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So this blog post is probably me procrastinating even more but I'd probably be playing SC2 anyway, so I figure why not.
So I have this problem of being addicted to the computer or something which, you know, I wouldn't mind AT ALL if it weren't for the fact I have an assignment (Uni) due in 26 hours and a test in 25 hours. I just can't bring myself to start studying because... I don't know. And I can't just ditch the assignment because it has a weighting of 25% for the subject, and I haven't started yet fuck my life.
I've always been addicted to the computer. Mostly gaming. I was raised on the internet and my mom did a pretty decent job of keeping it in check, I even had a breakdown over my gaming restrictions when I was about 15 which was probably the lowest moment of my life (how sad is that). Now I'm 18 and she decides to give me more freedom blah blah and I SHOULD be responsible enough not to abuse the freedom and it's not like I want to. But games just take over my life. I already failed the entire first semester of my course because of SC2 beta (was doing so well before I discovered it) and now I'm probably going to fail this semester unless I can get whipped back in shape.
Speaking of which, I never told my mom that I failed because... Well, I'm Asian and she'd kill me and I'm a pussy so I didn't have the balls to tell her. Now I'm fucked because she hates liars more than anything. I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't even know why I'm writing this, probably because I need to get my thoughts out there somewhere. If anyone has any tips on how to get off my ass and start studying please share.
I dunno I'm kind of starting to think the Uni life isn't for me. I'm doing Computer Science and afaik I don't even need a degree to get myself a decent programming job. I know for a FACT that I'd study better by myself if I didn't have to learn all this unrelated bullshit and all the electives I have to do. I guess the only reason I'm not just dropping out is because my mom wouldn't let me live under her roof if I did, and I don't really want to miss out on the entire Uni experience (let's not forget the whole "that's the guy who dropped out of Uni" label). It's not like I'm an idiot or anything, I find myself quite intelligent yet, I know my problems are caused by my lack of focus and motivation but I don't do anything about it. I guess that makes me an idiot in itself.
/rant
 
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I usually do my work before I get on or plan to get off at a certain point. If you get in the habit of doing it, it is easy. 
Edit - Also, when you get on NA server - Add me
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break your computer
I did that
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You need motivation how bout this. If you fail, you will have no where to live. If you have no where to live, you have no internet, meaning no games. plus i understand being homeless isnt very fun
Get your ass in gear and do your work. No one ever wants to do it, thats why its work not play.
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I don't think I've ever adopted a good habit, they're all terrible.
When my mom threatened to take my laptop away (and at one point, break it), I argued that I would need my laptop for Uni, which I do. Oh noes.
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I have 2 computers.
Games + my gaming rig in my room, shittier laptop in my basement.
Go downstairs, do the work, no distractions in anyway, then go game later on.
AKA
Seperate yourself any way possible. Library your work if you have to, the temptation is much easier to manage when you cannot easily get to the thing that distracts you.
Hence why I cannot work with TV on, or in my room period (as my couch is 4 feet from an xbox, my pc, a wii, my ds, ps2, etc etc).
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i go through the same thing. my parents were gonna withhold my education fund unless i went into nursing before applying to med school, and i absolutely hate it. i feel like i could be learning much more important stuff, it just feels like a huge waste of time (plus it doesn't prepare me for the mcat). i have no motivation to do anything, but i need the good marks for med school so i'm plowing through the shit. these last couple weeks have been hell for getting back into readings (i'm a pc addict as well). what i like to do is really clean my workspace, and just use my laptop for music while i do my work. if it becomes a problem, i have another room with no computer. i find i need a comfortable area that's organized and clean for me to do good work. this year i'm also writing down all my readings so that i can see what i'm doing, and i feel like visually crossing shit out as i do it will add some sort of positive reinforcement and make everything easier.
i think writing down what you need to do would help. and ask for a ban so you can focus, you're spending too much time here when you should be working! 
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go to the library. if you have a laptop, don't bring it. there are computers in the library. if you need the programs on your laptop, bring your laptop, but dont bring a mouse so you can't play sc2. i cant stand playing with only the trackpad, if your so addicted that you have to play with the trackpad... idk man... i'd say trash your computer man. its not worth spending hundreds of dollars on education only to have it wasted by a $60 game.
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Get a mac you can't play games it got me through uni
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Dude, was in the same boat as you are addicted to different things (games, girls, drugs, you name it, anything but school work). Got kicked out of 2 programs and finally pulled my shit together in this new one (still on conditional standing).
