Pokemon Go out of control? Here's how to kick the habit - CNET

It hasn't even been a week since Pokemon Go launched and already it's hard to imagine what we did in those dark days before it was in our lives. Were there books? Films? Did I just imagine a thing called Netflix, or did it exist in the before times? Only historians will be able to tell us.

While it's all fun and games until someone walks off a pier scouting for a Seadra, there are ways to make sure that your enjoyment of the insanely popular augmented reality game stays on the healthy side. Because let's be honest. Like the rest of us, you're probably playing a lot of Pokemon Go.

Know the waing signs

How do you know if you're edging into the arena of the unwell? There are a few things that you can watch out for. They're not hard and fast rules, but they can be a good indicator about putting some limits on your game time.

• It's the last thing you do at night
• It's the first thing you do in the moing
• It's what you wake up in the middle of the night to do
• You're playing at work (and not just on your breaks)
• You're taking an extended break from work...to play
• You're playing instead of spending time with friends and family
• You evolved all the friends and family that you care about
• You haven't been home for three days because there are eggs that need hatching

Of course, the most important sign to look for is that you wish you could spend a little less time playing, but you keep finding yourself opening the app even when you don't mean to.

Get a leash on that Lickitung

So you're loving the game but don't want it eating your life? There are a few simple tricks that help you set some limits on how Pokemon you're Going.