There are many addictive behaviors with serious consequences. Smoking, alcohol, gambling and drug addictions are all dangerous to our health and can cause big trouble in family life, not to mention the law. However, there are addictive behaviors that seem benign, in that we are not damaging our bodies or wrecking our lives. Nonetheless, such benign addictions can rob us of precious time and the simple joys of life. for example, solitaire is a simple card game. It does pose the danger of solitaire addiction.
Some people, just needing a break from the task at hand, play a game or two and get back to what they were doing. On the other hand, many people may start playing this game as a simple diversion and then quickly progress to a point where they can't stop. "Just one more game. Then I'll fix dinner." Such people feel that it's not like gambling at the casino, where you can lose your shirt and empty your pocketbook all in one shot.
What they don't recognize is all the time they're wasting. Solitaire addiction, nonetheless, does soon lead to dereliction of duty. Whether it's making the family wait for dinner, failing to help the kids with homework or leaving your bathroom dirty, your solitaire addiction is decreasing your quality of life.
Others with solitaire addiction are people who live alone. Single people who are lonely or who have few responsibilities to others are easy prey to this addiction. Older people may acquire solitaire addiction purely out of boredom.
The point is, people who start playing solitaire compulsively are, without question, simply wasting a lot of time. In the case of lonely people, solitaire addiction ultimately increases the feelings of loneliness and ironically, discourages them from taking steps to interact socially.
So what can be done to get out of this trap? The first step is to recognize that a heck of a lot of time is being wasted. Try keeping a log in which you record the time you spend each day at this entertaining but unproductive game. You may be shocked at the end of a week to see how many hours of your life have gone to this occupation.
If you feel you're a solitaire addict, start each day with a strict limit on the number of games you'll allow yourself. A couple of games is enough. When you're done, you're done. Schedule your game time for an hour when you'd normally take a break anyway. Take the next day off. Substitute sitting down with a book or taking a short walk. Call a friend you haven't talked to lately. Clean the bird's cage. You get the idea.
Solitaire addiction is a subtle thief. There's nothing wrong with a game now and then. Finding new, more productive ways to occupy your time. You'll soon feel like a new person.
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