Dopamine sickness

I like solving problems. Ambiguity does not stress me out. Or so I thought.

I like solving software engineering problems. I have good tools and skills to do so. I got to a stage where I could delegate others to solve these problems and help out as needed. The system moves.

I enjoy philosophizing and discussing ideas. I probably have the tools but not yet the skills to do so. Recently, I faced open questions, and I found myself stuck.

Today, the paradox hit me. The more I think about clarity, the more uncertain I feel. Uncertainty and overwhelm are the necessary hurdles before I reach clarity. I need time to focus. I make time to focus. Yet I feel a sense of pressure and procrastination.

Pressure is currently self-inflicted. I could become more aware of my emotions and alleviate pressure.

Procrastination is shameful and difficult to admit. However, as I tried to troubleshoot my uncertainty and overwhelm today, I looked up what Cal Newport has to say, and I found it: Dopamine Sickness.

https://share.snipd.com/post/bb7c9072-58d2-49b9-af5a-5e793c541c03

So dopamine sick is where you have so frazzled your brain with constant targeted distraction at the slightest hint of boredom delivered through your phone delivered through your computer screen.

And

Because maybe they’re now at home and they’re working remotely so they can have the phone out and things feel more haphazard. Maybe also there is an escape was happening. You’re anxious about things that are happening in the world and you can’t confront them. And so let me just look at the phone. Let me just look at these distractions and get that numbing in the moment.

That hit me!

I primarily work from home. I carry my phone with me when I’m not at my computer. My wife texts a lot. When I kill time, I am addicted to YouTube, watching clips on topics that I am curious about, such as triathlon, note-taking, goal setting, coding, and so on.

When I was low on motivation or inspiration, I used to go to the coffee shop to work. I like the smell of coffee and the ambient noise there. There’s a sense of being watched at any point, which helps me stay alert and focused.

These days, I make myself coffee and stay at home more. I am comfortable and productive on a dual-screen setup. I am productive in having virtual conversations with clients and employees in front of my cool home office backdrop. However, when it comes to deep work, it’s been easier for my brain to get “frazzled,” as Cal put it. I am suffering from dopamine sickness.

Let’s make adjustments starting tomorrow.

• Refrain from listening to audiobooks or podcasts before sleep.
• Track smartphone use: get back to under 4 hours a day.
• Find other healthier ways to trigger dopamine production.
• Radical honesty in addressing compulsive overconsumption and addiction.

It’s slightly ironic, but I’ll revisit Deep Work soon and get on his other book, Digital Minimalism, next. I need to pace my consumption in a way that the dopamine comes from learning, not digital consumption.

Next: Partnerships