Our focus has become a rare commodity. What with the refined algorithms on apps and websites which guaranteed to hook us for hours end? Of course, the marketing world has done extensive research on this subject, no wonder most of us are unwitting slaves to the screens. Plus the more we stay on their sites, the more money they make through advertising.
When we do certain activities, our brain anticipates fun. And this releases a hormone called dopamine.
You may wonder. What is dopamine?
It's a type of neurotransmitter that makes us feel good. It's part of the brain's reward system. Remember those moments when you receive good news and feel awesome afterward? That's the good-vibes hormone released.
And with today's technological advancements, we don't have to wait long intervals to get high. We could simply...
* Post something on social media and receive likes and comments in real-time. Who doesn't want to be acknowledged and appreciated?
* Watch videos and shorts to be entertained.
* Check notifications or scroll the newsfeed every hour so we won't miss out on the fun.
...and then be instantly gratified. Doesn't that sound like an addiction?
Here's a thought from the author.
Enjoyment doesn't equate to fulfillment.
That's why no matter how many click-baits we engage in and 'Marites-like-espionage' we do on someone else page, we can't get satisfaction. Thus, we repeat the process, resulting in restlessness and overstimulation. Doing meaningful things like working on our goals/dreams no longer appeals to us since our concentration is lost in Meta-world.
As Meurisse put it,
When you're engaging in highly stimulating activities, your brain will keep demanding more and more stimulation. As your level of stimulation rises, regular tasks will appear increasingly dull and unappealing.
Photo by Milad Fakurian on Unsplash
What I Thought?
I've been struggling to unlatch myself off the screen for years. Even though doing it couldn't meet my deepest needs, I still keep coming back. However, the book: Dopamine Detox: A Short Guide to Remove Distractions and Get Your Brain to Do Hard Things by Thibaut Meurisse sheds a light on the underlying cause of the matter.
Meurisse also suggested ways to detox so you could do meaningful work towards your goals/dreams.
This is a question I've been mulling over after reading the book.
Which is better? Sharpen my skills and abilities to increase my earning potential or trade my precious time for short-term perceived fun with these individuals/entities and contribute to fattening up their egos and pockets.
Who is more fulfilled and enjoying in the end? I've noticed too that everything is rising and if I don't level up my game, I'd be left wanting and feel bad about myself.
The read is short and straight to the point. Personally, I like the author's conversational writing style. I'd highly recommend it.
Rating: 5/5