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Comment by kraig911 | Hacker News Reader

Just interested but could I get a list of those things you used? I don't want a divorce myself.

Exercise is the main one for me. Pick something progressive and addictive, like weightlifting or distance running. You’ll get hooked but there’s a built-in limit to how much you can do per day and per week.

I try to get out of the house on various adventures or even regular walks at every opportunity now.

Also I took up some hobbies like reading and photography. Some people golf fanatically and they seem to be better off for it.

At first, I unconsciously replaced game time with social media time, doomscrolling, news. Don’t do this. Be conscious and deliberate about subbing in quality leisure time.

The main thing is to treat games like a serious addiction if it is one, and replace it with a full and rich life. This is obviously not easy, but that is, in part, the point.

Hmm, this seems like a mixed bag. Exercise is great, but given your mention of it becoming addictive, it seems like you're replacing one thing with another - there are plenty of people who spend too much time in the gym, or marathon training, etc, to the detriment of relationships and other life responsibilities. People who are "fanatic golfers" often do so at some expense, both emotional and monetary, of their family. Replacing addiction with addiction is still addiction, albeit potentially better for your health.

That goes to cranium's point here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33036297

> I like this rule of thumb to know if a behavior can be a psychiatric disorder: "when it interferes with normal functioning". It's purposely vague and subject to interpretation but it's a good first filter.

If these new "addictions" aren't interfering with "normal functioning", then they're not disorders. They're just normal parts of that person's life.

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