Merry Christmas!

I’m writing this after a day filled with family and fun – even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, I hope you find time to spread a little joy to those you love.

Not a lot of GameDev this week…

I was forced to take a little “Me” time this week.  Like most indie devs, I do GameDev as a side job / hobby – I have a full-time job as a high school teacher that pays the bills and keeps the lights on.  With COVID-19, we’ve been in virtual school, so I was required to put together one of those crazy collage videos (where it looks like everyone gets on Zoom and delivers a huge concert).  It took FOREVER to finish, and involved more than a few late nights.

It’s also why there was no blog last week.  I would’ve had nothing positive to say, anyway – it was frustrating work!

Needless to say, I was exhausted, and in need of rejuvenation.

Why is “Me” time important as a GameDev?

“Me” time is an important part of any healthy lifestyle.  It keeps you balanced, focused, and happy!

For a Game Developer, one of the most important skills we have is our creative vision.  When we’re exhausted, irritated, or just sick of staring at a screen, we can’t do our best work – and our game suffers.  It’s important to know when your battery needs a recharge (so to speak).  

“But I thought I should work on my game every day?!?!”

Working on your game a little each day is a great way to hold you accountable, but it can also make you HATE your game if you push yourself too far.  I’m the type of person who believes in common sense over absolutes.  If your body is telling you not to spend another moment staring at that computer screen (headache, back pain, trouble focusing) – you’d be wise to listen.

What does “Me” time look like??

Depends on what your needs are!  For me: I spent a little extra time with my wife, played some video games, did some holiday shopping, and caught up on some housework.  Some days, I slept in a bit.  “Me” time can be anything that helps you relax.  A lot of folks enjoy sports or exercise!  Up here in WA, everything is closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, so we’re limited to things that can be done at home or in a store (funny how those are “Safe,” while other things aren’t).

Are you done?  Back to work!!

I feel better, yes. The funny thing about taking time off from your game is that you’ll often come back with fresh ideas.  I’ve already been charting out a few new systems for the game that I’ll share in upcoming blogs.

Don’t fall into the trap of “MUST…ALWAYS….WORK.”  Taking care of yourself is important.  Take some “Me” time when you need it to regain your balance and come back with fresh perspective for your game!