April 22 is Earth Day.

It’s easy to think of it as the Earth’s birthday, but it’s actually a day dedicated to protecting the environment, established by conservationists to raise awareness of just how serious environmental pollution is. Arguably more important than a birthday, then.

Honestly, though, as a gamer, when I hear “let’s do something for the environment,” my first thought isn’t how to help. It’s how much of a hassle that sounds like.

When you’ve only just managed to fire up your PC after work, or you’re launching DNF Mobile with 20% battery left on your phone, “please turn off the lights for the planet” feels like a bigger threat than any monster.

So I decided to try a slightly different approach.

What if there were an “Earth Day gaming routine” built around a few tiny additions and cutbacks, leaving your usual gaming habits as untouched as possible?

A Planet-Friendly Twist on Your DNF Mobile Routine

When You Wake Up and Check In

When you wake up and reach for your phone to check in to DNF Mobile, you can get a little head start on saving electricity for the day.

Just switch on your desk lamp instead of the fluorescent lights, turn your phone’s brightness down two notches, and switch off the power strip on your way out.

Think of those three things as hidden requirements for claiming “today’s check-in reward.” You’ve barely changed your morning routine, but you’re already off to an Earth Day-worthy start.

On Your Commute

Set aside the grand mission of saving the planet for a moment and look at what you get for your money: public transport gives you a more comfortable place to game.

If you want to run a dungeon with one hand and check KakaoTalk with the other, a subway seat beats the driver’s seat by a mile.

For Earth Day, try nudging the balance just a little: open the taxi app one fewer time and check the bus arrival alerts first instead.

After Work, While Waiting for a Raid

Raid prep always seems to leave an awkward pocket of spare time. You’ve found a party, double-checked your gear, and sorted out your buffs, and now there’s a gap of about 5 minutes to fill. Sometimes more.

Most of us pass that time watching YouTube or scrolling through announcements for other games. On Earth Day, you could put that gap to slightly different use.

Nothing major: flatten some delivery boxes and take them downstairs, or round up the empty cans and plastic bottles scattered across your desk and take them to the recycling area in one go. Surprisingly, a freshly cleared desk can even make a difference to your focus during that night’s raid.

Before Bed

Late at night, the room sometimes starts feeling a little too warm, even though all you’ve got running is your monitor, PC, and desk lamp. The PC fans haven’t had a break, and your graphics card is apparently doing a dress rehearsal for summer.

Your contribution to Earth Day doesn’t have to be anything grand.

Just turn your monitor brightness down one notch, switch off your PC case’s RGB lighting, and open a window for some outside air before reaching for the air conditioner.

Logging out no later than 2 a.m. is also a win for your health, your electricity bill, and, in a small way, the planet.

Wrapping Up

▲NEXON Games regularly runs environmental campaigns

Some people plant trees for Earth Day. Some companies launch big campaigns.

For gaming geeks, our part probably falls somewhere in between: fitting small actions into the gaps in our routines, without closing our NEXON games or drastically cutting our playtime.

Keep it that manageable, and it becomes less of an Earth Day-only activity and more of a habit we can actually stick with.

Take a moment today to think about which “little environmental quest” you’d like to add to your gaming routine first.