| >But movies and video games I have severe analysis paralysis that leads to a lot of browsing and no actual watching or playing. I suffered of this problem as well and I believe I managed to solve it. ## Netflix - I only open Netflix when I know what I'm going to watch. - When I don't know what to watch it means I'm not in the mood for anything I'm currently planning to watch. So I don't open Netflix, I go to YouTube instead. - When I know what I want to watch (these days I'm binging Mr. Robot) I favourite things that catch my interest while using the app. This is the only time for new content discovery within Netflix. ## Steam It might sound ridiculous but I've found that to power through I need to approach games like work. I have to dedicate time for it - a weekend, or even take a vacation (I found that the time around the end of the year works best for me). Since it is something I plan, I discuss what to play with my friends and make a decision beforehand. When the vacation comes, I make myself play at least 8 hours a day on the same regime as if I was working. After a few days I get into it and then I can continue the game in some normal occasional schedule as well. I've been able to enjoy the Mass Effect games in this way the last winter and Witcher 3 the year before that. I don't think I've managed to enjoy a single player storytelling game to such extent in the decade before that. I try to avoid opening my 500+ game 80% unplayed Steam library. When I don't know what to play, I don't open Steam, I open YouTube and watch some let's play instead. |
For gaming, there's an added dimension every time I browse my Steam library in that I need to consider not only whether I'm in the mood for each game, but also how long it is, how are checkpoints spaced out, does it have complex mechanics or story line that I would have trouble following if I took a break for a few weeks, etc.
I have identified that starting a new game is the hardest part for me - getting past the tutorial phase, getting into the mechanics and game loop - it always feels like a bit of a chore (that hopefully turns into something fun, eventually). So, just not worrying about it until I can block off a good couple of "work days" to get into it isn't a bad idea.
I should probably give in to YouTube play-throughs more often though. I used to avoid them because I didn't want to spoil the game if I intended to play it some day myself, but realistically I could probably gain a lot of what I'm looking for with less stress this way.