The Friday Focus is a weekly newsletter where we highlight:
A piece of content we love so you don’t have to doomscroll to find something interesting
A tip to help you reduce your screen time
A quote that has us thinking
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Podcast We Love 🎤
In this episode of Lex Fridman’s podcast, Tim Urban discusses the inherent conflict between our brain’s ancient programming and the demands of our advanced civilization.
So much of our addiction to the things like social media or junk food is due to traits that have actually helped us survive. They’re programmed into our genes because they’ve been the best at survival for literally eons - being passed down from reptiles, to mammals, to humans.
But in the modern era, as technology continues to advance exponentially faster than evolution has a chance to catch up, these traits can be detrimental.
Our modern environment showers us with incessant dopamine hits, leaving us in a constant state of desire and overconsumption. This divergence from the settings our brains were initially conditioned for has resulted in a myriad of negative repercussions, affecting our mental well-being and overall health.
The first step to rewiring your brain and freeing yourself from your phone addiction is understanding why your brain is wired that way in the first place. This podcast is a great place to start.
Stop Scrolling. Start Living.
Want to stop doomscrolling? Join 20,000+ people who have downloaded the Present app and reduced their screen time by over 15+ hours per week!
Take control of your life and time today.
Tip to Reduce Your Screen Time 📱
Read a book!
Yeah yeah, I know I sound like an annoying snob by telling you to “read a book” - but it’s actually one of the best ways to avoid doom scrolling.
I used to love to read, but over the years I’ve gotten way out of the habit. Just felt like I “didn’t have enough time” or whatever other excuse I told myself.
But recently I picked up an amazing book that’s been really hard for me to put down, and I’ve noticed that my screen time is WAY down.
The common trigger times where I usually get stuck in a doomscroll - the morning, my commute, or at night - are now instead filled by my riveting page turner.
So pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read!
Quote That Has Us Thinking 🧠
"We live in this advanced civilization where so much of our natural programming tendencies actually hurt us and misfire, so we’re in a constant tug-of-war.” - Tim Urban
Thanks for taking the time to read today's Friday Focus!
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