I never took up video games because I took up smoking as a teen, and found that it was really hard/annoying to do both at the same time.
So I guess if it were me, if I gave up video games, I would take up smoking.
(Although I gave up smoking and didn’t take up video games but I did get an iPod Touch so my hands are still busy all the time.)
Running, walking, or my favorite: cycling.
Once upon a time I found it impossible to stop smoking without stop playing Civilization first.
Is that a computer game? Now that I think of it, I totally could have become addicted to computer games because you can smoke while doing those. I was always focused on console games!
Wasted wasted youth!
Or powered paragliding (it’s cheaper ;)).
In my opinion, the only reason it makes sense to stop a time waster is if you are actually not already doing something you think you should be doing. If you didn’t have any idea of what to replace them with, you weren’t really wasting time. You were just filling out your empty time, keeping yourself from being bored.
So, then, what were you thinking you’d be able to do if you stopped wasting time on TV and video games?
Reading the Dope?
Free classes from prestigious universities taught by super stars in their fields. I’ve been taking classes for the last year and a half and have really enjoyed them.
Learn to play an instrument
Learn programming and make your own games, sell them
Learn to paint
Make YouTube videos about something you are skilled in or knowledgeable about
Restore a classic car
Hike or bike around your area
Go Geocaching
Do volunteer work; Rotary Club, Habitat for Humanity, etc.
Exercise is a good one. There’s the health benefit, and the opportunity to get outdoors and see new things. Also, if you combine it with Past Tense’s advice about chasing women, you might try out this “sex” thing that all the kids seem to be talking about.
These are all good ideas, but it is worth noting that the only one that is intrinsically social is the last one. The others can be social, but you have to make the extra effort. It might be that your lack of enthusiasm for your current activities comes from their solitary nature (although some games can be very social, so perhaps I am mistaken). Hiking with other people is a much different experience than hiking alone (though I am a fan of both).