[jimmysong]

I'm going to guess that you're going to get more mileage out of cutting something out of your life than in adopting yet another mindset, habit, drug or whatever. Some possible things that might work:

* youtube/netflix

* social media

* news

* sugar

* video games

These are the things your brain goes towards automatically as an easier "win" than in facing the harder problem. Cutting them out will leave room for you to face harder challenges.

[nimaco]

>These are the things your brain goes towards automatically as an easier "win" than in facing the harder problem. Cutting them out will leave room for you to face harder challenges.

This completely changes my perspectives as to why I get up from my desk to go grab a snack, look at my phone, etc. Thank you

[solinent]

It's interesting you mention sugar. There's also a biological component here--diet plays a huge role in how your brain works.

For example, on a ketogenic diet (no sugar and limited carbs) your brain produces ketones and many people report far less lethargy.

Sugar helps in the short-term, but if you get past the keto-flu, you no longer become glycogen dependent. Long-term ketogenic diets are now finally being studied, with many people reporting tremendous success.

Psychiatrists love giving you sugar and drugs though. Any drugs, any sugar!

[Freeboots]

Do you think this would have the same effect on someone who had a legitimate underlying issue (eg adhd)?

I just ask because its the standard response along with sleep and exercise, and I cant help wonder if it "works" because people without real underlying issues get some marginal benefit, or if it actually works for people with issues.

[arkanciscan]

ADHD can be exacerbated by low energy. Some psychiatrists recommend eating sugar to help maintain focus.

As for the other stuff, if I cut those out I get miserable and more easily bored. Better to use them as carrots; "if I do 45 minutes of coding I can play 1 game of Rocket League."

[taylorlunt]

> As for the other stuff, if I cut those out I get miserable and more easily bored.

In my experience this is temporary. It takes about 1-2 weeks for my brain to adjust to the "new normal" of not playing video games or binging youtube. These 1-2 weeks are quite boring, but after that I am able to find things I would normally be bored by interesting. It's as if there is a "boredness set point", and once you cut out the most stimulating activities, less stimulating things like coding or reading will become more interesting to you.

That said, I like video games and youtube videos, so I often go for a middle-ground approach like you.

[arkanciscan]

I don't want my "normal" life to not include anything that gives me joy.

[Insanity]

That requires quite a bit of discipline to keep with the "just one game". Or, I'm just too addicted to video games, but I don't see that working for me.

Work time is for work, and after work I can game. If I need a break during work I'd rather just read hackernews for a bit. Less addictive :P