Honest advice to you: I've made up my mind countless times to fucking stop fucking around and pull my shit together, and every time that had failed. I understand the reason for my unbelievable lifestyle of utter sloth now:
We're both Asian with tight stuck-up parents. They gave us zero personal freedom until the age of 18 (university age), we've acquired zero study habits, and sudden this new burst of overwhelming freedom in university life just completely overwhelms what little self-control you might possess; aka., you fuck around as much as you can because you've never obtained the aforementioned study habits/priorities/self-control in high school.
Then, your parents have high hopes for you. You have high hopes for youself. You think/believe you're smarter than everyone else, which was probably true in high school and how you did relatively well back then. But IQ average in University just jumped by 30 points, so you're fucked if you don't study. Once you fall behind it's infinitely harder to catch up due to: A - knowledge in a subject snowballs and B - your pride stands in your way; you believe you can defer studying until later, with the mindset that you can just cram and study extra hard to catch up later on. But there is a point of no return, it's probably 2-10 days before an exam (depending on the subject/major) and once you pass that point your overconfidence lies to yourself and you escape by indulging in whatever that's not school work.
So let me fucking whip you back in shape: you're not fucking intelligent. You know what's intelligence? It's having the ability to cram for 10 hours for a subject and pull a 90 on the final out of your ass. If you can't do that, you need to stop lying to yourself about your perceived intelligence and work hard. Let me put it another way: everyone works hard in university, so unless your IQ is above 150, having 130 over someone who has an IQ of 120 makes little difference if you don't study and try.
I learned/figured out all of this the hard way, hope you don't go down the same road.
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You don't need a CS degree to get a programming job. You need a CS degree to get payed well while doing a programming job.
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No you dont need a degree to get a programming job, but having the degree makes it much easier to get interviews and actually get the job. Also, it really sounds like you DO need the degree to get the job. The people who go into programming right after high school are the ones that program and study for fun, not the ones who go home and play video games.
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If you can't balance undergrad classes and sc2 there is no way you'll be able to keep a job. Also a lot of employers with throw your resume away without a second thought if you don't have a degree. I do when I'm hiring (and I hire programmers). A degree doesn't indicate skill level, it indicates the dedication, discipline and ability to balance work/life required to get work done. The easiest programming work you do at a job will likely be harder than your toughest assignment in college.
Get your shit together. Uninstall sc2, snap your cd in half and ask a mod for a ban.
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On September 21 2010 01:33 mardi wrote:
its not worth spending hundreds of dollars on education only to have it wasted by a $60 game.
rofl, what ghetto college do you go to?
I have the same problem in life, OP. I might be fine during the week, deprived of sc2 though. Then the weekend comes, im staying up till 6 am, waking up at 4pm, and have class 10 am monday. It is a bad feeling, the way I feel is school is getting in the way of what I want to do. I'm pretty hardcore though, and I would actually pursue pro-gaming if I dropped out, but nearly everyone in life says the degree is worth it.
I'm not going to tell you something that makes you want to study, because that would be hipocritical. The system we live in though, games can be a little like drugs nowadays, and you gotta be careful how much the drug creeps into your life.
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Get Net nanny. Seriously. Use it to restrict yourself to two hours a day.
And it's probably best to be straight up and tell your mum- she'll find out eventually anyway. Take your punishment like a man and learn from it.
Games are fun but you need to find a balance, we all do.
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Figure out what makes studying easier for you or more calming, such as music or coffee, something to focus you. Put music on low and just start working. Studying is all about build up and alternatives, if you feel nervous or daunted by the material then you put it off and look for alternatives, such as playing computer games. I was exactly the same. Until I realised my future is more important than some fucking computer game. Grabbed my coffee and started. The hardest part is to actually begin, as soon as you begin you get into it more and its easier, you feel satfisfied at the progress you make and how much more you understand and as a result feel less daunted by the material. When I was revising for my final university exams I would play games also. Study for 1-2 hours or finish a practice paper and then play a game for around an hour or so and then back to studying so they're not mutually exclusive activities. My advice would be to just start, find some nice music for the background, schedule a break every few hours. You'll feel 100% better. Of course you don't have to put music on or drink coffee, it's just what I do :p
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On September 21 2010 01:38 ArbAttack wrote:
We're both Asian with tight stuck-up parents. They gave us zero personal freedom until the age of 18 (university age), we've acquired zero study habits, and sudden this new burst of overwhelming freedom in university life just completely overwhelms what little self-control you might possess; aka., you fuck around as much as you can because you've never obtained the aforementioned study habits/priorities/self-control in high school.
