Balancing a part time job and playing games?

[AlyssaAC]

Ok, so um, I’m going to be looking for a part time job here in a couple of months due to needing new insurance since I’m going off of my parent’s one here next year and I was wondering something. For those who have a part time job as well, how do you balance that and still find time to play games? I know that a part time job isn’t a full job, but I’m so used to being able to play most of the time, that I’m worried about trying to balance my job and find time to still play. This is my first job ever and I’m a little nervous and not sure what to expect…

 

[LadyDestani]

I work a full-time job that sometimes requires overtime and I still make time to play games every day, so it can be done. Yes, you will have less time to play once you start working, but it's still manageable. I find that I do best when I stick to a schedule. So I work, come home, spend time with my husband and my dog, eat dinner, shower, do a few chores, then settle in to play for an hour or two before bed. I like to save my gaming for the end of the day because it helps relax me.

On the weekends and my days off, that's when I can spend a little more time doing the things I want. So if I have something to do in a game that I know is going to take me a couple of hours to complete, I usually save it for those days.

With a part-time job, you may find that your schedule is a little more random than with a full-time job. When I worked part-time, I could be scheduled for different days or different shifts each week. But they would always post the schedule in advance, so I had time to plan around it.

I wish you luck in your job search!

 

[cornimer]

Like LadyDestani, I work a full-time job (and frequently work overtime) and I still find time to play. Building a schedule is the best way to manage your time in my opinion. Here's my rough schedule for example:

8 am - breakfast
9 am - shower
10 am - 6 pm - work (and lunch at some point)
6 pm - 8 pm - dinner & watching TV with family
8 pm - 10 pm - usually more work lol
10 pm - 11 pm - games or anything else I want to do by myself

I work from home so I have extra flexibility, but once you get into a routine you'll be able to find time!

 

[AlyssaAC]

I work a full-time job that sometimes requires overtime and I still make time to play games every day, so it can be done. Yes, you will have less time to play once you start working, but it's still manageable. I find that I do best when I stick to a schedule. So I work, come home, spend time with my husband and my dog, eat dinner, shower, do a few chores, then settle in to play for an hour or two before bed. I like to save my gaming for the end of the day because it helps relax me.

On the weekends and my days off, that's when I can spend a little more time doing the things I want. So if I have something to do in a game that I know is going to take me a couple of hours to complete, I usually save it for those days.

With a part-time job, you may find that your schedule is a little more random than with a full-time job. When I worked part-time, I could be scheduled for different days or different shifts each week. But they would always post the schedule in advance, so I had time to plan around it.

I wish you luck in your job search!

Like LadyDestani, I work a full-time job (and frequently work overtime) and I still find time to play. Building a schedule is the best way to manage your time in my opinion. Here's my rough schedule for example:

8 am - breakfast
9 am - shower
10 am - 6 pm - work (and lunch at some point)
6 pm - 8 pm - dinner & watching TV with family
8 pm - 10 pm - usually more work lol
10 pm - 11 pm - games or anything else I want to do by myself

I work from home so I have extra flexibility, but once you get into a routine you'll be able to find time!

Thank you both so much! This makes me feel a lot better and more relaxed about this now.

 

[Belle T]

I think schedules are really the key. I'm not going to lie and say that working part- or full-time won't impact your ability to do the things you enjoy, but you'll be surprised how much you'll be able to do if you properly ration your time. The biggest worry, in my opinion, is having the energy to do things after you get off work, but I think schedules are helpful in alleviating that as well.

Part-times are a little more sporadic, but if you can manage to stay organized so that you can adjust your schedule when things come up and plans change, you should still be fine.

 

[Corrie]

You can definitely work and play games! You'll just obviously have less time than before. Working part time though, you'll have more time than you would if you worked full time. I agree with a schedule or at least setting aside a few hours a day for games only. It sounds like you still live with your parents so you won't have to worry about adult things like doing your laundry, grocery shopping, etc eating up your time as much.

I wouldn't worry about a thing! You'll still have plenty of time for games!

 

[nightglow]

The only time I haven't be able to play games while working is if I worked 45-60 hours a week with a chronic illness. (something I can't do anymore anyway) Otherwise there was time for games and I feel pretty confident you will have time too. I guess it honestly just depends on other duties you may have in your life that is outside your job, or how tired you get from whatever tasks you have to attend to.

 

[Moritz]

I have a full time job and still have like 5 hours a day in which I can play games. And of course weekends I can play them all day if I wanted to.

Unless you've got a lot of other stuff outside of work you have to juggle, you'll find you have lots of time still to play games in.

Personally I dont think a schedule will be good for you unless you're used to having structure which it does not sound like you are. It would be very jarring to suddenly have a clock control your whole life. I know because I hate following a schedule, so I don't. I just do what I feel like when I feel like it so long as no prior obligations are in my way.

But I promise once you start working, you'll realise you have more time to game in than you anticipated.

 

[amemome]

I work full time and have around 3-4 hours after I get home to play games or do whatever I want! I like to do this:
9am-5pm: work
5-6: cook and eat
6-7 or 8: free time to play games or do random things on the internet
8-9: work out
9-11: more free time!
11-tomorrow: sleep

 

[Holla]

I work full time so I definitely can’t play as often as I want or used to back when I was just a student. Just comes with being more responsible unfortunately.

I still get some time here and there though but definitely not every single day. Less busier week days I get an hour or two in the evening every once and a while after work. Anything I want or need more time for is reserved for the weekends though as I have those days off. You just gotta find what works for you.

 

[Hat']

I used to work full time and I could only play at night so it was hard, now I'm doing nothing and I don't wanna go back to work for this specific reason. I NEED to play and I love doing it all day so yeah lol

 

[Stella-Io]

I work a full time job and find time for videogames still, along with other hobbies.

