Howdy once again Goons, recently I’ve gotten an eReader, the Kobo Clara BW, not sponsored. I’d take it if you offered Rakuten, just saying. I’m also getting the Switch 2 so I think my Backlog is going to be getting larger. Typically when we think of backlogs we think about them in the gaming sense but you can have a backlog for anything. Books, comics, manga, movies, videos, just about any media can have a backlog. It’s that list of media that you want to finish, like a bucket list. Sometimes life gets in the way and it keeps you from making progress or checking them off your list.
I’m going to give you some tips on how to get through that list, distractions be damned. These tips aren’t just for games though, you can use these finish more books and movies too. While it might seem weird to include tips for all media in one list, you might find that some of these tips are transferable to all forms of media. Make sure to stick around because I have 40 tips drafted already so this won’t be the only tips post.
Tip 1: Make Time For Your List
This might seem obvious but you need to make time to finish these things. If you’re only doing it when the opportunity arise you will not have enough time to finish them. You need to set out a block of time, every day, that is exclusively for you and the media you’re trying to complete. If this is games and movies we’re talking about you need to be able to set aside at least 2-3 hours a day. If you have kids this might be hard but think about if there is a time of day that the kids are asleep and you’re not. That’s the perfect time. During this time period ensure that it is nothing but you and the piece of media, no other people, no distractions, no other media.
Don’t try to multi task or you risk not giving one of the two media your full attention. Just you, that piece of media, and nothing or no one else. Unless there is a way for you to enjoy that media with someone, I know my partners like to watch me play games, and when I stream I’m enjoying games with my audience. But reading I do all alone for an hour a day.
Bonus tip, turn off your phone.
Tip 2: List Manager
Managing your list efficiently will save you time. The less time you spend messing with lists the more time you have for clearing the log. For gamers I recommend using Backloggd (here’s my list for games I beat in 2025 for an example), not only can you easily make lists but you can leave reviews. I’ve been tracking every game I beat this year instead of tracking my backlog. Backloggd is incredibly robust too allowing you to favorite games, display your favorites, comment on reviews, make lists, review, and even participate in events. Like the current event if voting on your Game of the Year for 2007, like best game, best art direction, and best musical score. Of course Halo 3 takes all of those pretty easily but it’s nice to let others vote.
The listing feature is particularly good because you can make a list of anything, I’ve listed every Wonderswan game that’s English Friendly or has an English Patch. People like these list because it means they don’t have to do the searching themselves. Unsurprisingly I love Backloggd so much that I’m a supporter on their Patreon. The book equivalent for this one seems to be Goodreads. For movies you can use Letterboxd, and for anime Myanimelist. Chances are there is a dedicated list site for whatever media you want to list. You could also use Excelt or Word. I prefer dedicated sites so I can just go to the thing I’m wanting to make progress on and it makes it easy to access if I’m out of the house or out of town.
Tip 3: Only Install One
If you’re the type that gets very distracted consider this method. When you were a kid you got way less games and books than you do as an adult. It makes sense, you have your own money now. You’ve probably heard of choice paralysis as well, the more options you have the longer you take to make your decision. You also risk not making a decision at all. My favorite example is the Mexican restaurant menu, they’re massive tri fold menus with so many good foods. But you don’t eat here often. You could get your fav and play it safe, or you could try something new. Who knows when you’ll eat here again?
On the other hand, why risk picking something you might not like? In the end you get something and you’ll think “What if I got that other thing?” and you’ll feel less satisfied. When doing this with media you more often than not choose to do nothing instead. So instead of keeping every book or game you own installed on your device, why not limit it to just 1-3? Then when you finish the media you can install the next one. This might seem inconvenient but you’re much more likely to finish the thing if you give yourself no choice but to finish it.
Tip 4: Make Content
You have to be careful with this one. It’s very easy to turn your hobby into a job and ruin the fun. One of the things I do to make sure I finish games is I make media about them. I do reviews, streams, blogs, and let’s plays. I also have some games that I only play offscreen because I still need to view these as a fun activity and not a scheduled job. If you’re reading books you could consider making short review videos, podcasts, or just talk about the things you like about a book.
For movies and shows this is a lot harder as these have strict copyright laws and are near impossible to make videos on without a lot of editing skill. You can easily get away with a Movie Review Podcast because there isn’t an expectation that you’ll show video. You can also do a watchalong podcast where you watch a show and the audience starts watching that same episode at the same time. It’s like a director’s commentary but for your favorite podcaster or YouTuber.
I find that making content holds me accountable for finishing things because I’m not the only one enjoying the game. My audience is watching too and they want to know what happens just as much as I do. I’ve tried switching games between streams and there is always someone saying something like “Are we done with blank?” It’s kind of funny but they count your experience as their experience too. I love the sense of community that gives but at the same time, come on, sometimes I need a break or something new comes out.
Tip 5: Focus On Your Progress Not Where The Finish Line Is
This one may require deleting your backlog. Personally I find having a backlog stresses me out. If I don’t feel like doing something I don’t see myself having a good time doing it if I’m forced to. Even if it’s me forcing myself. So instead of thinking “I still need to do all this” instead think “Wow I’ve done this much?”. Last year I didn’t beat very many games, but this year I’ve decided to beat 100 games. Doesn’t matter which ones, just that I need to beat them. This has let me focus on my progress and choosing games based on what I feel like playing. I’m actually ahead of schedule for where I should be at this point in the year.
I don’t think “I still have blank to go” I think “Wow, look at how much I’ve done already!” This tip could have also been called think positively. If you think the presence of a backlog is making you stress then you’re missing the point of media. This is supposed to be something we enjoy doing, and if you’re not enjoying it then why are you even doing it?
That’s all the tips we have time for today. Remember to check back frequently as I post new stuff all the time and the next one could be another 5 tips. I did say I have about 40 in total. If you liked this post you might also like: 5 Great Games To Play While Waiting For The Switch 2. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you later, bye!
