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Internet addiction and the habit of book reading

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Re: Internet addiction and the habit of book reading

#341

Post by mleonhard »

nefitty wrote: post #323
mountainb wrote: post #149

The way to cure this is to develop a habit that severely limits undirected online browsing and socializing. Part of it is just an education of your own aesthetic sentiments. I read James Clear's "Atomic Habits" (not that this is a special book, I was just on another kick in which I really needed to improve my productivity and picked up a suggestion to use a physical counter of some kind to make a habit stick. I bough…

I am able to achieve this by supplementing with the amino acid precursor N-acetyl cysteine. I've done the container goal with paper clips, have used pomodoros, full-time accounting, to-do lists, commitment devices, aversion stimulus, and on and on. I don't use any hacks or techniques any more.

How much N-acetyl cysteine do you take and how often? How long have you used it and have you changed your dose or usage over time?

Re: Internet addiction and the habit of book reading

#342

Post by hiepph »

mountainb wrote: post #149

The way to cure this is to develop a habit that severely limits undirected online browsing and socializing. Part of it is just an education of your own aesthetic sentiments. I read James Clear's "Atomic Habits" (not that this is a special book, I was just on another kick in which I really needed to improve my productivity and picked up a suggestion to use a physical counter of some kind to make a habit stick. I bough…

I second "Atomic Habits". It's not my inspiration for building a habit (it' too dry and too methodological for me) but it explains some core ideas why habit is important. One of the main benefit is once you commit your habit, you do it without thinking and even arguing. For example, I commit to read several pages of book before bed time. I try to keep it everyday, even the holiday. Just one page is okay. The amount it accumulates is amazing. Now I already read 40 books per year and still counting.

* PS: my inspiration for building habit is Haruki Murakami.

"When I’m in writing mode for a novel, I get up at four a.m. and work for five to six hours. In the afternoon, I run for ten kilometers or swim for fifteen hundred meters (or do both), then I read a bit and listen to some music. I go to bed at nine p.m. I keep to this routine every day without variation. The repetition itself becomes the important thing; it’s a form of mesmerism. I mesmerize myself to reach a deeper state of mind. But to hold to such repetition for so long — six months to a year — requires a good amount of mental and physical strength. In that sense, writing a long novel is like survival training. Physical strength is as necessary as artistic sensitivity."

Re: Internet addiction and the habit of book reading

#343

Post by 0x008 »

dTal wrote: post #147
0x008 wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You might be interested in the book „dopamine nation“

Can it be condensed into a HN comment I won't get bored of halfway through?

She is on the joe rogan podcast where she explains most concepts.

Re: Internet addiction and the habit of book reading

#344

Post by somedude895 »

cmehdy wrote: post #281
aw9f70gae wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What kind of games? I’d like to stop playing addictive games and start playing games that are better for my mind.

Outer Wilds, Return of the Obra Dinn, for investigations and memory and "human puzzles". Manifold Garden, Opus Magnum (+ other Zachtronics game) for puzzle solving.

I had given up the hope of ever being as amazed by a game as I used to be as a kid, until I played Outer Wilds. It's truly a magical experience. And the soundtrack is amazing, it still gives me chills sometimes.

Re: Internet addiction and the habit of book reading

#345

Post by nefitty »

mleonhard wrote: post #341
nefitty wrote: post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am able to achieve this by supplementing with the amino acid precursor N-acetyl cysteine. I've done the container goal with paper clips, have used pomodoros, full-time accounting, to-do lists, commitment devices, aversion stimulus, and on and on. I don't use any hacks or techniques any more.

How much N-acetyl cysteine do you take and how often? How long have you used it and have you changed your dose or usage over time?

I take 2000mg. That's about 12-14mg/lb. I think I'm on the high end of dosaging. I've recently encountered reports of people getting unwanted effects like dulled emotions. That's part of what helps me be more productive. Procrastination is largely an emotional problem.