For one, it helps that I'm not head of the household and have to do things like cooking meals for everyone, cleaning the entire house, chores other than my chores, going grocery shopping, ect...

Second, most jobs will give days off. My days off are always Sundays and Mondays, so I can plan to do things on those days, all day. Weather it be catching up on chores, going out shopping for fun or to buy stuff I actually need, playing videogames or doing other hobbies, ect...

Third, sometimes, depending on the type of job you get, you may get to leave early, have frequent but small work shifts, or long but infrequent work shifts. Or like my old job, never consistent. Ever. Days you get to leave early feel like bonus hours you could spend on doing things.

Lastly, don't feel bad for not doing anything on your time off! Sometimes, even thou we really wanna do somethin, like hobbies, it's best to just chill and do nothing. Sleep in all day? Great! I do this too often where I feel like I HAVE to do somwthin on my days/time off, but sometimes doing nothing is all we need.

For reference, here is a typical workday schedule for me-
*I'll sometimes shove in other hobbies before going to sleep

6:20am
Wake up
Eat breakfast
Make lunch for work
Change into work clothes/pack bag

7:15-12 or as late as 5pm
Work

12-5 (whenever I get home)
Shower

5-9 (somewhere in that timeframe)
Eat dinner

9-10 or 11
Play Videogames

10-11
Go to sleep

 

[Bugs]

I also work full time, although I don't get overtime lol

Every evening I get home from work and after eating dinner I usually spend the evening either drawing or playing video games, probably about 4 hours a day, and on my days off if I'm not out doing something else I usually spend all day playing games, so you can definitely make time for it.

In fact when I worked part time I really enjoyed the experience overall, I felt like o had a good balance between work and free time, and I made friends in work who also played games so we would often go home from work and spend the night playing online games together lol good times.

Enjoy working part time, it's nice to have both a little income and free time

 

[UglyMonsterFace]

I work 5 days a week, anywhere from 3 hours to 7 hour shifts. My job and schedule are a little unpredictable since I work in a restaurant - every day is dependent on the customers hehe. And yet, I always manage to fit in play time! I go home at whatever time, shower, make food, then play. Then do errands, and then play. Then hang out with the boyfriend, then play. Basically, I just play whenever I have time. I think if you love playing games, you will naturally make time for it. The same way anybody would make time for their passions and hobbies! If someone is working so much that they have to give up the things they love and enjoy, then that isn't healthy! I'm sure you will adjust and find a good and happy balance ^_^

 

[sleepydreepy]

Ok, so um, I’m going to be looking for a part time job here in a couple of months due to needing new insurance since I’m going off of my parent’s one here next year and I was wondering something. For those who have a part time job as well, how do you balance that and still find time to play games? I know that a part time job isn’t a full job, but I’m so used to being able to play most of the time, that I’m worried about trying to balance my job and find time to still play. This is my first job ever and I’m a little nervous and not sure what to expect…

I work full time 5 days a week from 8am-5pm and I still have plenty of time to play games! The job I am working at right now was also my first serious job, and like you I was worried I wouldn't have any time to myself. However I soon realized that having a job is nothing like going to school (which I was use to) because you have no homework. Once you leave work and clock out you are done for the day. So for example, when I get home at around 5:20pm I have the rest of the night to myself until I go to bed at 10/10:30pm. During this time I like playing video games for at least 2 hours when I get home before making dinner for myself and doing other chores, then if I have time I'll play for another hour or half hour before bed. I can also play however long I want to on the weekends, because again, you have no homework. I am confident you will have plenty of time to yourself and to play games with only a part time job.

I also found that personally I like having something to do during the day (whether it be school or work) because then I go through games a lot slower and enjoy them more, rather than binging them all at once and going through games super fast.

 

[Bluebellie]

Hi I have a full time job and I still find time. Sure, sometimes I'm tired, so I won’t play once in a while., but usually I play everyday. I like to play right before going to bed most days. I don’t bring my jobs home. So once I log out of the office, that’s it for work. After that, I can play or do other things as much as I want.

 

[Soigne]

i used to work full time and would still have some time here and there for games, but since i've started working at my new job part time i've really almost found myself bored. i work two, sometimes three days a week and it really doesn't even feel like i'm at work. i have many many opportunities to do whatever i feel like during the week!

 

[N e s s]

Just play it at night

 

[Bluelady]

I’m the babysitter for my niece and nephew. It’s technically not work because family; but I like calling this work. It makes feel less of a loser.

Anyway, I follow my sister’s work schedule. She works full time and is on call on her days off. Unfortunately, I don’t have any set days off because of this. Shoot, this month I only had 2 days off.

My daily schedule goes like this:

Spoiler

8-10 am: Asleep or trading here if I have one scheduled.
12 pm - 9:30 pm: Work. Work. Work.
9:30 pm - 10:30 pm: Have a snack or eat dinner if I didn’t get a chance to do so earlier in the day.
10:30 pm - 11 pm: Wash dishes and bottles. I might do some chores if I still have some energy.
11 pm - 1 am: Play video games and/or use the internet.
1 am - 3 am: Insomnia. Going to sleep is hard.

Even though my schedule isn’t how I would like it to be, it’s still doable. 2-4 hours a day of gaming isn’t too bad. However, what I don’t like about this schedule is that it doesn’t allow me to enjoy my other hobbies like sewing. My sewing machine is noisy and I can’t use it at night. I can also forget about sewing during the morning because I’m still groggy when I wake up.

As a part-timer, you will hopefully not have this balancing problem. However, do keep in mind that hobbies will be enjoyed at a slower rate once a person gets a job.