Then, your parents have high hopes for you. You have high hopes for youself. You think/believe you're smarter than everyone else, which was probably true in high school and how you did relatively well back then. But IQ average in University just jumped by 30 points, so you're fucked if you don't study. Once you fall behind it's infinitely harder to catch up due to: A - knowledge in a subject snowballs and B - your pride stands in your way; you believe you can defer studying until later, with the mindset that you can just cram and study extra hard to catch up later on. But there is a point of no return, it's probably 2-10 days before an exam (depending on the subject/major) and once you pass that point your overconfidence lies to yourself and you escape by indulging in whatever that's not school work.
So let me fucking whip you back in shape: you're not fucking intelligent. You know what's intelligence? It's having the ability to cram for 10 hours for a subject and pull a 90 on the final out of your ass. If you can't do that, you need to stop lying to yourself about your perceived intelligence and work hard. Let me put it another way: everyone works hard in university, so unless your IQ is above 150, having 130 over someone who has an IQ of 120 makes little difference if you don't study and try.
I learned/figured out all of this the hard way, hope you don't go down the same road.
Wow. There's not a single thing here that doesn't apply to me.
I'd love to say that reading the replies made me open my eyes and realise that I need to study, but all I feel is a slight need to study. Idk I guess I'll go open up Word and try to write some words but there's no way in hell I'm uninstalling SC2.
Appreciate the comments telling me that I can't get a good job without a degree. Kinda sucks but I guess I'll have to live with it.
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On September 21 2010 01:38 ArbAttack wrote:
So let me fucking whip you back in shape: you're not fucking intelligent. You know what's intelligence? It's having the ability to cram for 10 hours for a subject and pull a 90 on the final out of your ass.
lol, that must mean I'm intelligent. i've done that way too many times for my own liking. in recent times, i've got my shit together and started really managing my time, and it's gotten me more sleep and reduced my stress a lot. i may be able to delay those gray hairs a bit longer...
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as long as you have a computer your body will keep giving you a hard time studying. Find something that puts you in the zone. for me it was putting earphones on, house music on, and studying/writing non stop.
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What the hell are you still doing here. PM a mod for a temp ban. Get your shit together and study.
Anyway, I'm in to serious gaming myself, the way I do it is I never study in my dorm room. I always study at the library or a classroom.
Try your best to pull yourself out of the chair. Get your books, go out of the room and find somewhere else to study.
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I took Computer Engineering instead of Computer Science because it's actually hard. I feel like I need to go to class to learn something, so I stay motivated.
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Let me save you some time and predict your future.
You are going to procrastinate the shit out of this assignment and studying for your test. You are going to fail both of them. You will tell yourself that you are going to study/work harder next time, but you won't. You'll fail this semester and at some point you will need to tell your mom and then you're just going to be more miserable about it. She loves you and will give you another chance, but you'll fuck that up too. This is going to continue to fuck up your life and set you back even though the reality is if you gave a mediocre effort you would get thru just fine.
No logic or good advice from this blog is going to help you because you won't use it. You're fucked and you are going to learn the hard way. You already know what you need to do, but you won't do what's necessary. Sorry bro, but this is the road you'll pave.
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I had to send back my graphics card and i've found that because i can't play video games ive been doing a lot more school work.
Maybe try frying yours?
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Don't choose a computer game over the rest of your life.
Go cold turkey on gaming. At least until all your classes are over. It's already bad enough that you're failing classes over Starcraft and it's clear that you can't control yourself. You're going to have to choose one and only one.
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I typically do work without a computer, because it's a huge distraction for me. For example, I use paper dictionaries instead of www.dictionary.com even though the computer is faster; I always print out books and research articles out instead of reading them on the computer, etc.
It comes at a cost for me - but those costs are far less than the time I waste on TL on computer.
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Realize that starcraft is a hobby, not a lifestyle. Unless you're good enough to go pro, you need to keep yourself in check. Remember that you must study to graduate and get a job that will allow you to support yourself. Personally, I am putting SC2 on hold for school and I don't plan to play until summer vacation. Don't fool yourself into thinking you'll only play on the weekends or when you have no homework, if you're serious about doing well in school, you have to quit (at least for the time being).
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Don't worry. When it comes time for you to find a summer job related to you cs field, and when you feel the rut of the job market first hand and how employers will pass on you because of your shitty grades, and you end up finally realizing that you have 0 employment prospect in terms of a high paying job (or maybe a decent paying job if your grades really do suck), then you'll probably turn yourself around.
