.
Then I came up on a week so packed with tough work that I discovered two ways to waste time at once: First, I installed a z-machine interpreter, which lets me play the old Infocom games as well as a huge range of neoclassical interactive fiction. Then, I started playing "escape the room" flash games. I'm hoping that now that I've beaten Crimson Room, White Chamber, and Viridian Room (with help from walkthroughs for the particularly heinous pixel hunts), I've had enough of that genre at least.
Perhaps the wisest technique would be to play games at set intervals at work, rather than diving into them whenever I want to get away and coming back god-knows-when. The ultimate goal, of course, would be to work consistently and efficiently, and then have time for myself at the end of the day. But this is a step on that path.
Then I came up on a week so packed with tough work that I discovered two ways to waste time at once: First, I installed a z-machine interpreter, which lets me play the old Infocom games as well as a huge range of neoclassical interactive fiction. Then, I started playing "escape the room" flash games. I'm hoping that now that I've beaten Crimson Room, White Chamber, and Viridian Room (with help from walkthroughs for the particularly heinous pixel hunts), I've had enough of that genre at least.
Perhaps the wisest technique would be to play games at set intervals at work, rather than diving into them whenever I want to get away and coming back god-knows-when. The ultimate goal, of course, would be to work consistently and efficiently, and then have time for myself at the end of the day. But this is a step on that path.