I love being productive and getting work done. But there are human limits, and life at the end of the day has to be worth living. 

As a result, I have created a weekday/weekend gaming methodology in order to ensure I get good gaming time, without having to sacrifice necessary tasks in life. Since it works so well for me, I thought I would share in case it can help anyone else!

A Note to Productivity Junkies:

Delegate Time for Relaxation During Work Week

The first step is vital and might seem intimidating to some productivity junkies. Humans are not machines, and we need time to rest. If you are a person that schedules work and chores, then you need to schedule time to relax as well. Period. 

Depending on your situation, the “relaxation time” might vary. But the aim for 8-5 workers would be to get between 1-3 hours a day for relaxation. If that is not possible, aim for an hour three days during the work week.

What Counts as Relaxation?

This relaxation time should be slotted for anything you feel like doing. And don’t trick yourself into thinking you “want” to study or self-improve in some way. This is slotted time for 100% frivolous activities. And since it is necessary to keep your batteries charged and keep you producing, it should be viewed and treated with as much respect as an appointment.

Slot a Balanced Amount of Time Between Work/Chores and Play on Weekends

The weekend should be treated as a more personal and sacred time, and work and chores should take the backseat. 

In general, at least 4-8 hours should be spent on yourself and personal hobbies such as gaming. If something interferes with that time, it should be a social activity. 

The important aim is to keep work, study, and chores contained to three hours or less on Saturday or Sunday. Don't have time to play? Make sure the time is spent on valuable social interactions with others and not on a to-do list.

Weekday and Weekend Gaming Methodology

Now that the hours are established, gaming time looks something like this:

Weekday: 1-3 hours of play time.

Weekend: 4-8 hours of play time. (Don’t play games for more than 8 hours in a 24 hour period folks...I am sure it is unhealthy in a variety of ways. Try to take breaks as well.)

As a result of this, there are some important points to keep in mind. Some games do not feel fulfilling at all to play an hour of. 

As a result, I have noticed the following methodology should be kept in mind:

Less than an Hour of Play (Busy Weekday Play)

A lot of mobile games are good to play when there is less than an hour of play for a day. Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is one of them. Neko Atsume is great when only a minute or two can be captured. 

In addition, smart devices are usually on your person and easily accessible. This makes finding some time for gaming easier.

An Hour or More (Normal Weekday Play)

If you have an hour or a little bit more of time, it is good to aim for games that are quick enough to make you feel like you can accomplish something in an hour. Some good examples are:

• Splatoon 2
• Pokken Tournament
• Dragon Ball FighterZ
• Visual Novel Games, such as Code:Realize (sometimes a whole "chapter" can be done in an hour.)
• Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (easy to do a shrine or cook in an hour)
• Super Mario Odyssey 
• Pokemon Games

These are just suggestions, and not a comprehensive list. The important thread between all of these games are that they typically have “rounds” (especially in the fighting and shooting genres). That, or they have tasks that can be tackled and completed in an hour or less.

Compatible Genres

In general fighting, shooting, and platforming games are perfect for this amount of time. RPGs are acceptable only if you are focusing on a specific task such as leveling.

Incompatible Genres

RPGs and JRPGs such as Skyrim and Persona 5 should likely be avoided. They are slower paced games and need at least four hours to feel any sense of accomplishment in these games.

More than Two Hours (Weekend Play)

If you have more than two hours, it is time to focus on the games that have a slower pace and needed neglect during the week.

• Skyrim
• Persona 5
• Witcher series
• Disgaea series 
• MMORPG of choice

In general, games that need a good deal of time to complete quests or see real progression in the game are ideal for this time.

Compatible Genres

RPGs of all kinds are best used here. MMORPGs are also a great choice. These games are great to dive into and devote a lot of time to. Strategy games that require a great deal of time and thought are also very useful for this slot of time. 

Incompatible Genres

There is nothing incompatible for this time. However, it is a good idea to play the slower paced games during weekends. Save the fast paced games for the weekday.

Final Thoughts

Growing up or getting more busy in life definitely minimizes the amount of time that can be dedicated to gaming and other hobbies. But this does not need to be the end of a hobby. It just means that you need to plan not only for chores, but for play as well. 

Using the strategies I have outlined have helped me as a busy 8-5 worker get in adequate gaming time and still perform all household chores. I hope this helps everyone feel less “guilty” about taking time for themselves and playing some games. After all, perhaps this sense of guilt comes from choosing inappropriate genres for the play time allotted. 

Hard work deserves a reward, so go ahead and treat yourself and feel satisfied in both your professional and gaming life.

Readers are responsible for their own lives and happiness. Though the author has a Psychology degree, please do not think this is medical or psychological advice. This article is in the “Opinion” section of this website for a reason. If help is needed please contact a licensed physician or psychologist. In addition, suggestions here are based upon the author's experience and do not necessarily reflect research in any field. Thank you for your understanding, and feel free to leave comments!