@Trashboat Hmm. Well I'll tell you upfront, growing up with the vidya, it becomes a part of you. Practically a substitute for the mythos and adventure lacking in the white man's modern life. So don't expect to quit 100% for at least another couple of years, if that's your goal.

Sec I got more to say gotta get chicken outta the oven

Do it up brother

Anyways, that was the impression I got since you mentioned your iron pilling on them being a perpetual cycle of short term gratification that goes no where etc etc

(That you want to quit)

So currently, for the past couple years, I'll probably play three-four top notch games a year, typically binging by spending all my free time on them for a week or so until I finish them. E.g. Witcher 3, Cuphead, right now Im looking for to remake of RE2 and Cyberpunk 2077

But, for about two years before that, (I'm 23 and halfway through with college, fyi,) I stopped playing all MMOs, league, etc. and only did FPS's or more casual things like Rocket League just to interact with some old friends and my male relatives

a social activity

then, for a year before that tapering began, I began taking care of my daughters. So naturally, as I graduated high school, began college, work, etc. I simply stayed busy enough to where I didnt have the time to play, sucked sometimes but I got used to it

So my suggestion is on the video games alongside whatever you figure out for the hobbies, (getting to that in a bit,)

try to do something similar. I know a few guys on IE play some more low-investment titles like FortNite, so reach out on the national fireside. (unless you're a shit player that brings the team down, would hate to force that on them haha but I doubt you're bad,) with the rule being you'll only play with other IE guys, and perhaps one single player title every month or two

Definitely the first step is to stop playing MMO's, DOTA, or even for a game like Overwatch don't play ranked anymore, or if you do adhere to that rule of only doing it to socialize with IRL or IE friends etc.

Anything that's a time sink

cut that shit out

As for picking a hobby, do you currently workout? Are you in decent shape?

If you're not lifting... what are you doing? (rhetorical provocative question)

No, I’m in the process of getting more weight for my bar and a squat rack/bench

Playing WoW

Eating apples

Going to work

I know I was being a tool

First step to improving anything is admitting/recognizing the problem, that's good haha.

It doesn't take much to put you above the average person these days either, sadly. But take pride in that fact you aren't NPC'ing through life.

Woohoo?

Doing it for the wahmen and whatnot is only limited in how it can motivate you. What motivates me is larping around the gym, as if I were a soldier training to protect my family or children etc.

My number one advice for getting started on the gym, or if you fall out of the routine:

Just show up. 3-4 times a week.

Like, even if you don't do much, forming that habit removes some mental resistance. Even if you just walk on the treadmill for a bit, etc

Well my gym would be the garage

eventually, as you're showing up regularly, you'll get bored and perhaps even frustrated with your lackluster workout, and that walk turns into a jog

I know that sounds like obvious advice, but as an adult with a job and responsibility in an organization etc, it's easy to skip a day or two and suddenly you're off track and a whole week or two flies by

so that just helps overcome that intertia

inertia*

Well, still haha, even if it's your garage I think it applies.

Something I've never got to try that might be a luxury to you is putting a TV up with a treadmill, because you can get a good workout if you walk long enough for like an hour, just use that time to watch education videos etc

Can't exactly play RedIce on the TV at my university gym lol

Or lift weights. Variety is key, but it's easy to get bogged down in trying to change things up with the workout routine itself.

If you spent your money on weights and not a treadmill, it helps to be able to get out of the house to jog every now and again.

I like to partition the focus of my workouts up by seasons and such, where I focus on certain thing or two for strength like deadlifts, then on endurance and cardio, etc.

Another tip, obviously listening to music makes the workout go by better, but try to find the ideal genre or type. Surprisingly, although classical music doesn't cut it, I've found constantly blasting hyper-aggressive or badass music actually mentally exhausts me. Play some chiller more moderate stuff, like idk man the classic orgrimmar theme from WoW as an example of something that's engaging but not over the top, save that burst of inspiration for the PR's, sprints, and top of pyramid sets

I know you asked how to figure out new hobbies, but figured those were something important things to discuss since it all ties into the process of improving one's life