Do you or your loved one spend an incredible amount of time playing games of any sort or find yourself/them being Net-connected more than necessary?

This can cause a lot of problems or solve a lot of problems, depending on what side of the fence you are currently standing on. Feelings of being ignored, letting responsibilities slide, and a growing distance between the two of you are just a few things that can happen. On the flip side, if you are so inclined, gaming can be a great bonding experience and communication tool. Gaming can be a negative force or a positive force. It’s up to us as to how it functions in our lives. No matter the energy it carries in our lives, there is a dire need to strike that crucial balance between the virtual and the tangible.

I know there is the question of ‘Well, Mrs. Smith, how do you know this?’ Easy answer: lots of observation in my personal life and the lives of my friends.

Be it through Facebook games, gaming on the go (such as on our cell-phones and mobile apps or a handheld device such as a Nintendo 3DS), PC gaming (such as World of Warcraft) or console gaming (Xbox One, PS4 etc), gaming has come to have a vice-like grip on the world and it can cause a lot of havoc because we focus too much on the virtual world – often forgetting some of the most important aspects of our lives: pets, health and even other people. In the remainder of this article, you will find some ideas on how to handle this and strike a balance between the two worlds that now exist in many of our lives.

Option 1:

One idea on how to handle this problem is to get involved with your partner’s hobby. This is a pretty standard suggestion across the board between all parties but this is also very true in this situation. If you are blessed enough with the funds to acquire a second PC or console of choice and the required games and subscriptions, get a second set and devote a few hours a week (or every day depending on your schedules) to play together. That will provide a little ‘distance’ but still keep you close.

If you are not so blessed with a lot of spare money (like this writer and her husband), you can find a game or two that you could co-op together either with a secondary controller or one of you guiding the other one.

Option 2:

If you or your loved one aren’t so into gaming or into the idea of partaking in it at all for one reason or another, you need to set aside a few hours every day to spend together. You can watch a few episodes of your favorite show on Netflix or talking over dinner etc. You need something that will allow you a little time every day to focus on one another – even if it is only 30 minutes one day and 2 or 3 hours the next day and so on. The relationship is between you two – not you two and the game console. You have to keep it fortified.

Option 3:

If the previous option doesn’t fully work (you know, because of schedules or whatever may be going on in your lives), one other idea is to take option 2 and put a twist on it.

Still do your best to devote a little time each day to one another but make a pledge that at least one day a week neither of you will play games, be too connected (sometimes jobs such as writing or recording videos for a site like YouTube require a little extra technology usage daily), etc. and spend that day or evening together.

If option 3 does not suit you, there is one other option this writer can see as a viable choice.

Option 4:

Get. Rid. Of. The. Offending. Technology.

(Baring the need to pay bills, do their job, schoolwork, etc. in which case – limit your/their usage!)

There is no other way to put it. If nothing else works and technology/gaming becomes a problem, then toss it. Get rid of that obstacle and (ideally) the situation should resolve itself.

Granted, I know these tidbits of advice are more likely seen as ‘common sense.’ But let’s face it folks! In this day and age, common sense is more a precious rare gem rather than a common pebble. Hopefully, if any of you are facing this situation these ‘gems’ will help you out.

If you have faced it before, comment below or shoot me an email at jeri.r.smith@gmail.com with the subject ‘Gaming & Relationships’ and let me know if you did anything creative or new to solve your situation.

Your ‘gems’ may get featured in another article (if there is enough feedback).

Until next time guys –

See ya!