Intentionality has been a conceptual focus for a while, especially in my profession. It is something I mention in almost every group therapy session I run. Lack of intentionality is one reason I think mental health has declined. I see it everywhere, including in myself. I struggle more with attention span, enjoyment, and gratification more than I ever have before. While I’m sure there are a myriad of reasons for this, I am positive lack of intentionality with technology is one of them. Technology is simply present, pervasively so. No matter what we do, it is there, and it is not going away. I think as time moves forward, its pervasiveness will only become even more prevalent. As such, it is up to us to be intentional in how we engage with technology. It is difficult to do because of its pervasiveness. As I write this article, I am using technology to listen to music and to aid in the writing process. I do not believe technology is inherently bad or damaging. Many times, technology makes life easier and more efficient. However, I think there is a case to be made about moderation. There needs to be a balance between ease and excess. This is not an easy balance to find. It is one I have been striving and failing to find.
Over the last few months, I have been searching for a way to decrease my use of technology. There are some places it is unavoidable. In the workplace, I am sitting in front of a computer writing notes or speaking with clients. This is unavoidable and a needed part of my job. The only place I can alter the usage of technology is at home between shifts at work. So, I have been experimenting with different means of reducing my use and reliance on technology.
I am a gamer at heart. Gaming is how I relax. I started gaming at a very early age with computer games. They have been a staple in my life for at least 25 years. They have been how I have escaped from the stress and anxiety of life. As I have examined my use of technology, I have also wondered about how much time (past, present, and future) I spend playing video games. As much as they have helped me escape from the stressors of life, they are where a lot of my time goes. Often, without me realizing it. Again, this returns to the idea of intentionality. There is nothing wrong with video games, but moderation must be an element of anything my time goes to.
Since I am (and have been) trying to reduce my screen time, it has been a task of mine to look at video games as a whole. If I am being honest, as I have grown older (maybe wiser), the time I spend in front of a screen gaming has significantly reduced. Yes, I still use video games as a method of escape. But far less. For instance, I have not turned on my Playstation 5 in earnest for months. In part, this is because after work I do not have the energy to do anything with video games. I wonder if it is the method of gaming, or the energy I have in my reserves after a full workday. It could be a combination of both.
Enter board games. Over the last year, I have invested heavily into the board game space. This has done a few things for me. It has allowed me to continue to game while staying mostly away from screens. I still struggle with the energy and motivation after work to do anything structured. But, I seem to be more likely to play a board game than a video game after work. That said, I am still experimenting and have yet to come to a conclusion concerning after work endeavors. I mostly use my time before work as I drink coffee or tea to take a few turns in a board game. The benefit to living alone is I can leave a board game set up for as long as I need to.
More recently, I discovered a sub-genre for solo-board gaming. Solo-TTRPG. Or, solo table-top RPG’s. Broadly, this is playing something like dungeon’s and dragons on your own. Instead of having a dungeon master (DM), there are a host of tables with scenarios, outcomes, environments, and many other things needed to play a TTRPG by one’s self. By rolling and matching the result of the roll to the table, the relevant outcome is generated. There are some versions of this kind of game that require the player to draw maps based on die results and interact with the environment generated. These types of games could be considered “roll and write” games. Roll and Write games are a whole genre of board games. It has taken me a couple of attempts, but I have discovered a game of this type I seem to enjoy. The game is called 2D6 Dungeon. I will write more on this game at a later time, as this entry is already getting long.
While I still watch TV mindlessly after work most days, I have found myself with pen, paper, and book in hand, playing 2D6 Dungeon more often. I find this to be a positive result. I still need to be more intentional with my time, choosing healthier activities. But, I may have taken a step in that direction with 2D6 Dungeon. It allows me to remove screens from extreme use while at home while still engaging with my creative side. I have said this before, but I may write a smidge more because of my playtime with 2D6 Dungeon. My creative has started to wake up because of my time spent with 2D6 Dungeon. Time will tell.
Till Next We Meet.
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