Lots of thinkers throughout history have pointed this out (David Hume and Seneca are the first 2 that spring to mind, but I'm sure there are hundreds more). Our mind doesn't work correctly when it's constantly focused, and as much as we think scrolling is not focusing, it is. The part of your brain that lights up and pays attention is active when you're zooming through content. There's nothing wrong with it, but like everything the dose makes the poison. You have to take breaks and balance it against other mental modes.

One formulation I like is the Kethledge and Erwin definition of solitude. They say that solitude is not so much physical isolation as it is a lack of input from other minds. What electronic media do (among many other effects) is flood your consciousness with the presence of other minds. Even if that mind is deranged, anti-social, or even pleasant, your own thought gets crowded out. I'm a huge reader, and I realize even books do this, although less oppressively than electronic media, which is why I think people imagine them as antidotes to this problem. But I think maybe the most important thing is to take a rest and don't let anyone else talk to you for a time, either in person or via media.

This essay I read recently speaks about solitude in a way you might find interesting. Basically how valuable it is to be in solute but also become sensitive to how it feels when you’re not getting influenced by other minds, as you say. https://www.henrikkarlsson.xyz/p/good-ideas

Turns out t-breaks works for social media too if you admit it's an addiction that it is. When you are in it day in and day out you don't realize how much time it's costing you without the benefits that you signed up for at the beginning.

Going on social media to talk about not going on social media. It's at least 50% as effective as actually not going on social media.

Come on HN is not social media, it doesn't even show cat memes

SVG pelicans count

Actually it’s about -100%, in fact. Given that talking about not being on social media is just another excuse for you to go on social media. Self-defeating and, honestly, quite dishonest.

In fact, doing this might be even worse than just doomscrolling, given that all you’re doing is massaging your own ego while doing absolutely nothing in favour of actualising what you are preaching.

This is something I've felt very deeply intuitively. (It's also something that it feels like my life actively optimizes against to prevent me being able to do it.)

Just want to say hello fellow culinary -> software engineer migrator.

Now you two just need to figure out the eventual transition into woodworking and you've officially done the lot ;)

oh trust me, I have made almost all of my furniture. It was inevitable.