What the Internet Does to Your Brain. And, How to Reverse It.

[CreamCat]

• The parts of the brain responsible for an activity is repurposed for activities that you do often
• Reading a book promotes the brain to develop the parts responsible for focusing on a single task for extended periods of time.
• The internet promotes the brain parts for distractions. The internet seizes our attention just to scatter it. The internet is built for distraction.
• You ultimately need discipline, but there are things that make it easier to focus on one thing at a time.
• Tips to help you get back deep focus
  • Promote healthy activities that build top-down attentional control
    • Like reading books
  • Make some environmental changes that make it easier to shake our bad internet habits
    • When you watch videos on youtube, watch them in fullscreen
      (I just use uBlock Origin to hide distracting elements. You can also use CSS to blur youtube video list.)
    • Read articles in reader mode so that you don't see distracting UI elements.
    • Limit heavy internet distractions to a certain window of time during a day.
      (Every day, I allocate 15 minutes to checking emails and notifications.)
    • Hide visual clutter on your desktop and your web browser. For example, bookmark bar.
  • Have more in-depth in-person conversations
  • Watch more movies. Pay attention to it for hours. Don't check phones while watching movies.
  • Commit to longer periods of time doing one thing.
    • Like watching movies and riding a bicycle.

Edited June 20, 2019 by CreamCat

[Sick Boy]

Agree on every tip. It's funny how we can't focus on watching a movie anymore.

Also, if anyone wants to know more about this topic, I can recommend Deep Focus, by Cal Newport.

He also address these problems created by modern living. And concentration is a foundational skill to develop in ANY area of your life.

[Harikrishnan]

When watching YT videos dont go and read comments.

[Aakash]

From my scientific knowledge, the internet becomes a need for quick spikes in dopamine levels. This literally means as soon as you click on that google chrome icon your dopamine levels have gone through the roof. Imagine clicking on the actualised.org website. Your brain is literally in heaven. 

This is very unconscious to us and so our habits become deeply embedded into our neurones. 

The reason why Twitter is so destructive is because it allows people to voice their opinions while they are on a high. It means that quick judgements are made. These judgements then give you a dopamine boost, since they are also one liners. 

To reverse the process: you must meditate and do nothing. Also use less internet time and really you should spend more time reading. The lack of pleasure you find from reading after you spend this time going on the internet will become your new base level of dopamine needed to feel very good. 

[Javfly33]

Thanks for the tips. Some of them I find them quite useful. However the CSS one made me laugh...like anyone knows how to code CSS, right? 

[Javfly33]

52 minutes ago, Aakash said:

From my scientific knowledge, the internet becomes a need for quick spikes in dopamine levels. This literally means as soon as you click on that google chrome icon your dopamine levels have gone through the roof. Imagine clicking on the actualised.org website. Your brain is literally in heaven. 

This is very unconscious to us and so our habits become deeply embedded into our neurones. 

The reason why Twitter is so destructive is because it allows people to voice their opinions while they are on a high. It means that quick judgements are made. These judgements then give you a dopamine boost, since they are also one liners. 

To reverse the process: you must meditate and do nothing. Also use less internet time and really you should spend more time reading. The lack of pleasure you find from reading after you spend this time going on the internet will become your new base level of dopamine needed to feel very good. 

Lol if you think Twitter is destructive, try Twitter porn. I am not that "addicted" to surf twitter "porn" but when I did, I remember if I would be like 7 days withouth entering twitter, the dopamine boost was so fucking high I got body temblors.  I am serious, not metaphoric, my body would shake of excitement at how much dopamine clicks it have ahead of it.

Edited June 20, 2019 by Javfly33

[Aakash]

@Javfly33 what is twitter porn? 

 

[Sick Boy]

I also don't know whats twitter porn... he's discovering us a new addiction   

[CreamCat]

8 hours ago, Javfly33 said:

try Twitter porn

Do you watch porn on twitter?

[CreamCat]

11 hours ago, Sick Boy said:

I can recommend Deep Focus, by Cal Newport.

I think you mean Deep Work by Cal Newport.

[Javfly33]

7 hours ago, CreamCat said:

Do you watch porn on twitter?

Yes, as far as I know, basically my main "fetish" only exists in Twitter. There´s quite people/models who basically make a living out of just doing that. Sharing particular content and particular services basically only inside Twitter, or similar apps. 

Not going to say which is here publicly however, because I dont think its the place haha, and also because i don´t consider it "my fetish" anymore. 

[CreamCat]

On 6/21/2019 at 5:44 PM, Javfly33 said:

Yes, as far as I know, basically my main "fetish" only exists in Twitter. There´s quite people/models who basically make a living out of just doing that. Sharing particular content and particular services basically only inside Twitter, or similar apps.

I can understand you. I also found some porns on twitter although they were not exclusively on twitter.