Enjoy learning how to prioritize via the hard way. At least you recognize your problem.
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On September 21 2010 01:32 eLiE wrote:i go through the same thing. my parents were gonna withhold my education fund unless i went into nursing before applying to med school, and i absolutely hate it. i feel like i could be learning much more important stuff, it just feels like a huge waste of time (plus it doesn't prepare me for the mcat). i have no motivation to do anything, but i need the good marks for med school so i'm plowing through the shit. these last couple weeks have been hell for getting back into readings (i'm a pc addict as well). what i like to do is really clean my workspace, and just use my laptop for music while i do my work. if it becomes a problem, i have another room with no computer. i find i need a comfortable area that's organized and clean for me to do good work. this year i'm also writing down all my readings so that i can see what i'm doing, and i feel like visually crossing shit out as i do it will add some sort of positive reinforcement and make everything easier. i think writing down what you need to do would help. and ask for a ban so you can focus, you're spending too much time here when you should be working!
is nursing really good to get into if you plan on going to med after? or is it really not needed? Why do your parents think it's important?
i'm trying to do this myself and still hesitant about it. What are the advantages?
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You said you are an Asian; are you a Korean (just wondering since usually some Koreans really get obsessed with Starcraft and Korean parents are VERY strict)? I am. But you must realize that you have only ONE life, and your life is not a game like Starcraft 2. If you miss the timings of finishing your assignments and the timings of fully preparing for your exams, then you LOSE your points and grades forever. There is no "RESTART" button in life. Okay? Even if you restart college after failing your first college experience, your parents will likely be super angry at you and won't support you anymore You have to balance your life. You should at least sleep 8-9 hours a day and have waking hours of 15-16 hours a day. That's a LOT of waking hours, isn't it? Think about what actions will bring you happiness, financial security, your own home and family, and healthy life in your future. Does playing Starcraft 2 for hours every day bring you ALL of those? Hell fucking no. Get your brain straight and study everything you are told to study at your university as if you will be killed if you don't study.
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See that game you're minimized out of? Close it and uninstall. The other games you have installed as well: uninstall those too. It'll probably be really painful to do, but just do it. Don't say to yourself "I can keep one game installed just so I have something to do when I take breaks." You're going to say that to yourself. Shut up that part of the brain and just get through uninstalling as fast as possible.
See this post of mine you're reading? Close Teamliquid. Feel like checking up on your friends? Close Facebook. Close the shit before you start losing track of time and get to studying.
Discipline yourself. It's hard but necessary.
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I have this problem too, but I know when to stop. Like the 2 days before something is due, I never work on it, but a day before, I finish somehow someway. If you are that extreme, I guess you could disconnect your internet. Without internet, no gaming or TL
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On September 21 2010 01:20 youngminii wrote:
I've always been addicted to the computer. Mostly gaming. I was raised on the internet and my mom did a pretty decent job of keeping it in check, I even had a breakdown over my gaming restrictions when I was about 15 which was probably the lowest moment of my life (how sad is that). Now I'm 18 and she decides to give me more freedom blah blah and I SHOULD be responsible enough not to abuse the freedom and it's not like I want to. But games just take over my life. I already failed the entire first semester of my course because of SC2 beta (was doing so well before I discovered it) and now I'm probably going to fail this semester unless I can get whipped back in shape.
I don't know whether to be happy or sad that there is someone in situation just crappy as one I am in. 
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On September 21 2010 04:07 ProHellZerg wrote:
You said you are an Asian; are you a Korean (just wondering since usually some Koreans really get obsessed with Starcraft and Korean parents are VERY strict)?
Fucking hell, at times like this I hate being Korean.
@ Hesmyrr I know I hate life at this very moment
I don't think I have the balls to uninstall my games, to be honest. I dunno, I somehow actually quit gaming in Year 12 to study (well, half of Year 12 anyway, the last half was filled with L4D but I had already gone through the entire Syllabus by myself for 3 out of my 5 subjects when I was hardcore studying) and the only thing that got me through that hell was knowing how free I would be and how I could do whatever I want in Uni.
What a fucking joke, I feel even more trapped than I did in Year 12 except it's even easier to fall off the edge now.
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3 things I can say...That you should probably listen to
1. Learn to prioritize responsiblities
2. Learn self control
3. Don't be an idiot and put a video game before important things
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thedeadhaji
39489 Posts
graduate in 5 years? lessen your courseload so you're minimizing your exposure to uninteresting electives?
