What does the time spent gaming represent in your week?
Putting gaming time into numbers helps you see what it takes up, without judgment.
Playing is a legitimate and pleasurable form of leisure. For many people, it is also social, creative and challenging. The question in this text is not whether you play too much, but how much of your weekly time it takes up and whether that fits what you want from your week.
The question
How many hours a week go to games, and what does that represent against the rest of your time?
The context
Over the days, gaming time can go unnoticed: a quick match becomes three, an evening turns into the small hours. Having the real number lets you reflect on data instead of impressions. It also lets you see how free your free time really is.
How to measure
- Record for one week. Note the start and end of each session, or use the device's screen time feature, when available.
- Add up the hours. Weekly total, and the daily average.
- Compare with free hours. How much free time do you have a week, after work, study, chores, sleep and commuting?
- Calculate the proportion. Gaming hours divided by free hours.
- Compare with other activities. How much goes to socializing, exercise, reading, hobbies?
An example
Rafael logged his gaming time for a week: 14 hours. He has about 35 free hours a week, so games take up 40% of free time. He liked the number, because he plays with friends and considers it his main way of socializing. Even so, he noticed exercise was at 1 hour a week, and decided to swap two hours of games for two of walking. The numbers are illustrative.
Nuances
- There is no right number. It depends on your routine, your obligations and what gaming means to you.
- Quality counts. Playing with friends, learning, relaxing and challenging yourself are different experiences from playing out of inertia.
- Signs to watch. If playing harms sleep, work, studies or relationships, or you feel you cannot stop, it is worth talking to someone you trust or a professional.
- Minors. Guardians can follow the time and talk about balance with their children.
How to use the data
- Ask yourself how you feel. Are you satisfied with how your time is distributed?
- Define an adjustment, if you want. More, less or different.
- Test for two weeks. See the effect on mood, sleep and energy.
- Review from time to time.