Please add in-game time speed adjustment for day duration

[HazelOwers]

I really love the charm in this game. I also love the story and all the characters but I can't play it anymore because the time management aspects of the game cause me too much anxiety. It doesn't make sense to me because it's a cosy game and is supposed to feel relaxing but having to get 'x' things done in a rush before night time is stressful.

I am autistic and have anxiety so perhaps my disabilities contribute to why the time management aspects feel so stressful to me. I'm able to enjoy and play other similar games such as coral island and fields of mistria as these games allow me to adjust the day cycle speed to what feels more comfortable. I would really appreciate if time could be taken to adjust the speed that the day cycle passes at. I'd like to be able to make it slower so I can do what I want to do and speed it up when I need to go to specific npcs, catch certain fish etc. I'm not sure if anyone else like myself experiences stress from the time management aspects of this game or if it's just unique to me. It'd just be nice to play at my own pace.

I understand that there are mods for this but I'm not confident or comfortable with modding and don't want to have to download anything additional to be able to enjoy the game fully. I just wish the option was within the game itself.

I think I've posted something similar before many years back. Had my fingers crossed that it would be implemented but many quality of life updates have passed without this being implemented. I'm starting to lose hope that I will ever be able to play the game again. I may have to just watch youtube videos of other people playing it, just to experience the full story.

 

[Grumples]

I used to have this same issue. My solution was gradual, but in time, I learned that the game speed wasn't what was stressing me out, it was how I was approaching the game. In essence, I was causing my own stress and anxiety.

Trying to do "everything" every day is just an unrealistic goal. So I had to learn to choose what was most important for any given day, and focus on that. Maybe fit in a secondary goal on some days. It seemed very counterintuitive to me at first. Like I was "wasting" so much time. Or missing out on something every day. But when I stopped and realized that nothing was going to disappear or no opportunities were going to be lost by taking things slowly, I wondered: Why in the world was I rushing so much and turning a game I enjoyed into something that stressed me out?

I'd just encourage you to try playing again. Preferrably on a new file. Try to approach each day on its own. Don't make long term plans, just live for that day alone. Pick a goal and stick with it. It will be hard at first. But you can learn to take things in stride and not worry about everything else all at once. You may feel like quitting, but just try it for an in-game week and see how you feel at that time.

Hoping you're able to reconnect with the game and approach it from a different angle.