[wccrawford]

Reading through this, it identifies something that I've seen a lot of people say is a problem, and suggests that the way to solve the problem is simply don't do it sometimes, on a schedule.

While that may help, you've basically dedicated a portion of your life to not enjoying your life.

Instead, I've taken a different tack. I've chosen to do those addictive things less, but instead of not-doing-fun-things, I do fun things that are at least somewhat productive.

For me, that's making something or learning a new skill, usually in order to make something. Programming, woodworking, drawing, etc. Even just putting together Lego or Metal Earth figurines, though it's harder to justify them as "productive" rather than just fun.

I still play video games. But I don't play those mobile games with the "gacha" mechanics. It's not that I don't enjoy them, but that I realize they take over my life and are not productive at all. At all.

It's not at all easy to kick these bad habits this way, but it's way better than "dopamine fasting", IMO.

[anbotero]

You expect too much from the same people that complains about the simplest of things.

Yours is the most down to earth approach to these issues. No need to look for an extreme, or fast solution (which I think is what drives these things; no data to back it up). Just some dedication and moderation.

I don’t really like exercising, yet I try to find excuses to walk to the supermarket or to work (half an hour). I don’t really like drinking, much less destroying myself in the process, yet I enjoy the moments I share with my friends and drink in moderation... but very few times there is no moderation, which is the beauty of it! (Please don’t drink too much, it’s quite stupid)

People these days it seems cannot live without being in an extreme. There is no middle ground; no possibility of it either.

Keep it up. Nothing like a good balanced approach to enjoying life.

[tvanantwerp]

If you find it easy to live a moderate life, good for you. Many others don't find it easy at all.

[organsnyder]

It's hard when so much of commerce is conspiring against us. I truly enjoy using Facebook (in the absence of a non-evil alternative) to interact with family and friends, but every time I do so I have to fight the platform's design that optimizes for quantity of interactions.

I have tried doing a bit of woodworking when I need a break (I work from home), and I've found it's much better for my mental, emotional, and physical well-being compared to going down a social media rabbit hole (like I'm doing presently). Not only do I feel like I've accomplished something and have gotten some exercise, but it also doesn't usually suck me in for hours at a time—especially since I mostly use hand tools that tire me out fairly quickly.

tl;dr: rabbets instead of rabbit holes

[codyb]

Cooking and baking are my big ones. It’s tactile. There’s an end to each session (as opposed to most side projects which have a nigh on infinite set of potential tasks, or work which is much the same).

I’m on my feet. I usually don’t have music or TV on so my brain gets a nice bit of breathing time and original thoughts bubble up.

And then if I’m doing dishes maybe I will turn music on, get a bit of dance on.

I love the smells of things as they sauté, or roast, or bake. And the sounds of the knife hitting the chopping board, or the water coming from the faucet, or the coffee grinding and gurgling (especially in the mornings).

And then I get to eat something delicious (the vast majority of the time). And I love learning about new flavors, and how I can combine them and using new techniques with high quality ingredients.

Very pleasant. My Pops does woodworking and stained glass making and photography and cooks and bakes and I imagine it’s much the same. Tactile, not a lot of screens, on the feet, keeps the brain energized and making new neural connections.

Definitely better than looking at page 12 of Reddit (for me, although I do that sometimes too).

[castlecrasher2]

>It's hard when so much of commerce is conspiring against us.

It's true. I'm no health nut but I can't even consider a sugar-free lifestyle without going very much out of my way since everything has some sort of added sugar or sweetener.

[gordaco]

Honestly, staying away from "gacha" (and most, if not all, kinds of microtransactions) is just common sense at this point.

I also try to do interesting things that are productive (studying certain topics, writing code, etc). I'd like to think that anyone can find a hobby like that (playing a musical instrument looks like could work for a lot of people, for example), although judging from some people I've met, maybe I'm wrong. What I'm pretty sure of is that discipline can be learned, and that certain level of discipline is needed at least to kickstart a hobby.

[vorpalhex]

Gachas at least always contain an item, and a real one at that - not to mention they always list all the possible contents ahead of time. Quite a bit better than microtransactions on most platforms.

[cdiamand]

I share a similar perspective. I often wonder how much more creative and productive we'd be if video games suddenly disappeared, or if by magic, the internet shut off at 8pm every night.

I've observed that when the internet has gone down, or I've been unable to play videogames, I'm more likely to fill the downtime with building things.

[nine_k]

The internet is crucial for many people to be productive.

If by "internet" you meant "fscebook, twitter, Instagram and the like", you already see the problem.

I'd say that delaying gratification somewhat is key. If you stop the internal monkey from getting its immediate hit of dopamine, and get the conscious part of you involved, you can be productive and enjoy it.

[mercacona]

Maybe we assume that the internet is crucial to be productive (personally), but it might not be necessary. Productivity isn't just about checking tasks.

I mean, how mAny individual creative action require to be online once you chose tools that don't require it?

[shoes_for_thee]

I've suddenly found myself very much in favor of the reinstitution of blue laws... and sort of observing Sabbath. Shut down all the machinery once a week.

[vorpalhex]

When I need to take a break, I try to do things that are different from my norm. Instead of coding all day and working with electronics, I might go for a nice hike and spend some time camping or in a cabin.

The goal maybe shouldn't be to have a day of isolation and no enjoyment, but instead taking time to find enjoyment in different ways.

(Though, this raises the question - is there some woodsman out there who might take a vacation from hiking and outdoors-ing by hiding inside with a laptop and some videogames?)

[goactualize]

Who said you should spend a portion of your life not enjoying it? Engaging in a problematic behavior is sometimes enjoyable in the short-term, and usually not in the long. In my dopamine fasting 2.0 approach, I share suggestions of what to do during that time that is deeply satisfying:

"You don't need to “do nothing” or meditate during a dopamine fast (unless you’d like to). Just engage in regular activities that reflect your values:

- Health-Promoting (exercise, cooking) - Leading (helping, serving others) - Relating (talking, bonding over activities) - Learning (reading, listening) - Creating (writing, art)

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dopamine-fasting-new-silicon-...