So about a year ago I decided to pursue programming, specifically game development, as a career. I've always been a pretty avid gamer, from chucking turnips at Shy Guys' faces in the 90s, to downing Heroic Deathwing last week. Just recently though, I've been spending a LOT of time playing games and it's starting to show in my programming classes. Yesterday after a discouraging exam, I put my foot down and vowed to myself to keep the gaming:coding ratio in favor of the one that will hopefully pay the bills later on.

I realize that knowing games well is a key part of being a good developer, but as I've been recently shown, there's a threshold of pixelated indulgence that must not be crossed if I'm ever going to land my dream job.

I'm assuming many of you are quite enthusiastic about games as well. What advice would you give an aspiring programmer regarding time management?

Thanks!!

(Also, I'm brand new to Stack Exchange...if this belongs somewhere else, I'm happy to move it)