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My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

alexanderell.is

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Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#91

Post by wizzwizz4 »

eointierney wrote: post #84
sh4rks wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would love to do this, but years of mindlessly browsing social media has seriously shortened my attention span. I used to read books all the time. I remember staying up late as a kid just to read the new Harry Potter book. Nowadays I pick up a book, read a few pages, then immediately lose interest and go do something else. Anybody know how to get back into reading?

Just f*cking read :)

As much as I want to say this advice is terrible and useless… yeah. Move the things that aren't books far away, and read a book. When it's boring, put it down, but don't let go of it. Wait a few minutes, then move it back in front of your face and keep reading.

It's possible you picked a bad book, but it's more likely that it isn't engaging enough. It normally takes me a few days (after half a year book-free) to get back into reading, but it's worth it.

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#92

Post by sixstringtheory »

eointierney wrote: post #30
vedtopkar wrote: post #3

It’s honestly so bad. No matter how hard I try, I find myself re-downloading TikTok or Reddit (Apollo) every month and then wasting away all my free time for a week or two before re-deleting them out of disgust. I truly don’t know what the solution is. I would just get rid of my smartphone if life wasn’t quite inconvenient without it.

Read books I'm not joking, it's the best antidote to the thought-theft of "social media". Pick a subject in which you're interested, find a representively excellent text, and read. And then re-read, because unless you're a genius you won't absorb everything first time. Also it's wonderful to just curl up with a book and a cup of tea and let time pass you by as you ... learn the considered thought of others! This is c…

Also, write. I find it easier to remember things if I’ve written them down, so when I mix writing in with reading, I feel like I better retain the things I read.

Start with a quote you liked when you were reading and just let your thoughts flow into the paper, you might go for many pages and an hour or more before coming up for air.

I like to call the activity of reading and writing “conversing with the universe.”

Conversely, I find that I can dump hours into social media and not remember anything when I finally snap out of it. It’s junk food for the mind.

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#93

Post by magneticnorth »

sh4rks wrote: post #44
eointierney wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Read books I'm not joking, it's the best antidote to the thought-theft of "social media". Pick a subject in which you're interested, find a representively excellent text, and read. And then re-read, because unless you're a genius you won't absorb everything first time. Also it's wonderful to just curl up with a book and a cup of tea and let time pass you by as you ... learn the considered thought of others! This is c…

I would love to do this, but years of mindlessly browsing social media has seriously shortened my attention span. I used to read books all the time. I remember staying up late as a kid just to read the new Harry Potter book. Nowadays I pick up a book, read a few pages, then immediately lose interest and go do something else. Anybody know how to get back into reading?

I've had some luck by going back to "simpler" books for a while - page-turner scifi, bestsellers, YA literature. For a while I only read things that really grabbed my attention, and I think that is gradually re-training my brain.

I'm not back to being as avid of a reader yet, but I'm optimistic I'll get there. I'm reading more now than I have in a few years.

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#94

Post by reustle »

sodality2 wrote: post #38
herval wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This could seriously be a good commercial product!

Hey, don't beat me to the punch! I thought about it right after posting too, that might have to be my next side project.

Let us know when we can preorder or subscribe for updates :)

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#96

Post by vavooom »

herval wrote: post #33
sodality2 wrote: post #24

I'm still young so maybe my mind hasn't matured enough to where I can combat this well. So I went heavy-handed - I have a button on my desk that when I press it, my server's DNS server (through which all my devices and router resolve) begins rejecting requests to reddit, instagram, twitter, hackernews, news.google.com, etc. For the next two hours, there is nothing I can do outside of SSH'ing through my mobile device…

This could seriously be a good commercial product!

I would invest in this

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#97

Post by egypturnash »

morgante wrote: post #83
sodality2 wrote: post #24

I'm still young so maybe my mind hasn't matured enough to where I can combat this well. So I went heavy-handed - I have a button on my desk that when I press it, my server's DNS server (through which all my devices and router resolve) begins rejecting requests to reddit, instagram, twitter, hackernews, news.google.com, etc. For the next two hours, there is nothing I can do outside of SSH'ing through my mobile device…

What stops you from just changing your DNS server?

My guess is that changing the DNS server is work - enough work that your brain can say "oh wait I kinda didn't actually want to go to that time-wasting site, did I?" and find something less soul-sucking to do. Maybe some kind of work you're glad to do, maybe some kind of amusement that leaves you feeling better than getting lost in an infinite scroll of Content.

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#98

Post by vhiremath4 »

I’m on day 1 of 30 days of no social media, and I’ve kept all my apps on my phone and haven’t made any restrictions to me being able to access it. I feel like it’s helping me build up resiliency to saying “no” longer term with a reset period as the buffer for change. Wish me luck!

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#99

Post by egypturnash »

sh4rks wrote: post #44
eointierney wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Read books I'm not joking, it's the best antidote to the thought-theft of "social media". Pick a subject in which you're interested, find a representively excellent text, and read. And then re-read, because unless you're a genius you won't absorb everything first time. Also it's wonderful to just curl up with a book and a cup of tea and let time pass you by as you ... learn the considered thought of others! This is c…

I would love to do this, but years of mindlessly browsing social media has seriously shortened my attention span. I used to read books all the time. I remember staying up late as a kid just to read the new Harry Potter book. Nowadays I pick up a book, read a few pages, then immediately lose interest and go do something else. Anybody know how to get back into reading?

Go somewhere with shitty reception. Or just leave your phone behind.

Re: My lizard brain is no match for infinite scroll

#100

Post by cookingrobot »

sh4rks wrote: post #44
eointierney wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Read books I'm not joking, it's the best antidote to the thought-theft of "social media". Pick a subject in which you're interested, find a representively excellent text, and read. And then re-read, because unless you're a genius you won't absorb everything first time. Also it's wonderful to just curl up with a book and a cup of tea and let time pass you by as you ... learn the considered thought of others! This is c…

I would love to do this, but years of mindlessly browsing social media has seriously shortened my attention span. I used to read books all the time. I remember staying up late as a kid just to read the new Harry Potter book. Nowadays I pick up a book, read a few pages, then immediately lose interest and go do something else. Anybody know how to get back into reading?

Try bringing a book or kindle somewhere inconveniently far from your phone. A park, or bathtub or something.
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