Thank you for the article. ~7 years ago, I realized I have a similar disposition - my best mental state is when I’m in a state of learning and being challenged. The struggle I’ve run into is when I look back and consider what “good” that thing I’ve been learning about has produced.

For instance, I too love video games and have found immense enjoyment in them for many, many years but if I add up all my play logs and realize I’ve spent something like 5-10% of my life playing video games, it begs the question if that time could have been better spent? Has that really helped anyone, myself included? Has it made the world a better place in any way?

Lately, I’ve uninstalled all games and am seeking hobbies that still challenge me but also can bring joy to others. To list a couple: Cooking - An art really but also quite a bit of science involved. Chiefly though, food brings people together and there is nothing quite like feeding people with your very own creation and hard work. DIY - DIY helps with my engineering itch, saves a lot of money for the family, and also can greatly benefit others who might otherwise not be able to afford something they really do need.

I have nothing against video games, I’ve played far more than most my age. I really just wonder when it comes to hobbies, is maximum satisfaction achieved when not only you satisfy your own needs but are also able to add to others’ lives? FWIW, this can be achieved in video games through friendships and community formed… I’m just not good at making that an important part of why I’d play a video game.