Also if you havent done an assignment due in 26 hours, you just don't have your priorities straight...
employers look at your GPA. They look at your degree. This shit matters man >_>
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thedeadhaji
39489 Posts
On September 21 2010 05:04 youngminii wrote:Show nested quote +On September 21 2010 04:07 ProHellZerg wrote:
You said you are an Asian; are you a Korean (just wondering since usually some Koreans really get obsessed with Starcraft and Korean parents are VERY strict)? Fucking hell, at times like this I hate being Korean. @ Hesmyrr I know I hate life at this very moment I don't think I have the balls to uninstall my games, to be honest. I dunno, I somehow actually quit gaming in Year 12 to study (well, half of Year 12 anyway, the last half was filled with L4D but I had already gone through the entire Syllabus by myself for 3 out of my 5 subjects when I was hardcore studying) and the only thing that got me through that hell was knowing how free I would be and how I could do whatever I want in Uni. What a fucking joke, I feel even more trapped than I did in Year 12 except it's even easier to fall off the edge now.
imo it's not wise to go cold turkey on games, just like it's unwise to go cold turkey on cigarettes in an attempt to stop smoking.
Try lessening your daily hours on the games. Or maybe tell yoruself you're only allowed to play games after 8pm before you sleep. or 2 hours a day, etc.
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On September 21 2010 02:43 GreyCone wrote:
Let me save you some time and predict your future.
You are going to procrastinate the shit out of this assignment and studying for your test. You are going to fail both of them. You will tell yourself that you are going to study/work harder next time, but you won't. You'll fail this semester and at some point you will need to tell your mom and then you're just going to be more miserable about it. She loves you and will give you another chance, but you'll fuck that up too. This is going to continue to fuck up your life and set you back even though the reality is if you gave a mediocre effort you would get thru just fine.
No logic or good advice from this blog is going to help you because you won't use it. You're fucked and you are going to learn the hard way. You already know what you need to do, but you won't do what's necessary. Sorry bro, but this is the road you'll pave.
Listen to this man
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Unfortunately, there are no excuses.
You won't be able to get into a programming job without a degree unless you know all this shit already, which means that you would be getting a credit->distinction average in the course without even studying or going to any lectures, so you may as well do the degree anyway, which is what I did.
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thedeadhaji
39489 Posts
On September 21 2010 05:15 sluggaslamoo wrote:
Unfortunately, there are no excuses.
You won't be able to get into a programming job without a degree unless you know all this shit already, which means that you would be getting a credit->distinction average in the course without even studying or going to any lectures, so you may as well do the degree anyway, which is what I did.
ding ding ding!
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On September 21 2010 01:44 SpartiK1S wrote:Show nested quote +On September 21 2010 01:33 mardi wrote:
its not worth spending hundreds of dollars on education only to have it wasted by a $60 game. rofl, what ghetto college do you go to? I have the same problem in life, OP. I might be fine during the week, deprived of sc2 though. Then the weekend comes, im staying up till 6 am, waking up at 4pm, and have class 10 am monday. It is a bad feeling, the way I feel is school is getting in the way of what I want to do. I'm pretty hardcore though, and I would actually pursue pro-gaming if I dropped out, but nearly everyone in life says the degree is worth it. I'm not going to tell you something that makes you want to study, because that would be hipocritical. The system we live in though, games can be a little like drugs nowadays, and you gotta be careful how much the drug creeps into your life.
i go to The University of Texas @ Austin. It's not a ghetto college at all. I've seen about five of my friends drop out of college whether university or community college due to video games taking priority to studying and homework.
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Life is short, do what you want, not what your parents want, if you want and enjoy gaming that's fine. Don't listen to ppl telling you what you should be doing and how badly your life will end up. Fuck your parents' version of your future, fuck other people's opinion on what is a proper life style, they are not you, you live in the present time enjoy your life every second with no regrets.
That being said, to really fully enjoy the life you have chosen, you need food and shelter, and a computer and the internet. How are you ganna get those? Figure that out and go enjoy your life.
Maybe later on in your life you will enjoy something different, something not sc2, something might not be gaming. You set it your goal and work toward that something you want to enjoy.
That's life, there is no proper way of living it, only your way of living it. As long as you are enjoying your life, there is no regrets. And of course if you are not enjoying your life do something about it right now, no one else is ganna make your life enjoyable for you.
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EPT
