Hi I’m Wynand
And I am a cheap dopamine addict.
I am not proud to admit it.
But alas, I can’t escape the image in the mirror. Or better, the image on the screen. That faded silhouette that lurks behind the next aimless TikTok video. Or any other “type” of cheap screen dopamine that we chase.
My addiction is similar to yours.
It started with my smartphone.
Perhaps it started before that. On a good old computer screen.
Truth is it started in the 80’s with the Double Dragon arcade game and Attari.
Let’s just say it has been a while.
And it feels good.
No doubt about it.
But with the smartphone invading every part of our lives it has become a serious issue.
A mindless issue.
A takes time away from everything important to me issue. It has interrupted my dreams. This added to my anxiety and simply left me feeling unfulfilled.
It has added to my internal jealousy of seeing what other people have. The “perfect” lives they live.
Like most drugs, it is getting harder and harder to get the next cheap dopamine kick. It takes more aimless scrolling. More information.
And it is time we stop chasing cheap dopamine. (Perhaps this might be helpful?)
And no, I am not preaching to you. I am as addicted as you are.
But it is time to stop,
Big question of course is how.
How do we crush this addiction?
Go cold turkey.
Sweat it out.
Getting irritated.
Just one little video?
I do not know exactly. A lot of my daily work life depends on the smartphone device.
So this will be my plan:
- Read more. I have always been a reader. Lost that over the years because I thought videos were better. Reverting back to reading. Fiction and non-fiction. Fiction instead of binge-watching series. Non-fiction to study and feed my mind again. As a sidenote: The most successful and fulfilled period in my life was when I was an active reader. I don’t have stats for this but in my gut, I know this to be true.
- Become a contributor instead of a consumer. I would rather focus on my personal and professional life to leverage these channels to add value. Yes, it is a weird loop. I don’t intend for you to get “hooked” on cheap dopamine by contributing. That is why I will focus on writing.
- Getting active. Start adding good dopamine to the system. Picking up a sport again. I am considering Paddle or getting back into tennis at the time of writing.
- Blocking deliberate time away from my phone and screens. Spent time outside. Play more with the boys.
- Starting my mornings without a screen and end my evenings without a screen.
- Hiding my go-to apps from easy access. Like I mentioned before, I need to check social media from an occupational standpoint regularly so, deleting it is not possible.
- Trying to focus my watching time on my desktop instead of my mobile.
- Writing more. Yes, it ties in with the point of being a contributor.
So that will be my game plan to stop my cheap dopamine addiction. Will it work? I don’t know, but I will give it a shot.
Until next time.