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by dkersten 2240 days ago
Do you find you have problems concentrating and focusing on things that interest you? Also, do you by any chance do a lot of high dopamine low effort activities (eg, videogames, social media, television, recreational drugs, junk food)? If yes to both then perhaps try a dopamine “detox” to reset your receptors.

I found that I was finding it harder and harder to do things that take effort, even if they interested me (programming for work or fun, reading mom-fiction material, chores, etc) but instead spent a lot of time on HN (errr..), youtube, playing videogames, eating junk food... By abstaining from all stimulating activities, to make “low dopamine” the new normal, I could make the payoff of high effort activities worthwhile again. Concentration and motivation improved.