I’ve learned something these last two weeks, time spent resting and trying to keep up with the essentials in work and life. Being ill can hit you hard, and although I didn’t have to go to the hospital or anything, it sure can be a bit more than a nuisance nonetheless.

But I’ve learned something, and that’s good. Something to help me relax and unwind, when my mind doesn’t want to, and books won’t do it for me.

Stephen King, whose On Writing I’ve mentioned before, said that you shouldn’t have any distractions in your writing area. In fact, I’d say that software like WriteRoom and DarkRoom rely on people like you and me being too undisciplined to stay focused on our writing, rather we’re checking our e-mails, feedreaders, and watch people get hurt on YouTube. He’s right, of course, but what’s funny is that he mentions videogames as something that shouldn’t be in your study, or wherever you write.

Well, I’ve learned that I now can play videogames to both relax and unwind. It’s almost meditative, which is a true eye-opener to me.

Maybe I’m slow, but leisure gaming have been something I’ve been torn about for a long time. In 1998 I started to review games for a living, and I did that up until Spring 2007, when I sold my sites - videogame sites which I ran, edited, and ruled. It might be hard to grasp, but reviewing games is hard work. You’re constantly under pressure, especially when doing it for an online publication since being early with a review will show in your stats, and when you’re done you’ve got to move on from the game since there’s another five gathering dust on your desk.

Crazy. A crazy fun world for a kid, a games reviewer turned acknowledged games writer - but a world that was getting older each year.

So I’ve had a pretty conflicting view on games these last few years. They’re fun, but they’re also a firm reminder of work.

Learning to play videogames again feels great! It didn’t happen over night, of course, but during this time of an illness not wanting to let go, I had to do something to unwind, to stop me from feeling the pressure of things I knew I was supposed to do, but shouldn’t due to health issues.

I’d like to thank the developers of Eternal Sonata and Super Mario Galaxy. You’ve helped me relax and unwind, and you’ve returned to me that lovely state of mind where I can just turn everything off and jump into a whole different world. I’ve been doing that with books and writing for a long time, but sometimes you just need a quick fix with no need to actually perform, as in writing, or to take in techniques and that whole new language, as in reading.

Videogames are doing that for me now.

And that’s why I’m going against Stephen King on this one. Taking a 30 minute break for a few quick rounds in a game is a good thing for me.

It might be the same for you.

The cast of characters from Eternal Sonata, available on Xbox 360