Did you notice that you've become so addicted to anime that your whole life is about nothing else? Do you spend all your money on DVDs, mangas, action figures and conventions? Perhaps your job, your school grades or your social contacts are even suffering from the fact that you are no longer occupied with anything else? Then you'll know for sure that you have to overcome this addiction, but you probably don't know how to go about it. Then you are right here. This article will bring you some tips and tricks that can help you do this.
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Part 1 of 3: Recognizing your addiction
Step 1. Find out how much time you spend on anime
You may be blamed for being addicted to it, but is it really you? When you become aware of how much time you actually spend doing anime and how much time doing other things, you can find out whether or not you really have an addiction.
- Have you noticed that you turn your friends away just to watch anime? Being introverted isn't a bad thing, but ignoring your friends just to watch more anime can cost you valuable friendships. So if you find that you are running out of time with your friends to watch more anime, then that is a clear indication that you are indeed an addict - or that you are well on your way to becoming one.
- Do you spend every free minute in anime that even your sleep rhythm, your health and your hygiene suffer from it? If you spend so much time watching anime that you no longer shower regularly or eat a healthy diet (the cup of instant noodles is just so much more convenient than a home-cooked meal), you will soon be feeling tired and sluggish feel what will make you sick more and more often.
- Does your passion for anime have a negative impact on your school grades? Do you hit your computer right after school to watch the new episodes of your favorite anime, instead of doing your homework? Your school grades are very important, because some courses and jobs require a certain average grade.
- Are you disregarding your other hobbies because you want to spend more time with anime? Have you played soccer or the piano before, but gave up those hobbies because anime became more important to you? If that's the case, you could actually be addicted.
Step 2. Find out how much money you spend on your hobby
Are you spending so much money on anime that you can no longer afford basic things like food, clothes, school supplies or rent? Create an overview and compare different fields, such as "Anime", "Food", "Clothes" and "School supplies". Every time you spend money on these categories, you should fill in how much it was here. At the end of the month you can see how much money you are actually spending on everything.
- If most of the things you buy fall into the "anime" category, then you could be addicted.
- If you find that you have to go without food, clothing, or other necessities in order to purchase anime merchandise, then you are most likely addicted.
Step 3. Find out how important anime is to your wellbeing
If you're not sure if you are addicted to anime or just have a great passion for it, then see if you feel irritable when you can't watch anime. A sure sign that you have an addiction is reacting irritably to it when you cannot satisfy your cravings for this matter. If you got mad because you couldn't watch an episode or it was postponed, then you could be really addicted. If just the thought of not being able to watch anime makes you angry, then you are most likely addicted to it.
Step 4. Find out if you are emotionally addicted to anime
Does your whole life revolve around anime? If you are not sure, you may need to gain some distance and look at it from a different point of view. To help determine if you've become emotionally dependent on anime, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do you feel more connected to anime characters than to real people? There's nothing wrong with having a favorite character, but when you become so dependent on them that all of your personal relationships with real people suffer, it clearly becomes unhealthy. A fictional character cannot give you the love and attention that a real person can show you.
- Have you ever had a serious argument with someone about an anime? It is perfectly okay to contradict someone or argue theories, of course, but only as long as it is done in an adult fashion. However, if you've become so dependent on an anime that you defend it unconditionally and fight anyone who doesn't like it, then it's clearly a sign that your passion has become unhealthy. Such behavior can cost you friendships.
Step 5. Find out if anime is affecting your social behavior
Did you notice that you started speaking and acting like your favorite anime character? Do you use Japanese words to be more like him? Like cartoons, animes are often very exaggerated; What appears to be normal behavior in animes or cartoons is often far from acceptable in real life. You might not have a problem with being treated like an anime character, but others will likely see it differently. They may find your behavior confusing or annoying and cause them to lose their respect for you.
Part 2 of 3: Distracting Yourself from Anime
Step 1. Try to limit the time you spend playing anime
You don't have to stop watching anime entirely, but instead of watching anime for hours each day, you should probably only do it every few days or once a week. If you find yourself watching anime for hours every day, try adjusting it in the following ways:
If you watch multiple episodes per week or night, try to limit yourself to one episode per night or to a few episodes per week
Step 2. Try to limit yourself to a few series
If you feel the urge to watch every single anime, then try to counter that urge; some animes run for many seasons and therefore consume a lot of time. So try to limit yourself to one or two series that are of particular interest to you. You don't have to watch every single anime just to be an anime fan.
Step 3. Consider taking a break
You could consider giving up anime and manga altogether for a while. Try for a week and see how you feel. You may be surprised that you will discover other hobbies and interests that will fill the void.
