I've spent approximately 3 hours a day on video games for a year now. What should I do to break this habit and what are the possible after-effects of this?

Welcome to Fluther =D.

I’ve been playing video games for years now and maybe I have more bad qualities than I’d like to admit to or than I’m realizing, but, I really dont see this as a bad hobby, in any way. That said, doing anything in excess isn’t good. I dont think 3 hours of video gaming a day is “excessive”, nor do I think you’re suffering any of the so-called “affects”.

The question is, do you do anything else? The key is balance… why dont you grab yourself a bike and go for a bike ride? Go running? Go fishing?... Frisbee? There are lots of things you could do to get up off of the couch and outdoors, you really just have to push yourself to go do it. I didn’t start running on a weekly basis until I actually put on some running shoes, went out and started doing it. You could do all of these things and still play video games.

As far as the motivational stuff goes, you kind of have to find your own internal motivator and turn it on when need be. Some like to find a “buddy” to go to the gym with, bike ride with, run with, etc. My problem with that is if my buddy doesn’t go, then I dont go.

Take a walk.

Read a book.

Watch a movie.

I don’t think you will have a lot of long-term effects except regret for the time wasted.

You could take up social drug-use. You’ll make friends and have memorable nights and that’s good for psychological health.

Remember that this practice may be damaging in its own way, so be careful, especially with particularly dangerous and harmful drugs, such as alcohol.

I don’t think I will ever get how people can get bored. You have a million and one thing you can think about. Anyway have you thought maybe you need some more friends. Go to the real world and see if there’s anyone out there you can connect with. Maybe consider getting a pet. A hamster, cat, dog, snake, bird.
Playing certain video games is good for your brain… I don’t know I saw it on the news. Playing to many video games and spending to much time in front of a screen can mess up your eyes.

Start a business. If you put as much time into it as you do working and playing computer games you will be pretty well off.

I think you have to ask yourself why you’re spending so much time playing video games. Is it truly just boredom, or are the games filling another need? If the games are a form of escapism for you, then try reading, writing, or Dungeons and Dragons. If you like having something engage your mind, there are all form of puzzles you can do, or hands-on projects to tinker with. If it’s more of a release thing, maybe some kind of exercise.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with spending 3 hours a day playing video games. But it depends on why you’re playing. I’ve had times when I was depressed, and spent even longer than three hours each day playing games I didn’t even like. On the other hand, I can think of times when I spent that long on games because I truly loved the games I was playing, games that made me think or told a good story.

Most people spend more than that amount of time watching TV. I don’t see a problem.

@FutureMemory I was going to mention that, on average, Americans watch 3 to 4 hours of TV per day. Playing computer games isn’t much different, except for the risk of tendonitis or carpal tunnel. But it’s not like watching that amount of TV is really a good thing, just because everyone does it.

Yeah, just because the average American does something, doesn’t mean it’s healthy…

That happened to me, actually, when I was in high school. Now remember, this was in the ‘80s when the video games were really rudimentary. One day in the summer I was playing a game and it was a bright sunny day out. I remember thinking to myself, “What the hell am I doing?” I turned off the computer and never went back.

3 hours a day x 365 . You and your body were robbed of ~1000 hours of exercise, and productive work. There are weekend prisoners who do community service to pay back for their crimes. 8 hours per day, 16 hours per weekend. You effectively kept yourself locked up for an equivalent of 60 weekends of community service.
Sure, you could argue you had contact with people but, sorry, there’s no contact like real world contact.
Now that you know, it is time to move on. Get mad and cut it off.

Nothing on the keyboard can compare to the touch of warm skin, or the smell of Dial soap on your partner’s freshly showered body or the light taste of toothpaste while kissing.

Take your life, instead of your avatar, to the next level. Good luck to you.

If this is something you want to change, I suggest you sign up for volunteer work

Video gaming isn’t a “bad hobby” ..it can be bad only if you take it to extremes (like any other activity). I’m an avid gamer. The important thing here is balance.
Find something else you like doing. What did you do before you started gaming every day? If you don’t have the energy to get going ..all you can do really is force yourself to get off your butt ..lol. Maybe make yourself follow a rule…like before you allow yourself to play a game, take a walk or ride a bike ..etc.