GAMEMAKING AND TIME MANAGEMENT.

So I just got a new job, and the nature of that job pretty much affords me the time (and money) I need to do a lot of things I used to be too strapped for cash for, like joining a good gym, more time with friends/girlfriend, taking more classes, etc. However, the very same nature of said job also commands more of my time than before, which leaves me no longer able to meander on the computer as much as I used to. My day is actually more filled now! So now, more than ever, I have to utilize a better sense of time management in everything I do, from work, socializing, and leisure.

So I was thinking, this time management initiative also translates to game making, (indie) game playing, and generally being into the community. Until recently, the hours I had to spend on the computer doing nothing in particular was a curse, I'd open my game, kinda mess around in it, do something else, come back, stare at it a little bit, and the same thing translated to playing games (played the game for a bit, dicked around on Facebook, started it up again, etc) and so on. Seriously, my games new demo was supposed to be out a few weeks ago, but due to poor time management, my game making (and playing) productivity suffers.

Considering I no longer have the time (or the initiative, really) to dick around on the computer doing nothing for hours on end, I figured that sectioning my time off to particular tasks (an hour for working on my game, an hour for playing other games, for example) is not only something I pretty much have to do now anyway, but in past experience, discipling yourself to get a certain thing done in a certain timeframe is the way to go for actually getting it done.

This may seem like work; "Aww, why should I force myself into doing something by giving myself a certain timeframe to do it?", but isn't that something that all adults have to do anyway? You're certainly not going to maintain your standard of living meandering around aimlessly for hours on end.

So. This is sort of a soundoff and discussion topic. Have you guys ever sectioned off your time for things like this? How is it working for you? Would you like to give it a shot? In my experience, it really works. Also, I plan to write an article on this subject sooner or later.