Step 4. Use anime only as a reward
Before you sit down and watch anime, do other, less enjoyable tasks first. Not only will this reduce your addictive behavior, but it will also ensure that you will have more fun watching the anime. Here are a few suggestions:
- Don't watch anime until you've finished your homework - but don't watch anime when you're supposed to be sleeping, either. This not only encourages you to get your tasks done faster, but also not to postpone them unnecessarily long. If you don't get your evening dose of anime, then don't despair - then maybe tomorrow.
- Watch anime only on weekends. Your tension and anticipation will build throughout the week without affecting your productivity during the week.
- First, do all the chores. Tell yourself that you won't be watching the latest episode of your favorite series until you've done all of the chores. Tidy up your room, put the laundry together, do the dishes, etc. You will do all of these jobs faster and you can reward yourself for it afterwards.
Step 5. Reduce your need for merchandise
Have you noticed that you often buy anime pins, action figures, bags, patches, and other merchandise just to add them to your collection? Or do you buy them because you really like or need them? If you're only buying them to add to your collection, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do i really need it? A new bag with your favorite character on it can come in handy when you go shopping for school supplies, but do you really need that new funko-pop character? If your budget doesn't allow it, you should avoid unnecessary things. Limit yourself to things that you can also use.
- Do I like it? Instead of buying things just because they're from your favorite anime, save on things that you really like.
- What will i do with it? Some items, such as mugs, watches, bags, and t-shirts, are useful. Other things such as figurines, patches and pins are purely decorative. You should only buy things that you can actually use (and not just look at).
Step 6. Stay away from fan sites and delete them from your favorites
Just scaling back your anime consumption may not be enough to tackle your addiction. If you visit fan sites and discuss your favorite shows, you will think about them a lot more often. So if you stop visiting fansites this will already help you because that way you won't be tempted.
Step 7. Be able to distinguish reality from fantasy
It's normal to have strong feelings for a character from your favorite show while watching it; this is nothing to be ashamed of. But when these feelings turn into a love affair with a fictional character, it can get confusing, embarrassing, and frustrating. Remember that anime is pure fiction - something made up by artists and writers - and it's not real. The world and its characters do not exist.
Step 8. Thin out your collection
Sometimes the only way to get a grip on your addiction is to get rid of the things that remind you of it. That doesn't mean you have to throw away or donate your entire collection of characters, manga, shirts, bags, and so on. However, you could consider selling or donating the things you no longer use. After that, just stop buying new things.
If you're getting distracted from your homework because it's just too tempting to watch anime online, consider removing the pages from your browser favorites and deleting the videos from your computer
Step 9. Pay attention to your behavior
If you find yourself imitating your favorite character or using too many Japanese words (which is sure to bother other people) then that is part of your addictive behavior. Try to recognize this and stop it. If it has become a habit that you want to get rid of, ask your friends if they can alert you when you do so so that you can stop.
Step 10. Think about conventions
If a large part of your addiction is attending multiple conventions a year, then consider whether you might want to go to just one or two instead of five or more. Not only will this save you money, but it will also help you further distance yourself from anime.
Part 3 of 3: distracting yourself with other things
Step 1. Find a new hobby
You don't have to spend all of your time doing one thing, even if you love it. Also pursue your other interests and hobbies that you may have enjoyed once but have now neglected due to anime. Here are a few things you can try:
- Martial arts. If you're into anime and Japanese culture, you might also be interested in martial arts, especially Japanese types such as aikido or judo.
- Learn a musical instrument, such as a guitar or piano.
- Go jogging, hiking, or cycling, as this not only keeps you fit and healthy, but also helps you relax and enjoy the nature around you.
- Knitting and crocheting keep your hands and fingers busy and distract you from animes.
Step 2. Find another fandom to participate in
Sometimes an anime addiction can be counteracted by delving into another fandom that has nothing to do with anime; these can be books, films, and TV series. You may then find that you spend less time on anime and more time on the other, new thing. If you don't know what to look for, ask your friends or classmates for recommendations; tell them what you like, for example horror, medieval fantasy or vampire drama.
If you like role-playing games, then you could just switch genres and get into other non-anime-related topics, such as role-playing games based on books or films
Step 3. Spend more time with your friends
These too will distract you from animes and so you will show your friends that they are still important to you. If you ever really need someone to talk to, they'll be more there for you than if you neglect them on a regular basis. Friendship is always based on reciprocity!
If you don't have friends, try to make new ones, be it at school, the library, or just in the park. Get in touch
Step 4. Ask your friends and family for support
Tell your friends and family that you want to overcome your anime addiction. They can help you by stopping you getting in touch with things anime related. If your friends are into it too, they may not talk to you about it as much or suggest new shows to you.
Tips
- If you know someone who is also addicted to anime, you could try together to overcome that addiction.
- If you need another reason to stop using Japanese words, keep in mind that you may be offending Japanese people by using their words without realizing their real meaning. One speaks of cultural appropriation, which is extremely negative.