One factor that fits into my situation is that I think I have glutamine-glutamate dysregulation due to chronic stomach problems. NAC, GABA, L-Glutamine, lithium orotate all have drastic effects on me. That is a signal that serotonin and GABA production are screwed up in me.

I've been using NAC for about three months now, at the same dose. The effects are consistent, although not "noticeable" like a drug. It's more like the target lock mechanism in my brain starts looking for productive activities instead of hedonistic activities.

Re: Internet addiction and the habit of book reading

#346

Post by roeles »

camillomiller wrote: post #93
Fannon wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So I come from where you come from. However, I have mostly (60-80%?) retained my ability to focus on reading without distraction. But there has been something lost and sometimes it feels like an uphill battle to retain your ability to concentrate on one thing at a time. Would be curious what makes a difference here? I did some conscious choices, not sure how they contribute but I have the impression that each of them…

Very relatable list. Kindle also really ignited my love for reading again this year. I think it tricks my brain a bit into thinking “oh, it’s an electronic device anyway” :D Another thing that helped, was a bit of a challenge with my partner, reading books in bed together, and having reading dates, when we would just snug on the sofa reading each other their own book.

Love the reading dates, thanks for mentioning that!

Re: Internet addiction and the habit of book reading

#347

Post by hycaria »

cmehdy wrote: post #281
aw9f70gae wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What kind of games? I’d like to stop playing addictive games and start playing games that are better for my mind.

Outer Wilds, Return of the Obra Dinn, for investigations and memory and "human puzzles". Manifold Garden, Opus Magnum (+ other Zachtronics game) for puzzle solving.

Try the witness!

Re: Internet addiction and the habit of book reading

#348

Post by roeles »

anoncow wrote: post #57
wincy wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to read books all the time. I spent most of my waking hours as a teenager reading books. I’m 35 now and can barely hold attention on anything, I read maybe 3 books a year if I’m lucky. Even on Hacker News I almost exclusively read and comment on the comments, not the actual article unless I see someone says “have you read the article?” I don’t really know why. I have 8+ hours a day screentime on my iPhone, whi…

Somethings that helped me - 1. Delete frequently visited websites in chrome on Desktop and mobile and populate it with websites that you want to visit more frequently. 2. Create a new profile on YT and subscribe to channels you like that add value. 3. Keep a separate work phone. 4. Keep your personal phone away for certain times of the day 5. Read a book that you have been waiting to read on a dedicated Kindle or in…

Thanks for the list! #3 was a big thing for me.

As for #4, I have a place where I charge my phone out of sight. I normally have mobile data turned off, so I can switch off internet access by disabling WiFi without having to worry that I can't be contacted in case of a real emergency. This perhaps works better because I also implemented #3.

Re: Internet addiction and the habit of book reading

#349

Post by ekianjo »

wallacoloo wrote: post #184
ekianjo wrote: post #148

> In short, voracious readers ultimately become critical thinkers. No relationship whatsoever. You develop critical thinking when you are in touch with reality, or when you do stuff, more than spending your time in books.

is it the generalization you take issue with (i.e. the implication that reading of any kind in enough volume can teach critical thinking)? or do you actually take issue with the voracious readers of epistemology/philosophy of science/etc who are explicitly trying to use books as an aid to become more critical thinkers?

If anything they got the logic completely wrong. You are more likely to become a voracious reader if you have a propensity for critical thinking and curiosity.

Re: Internet addiction and the habit of book reading

#350

Post by mountainb »

wilkommen wrote: post #286
mountainb wrote: post #149

The way to cure this is to develop a habit that severely limits undirected online browsing and socializing. Part of it is just an education of your own aesthetic sentiments. I read James Clear's "Atomic Habits" (not that this is a special book, I was just on another kick in which I really needed to improve my productivity and picked up a suggestion to use a physical counter of some kind to make a habit stick. I bough…

Wow this is pretty interesting. In my experience checking social media is also a lot like a physical twitch. I might buy some marbles.

I have also settled on using an antique coffee tin to toss them in, so it starts the day with some satisfying 'ding' sounds. Not sure if I could get away with it if I didn't have a private office.
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