Money problems and time management issues seem to be frequent complaints, yet tons of people (children and adults) have spent this past week running around chasing imaginary creatures with the new Pokemon Go app. While I am happy that this video game encourages exercise, I can’t help but think there are much more constructive ways to use your time.
Rewards Sites: If you’re really into using your phone, at least get something out of it. Join a site like Swagbucks or InstaGC to earn gift cards for clicking things, watching videos, and taking surveys. You can even earn credit for playing games. And there are apps, so you can still wander around looking at your phone, if you want.
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Learn Something New: Have you ever noticed that most bucket lists have a couple of common life goals? One is usually travel, and the other involves learning a new skill or language. What do you want to learn, how to speak French or how to crochet? We have so many resources to learn new things, so why wait? Use your Pokemon chasing time to cross something off your bucket list.
Read A Book: Check a new book out of the library or listen to an audio book.
Exercise: Enjoy some fresh air and go for a short jog. Look at the clouds and listen to the birds, instead of meandering around staring at the screen of your phone.
Save Money: A few small steps or changes can save you a sizable amount of money over the long run. Use your time to start a garden and save money on food. Make a few phone calls to see if you can get a lower rate on any recurring bills. Watch YouTube to figure out how to do things for yourself, instead of paying for something easy like an oil change on your car. Practice cutting your own hair.
Make Money: Go around your house and, instead of collecting creatures, find things to sell on Craigslist or at a garage sale. Use your newly-learned skills (see above) to make a craft that you can sell. Find a new side hustle. Start a blog or your very own business.
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I don’t want to be a hypocrite, so I will tell you about my Candy Crush addiction that lasted for a couple of weeks. But you know what? As soon as I realized how much time was being wasted, I deleted that app from my phone. It all comes down to whether you’re satisfied just living a normal life. Sure, you can fall in with the crowd and do silly things with your time. Or, you can choose to be productive and hustle your way to a better life.
Have a nice weekend everyone!
There are definitely more constructive things to do with your time! Adding to the craziness surrounding this video game, I just read in the USA Today that two men were injured falling off a cliff in San Diego playing it. I don’t think they were seriously injured, but they had to be rescued by the FD. Turns out the game was not only unproductive for them but also the folks rescuing them!
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As a parent, I’m also a little concerned about where kids and teens are going to wander in search of Pokemon.
I don’t get the appeal, but folks are having fun. Not every hour has to be productive. As long as they aren’t hurting anyone (and we know that they have hurt themselves and caused the FD to work for them), I wouldn’t have any issue with how other people get joy.
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Agreed – people should do what makes them happy (in most cases). My point is more that they might want to think about whether they would benefit from doing other things with their time. I know how easy it is to end up doing things just because they’re popular. People should try to make more conscious decisions about how they spend their time. I think the end result would be more satisfying than winning the Pokemon game . . . can you even win it? Thanks for your comment 🙂
RIGHT!?!?!? I pick up shifts in a restaurant and I’ve almost trampled 50 people because they wander around aimlessly to get Poke’ balls? I don’t even know what they are, but I wish they’d just sit at their tables and eat the food! 🙂
That sounds really annoying – not just for you, but the people who are actually trying to enjoy their food. Kudos for taking on some shifts to pay off your debt – way to hustle!
I love video games, so I’m in the “Pokemon is a legit use of time if you like it” camp.
I’ve tried it, because I was curious. I probably will delete it because it takes up a ton of room on my phone and I am concerned about the data usage. This particular game wasn’t worth it to me. Others are. I don’t feel like the time I use playing games (usually while I’m sitting with my daughter who is watching Power Rangers or something equally cringeworthy) is any less of legitimate downtime usage than when I read, knit or surf the web.
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I have some trouble with my husband playing video games, because I try to be very constructive with my time right now. We’re hustling to get out of debt and achieve financial semi-independence, so I very much subscribe to Ramsey’s mantra of living like no one else, so we can live like no one else.
If I have any time to play on my phone, I go on Swagbucks or another money-making site. Or, I visit and comment on other blogs to help this site. Even on the rare instances that I watch television, I usually crochet – creating something I can give as a gift, use myself, or even sell. My goal with this post was to help people think about their priorities.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the folks Pokemon-ing it up and I’ve read some really fantastic stories about how it’s drawn together really diverse groups of people to work together. And I think the Poke-zombies wandering around town with their phones out are pretty funny. There are actually apps like EveryMove or Charity Miles that they can join and then their movements will make them or a charity some money.
We all need our hobbies, but you can’t complain about having no time if you’re wandering around for hours trying to “catch them all.” I didn’t know about those charitable/money-making apps – they might make Pokemon Go a little bit better of a use of time.
I’m definitely in the “it’s fine to play games if you love it” camp, but like everything, it’s all about balance. If something becomes all consuming, then it’s time to take a step back and evaluate. I’d add to your list my current favorite activity: hike with podcasts. I am outside, getting exercise, but I’m also getting smarter or being entertained. Definitely a good form of multitasking that doesn’t force me to focus on a screen. 🙂
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Now that’s an awesome way to use your time! You’re learning or being entertained, while exercising, and enjoying the scenery. I truly believe that people would be a lot happier if they took time to figure out their own priorities, instead of chasing the “next big thing” due to FOMO.
Everything in moderation! I’m not a gamer, but I could spend way too much time reading if I let myself. I agree that it’s important to keep your bigger goals in mind when choosing how to spend your time, though.
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I am a big fan of “everything in moderation.” That mantra goes along pretty well with my goal to design a kaleidoscopic life – a mix of shifting elements, not dominated by one facet . . . Thanks for stopping by Kalie 🙂