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Today I want to talk about DOPAMINE a neurotransmitter, which is a chemical messenger in the brain. It's the "feel-good" hormone because it plays a key role in:

1. Reward and Motivation: Dopamine is released in the brain when you experience something rewarding, which helps reinforce behaviors that are beneficial. It also motivates you to repeat those behaviors.

2. Movement: Dopamine is essential for regulating movement, and a deficiency in dopamine is linked to conditions like Parkinson's disease.

3. Mood Regulation: It helps regulate mood, and imbalances in dopamine levels are often linked to depression and anxiety.

4. Attention and Learning: Dopamine is involved in regulating attention, decision-making, and learning processes, which is particularly important for people with ADHD.

I recently started Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains which has opened my mind on how many bad habits I have that stifle dopamine or make it go hay wire.

Let’s dive in!

Dopamine
…What the internet is doing to your brain

We all know the internet is a game-changer, especially for entrepreneurs. It’s given us instant access to information, endless tools, and the ability to connect with just about anyone, anywhere. But have you ever thought about what it might be doing to your brain? Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains dives into just that, and it’s something every entrepreneur should take seriously.

The Cost of Constant Connectivity

The internet is a goldmine for entrepreneurs, but Carr argues that it comes with a price: our ability to think deeply. Between notifications, the endless need to multitask, and the habit of skimming through content, we're losing our knack for focusing on a single thing for more than a few minutes. As an entrepreneur, if your attention is always being pulled in a hundred directions, it's tough to really dig in and bring your ideas to life.

While the internet makes it easy to find answers and connect quickly, it’s not so great at helping us stay focused on complex tasks. And let’s face it: building a business isn’t about quick wins and shallow thinking—it’s about getting deep into the tough stuff, solving big problems, and making connections between ideas that others might miss. If you’re always multitasking or getting sidetracked by social media, you’re not giving yourself the mental space needed for the kind of deep work that makes big ideas happen.

Take Back Control

Carr’s book isn’t about quitting the internet cold turkey; it’s about being aware of how it’s affecting you and finding a balance. Here are a few things you can do:

- Set Aside Distraction-Free Time: Block off some time every day where you focus solely on your most important work—no phone, no email, no interruptions.

- Practice Mindfulness: Training your mind to stay focused, through mindfulness or meditation, can help counteract the constant pull of distractions.

- Be Picky with What You Consume: There’s so much content out there, but not all of it is worth your time. Be selective, and focus on the information that really helps you grow.

- Avoid Doom Scrolling: Starting or ending your day by scrolling through social media can easily lead to negativity, wasted time, and unnecessary stress. Instead, kick off your day with something productive—a morning workout, journaling, or planning your top priorities. At night, replace scrolling with reading, reflection, or another relaxing activity that helps you wind down without added stress.

The Entrepreneurial Edge

The entrepreneurs who understand the internet’s impact and take steps to protect their focus will have an edge. Deep work, creative problem-solving, and sustained attention are going to make you stand out in today’s distracted world.

Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows is a wake-up call: while technology is awesome, how we use it matters. If you want to build something meaningful, learning to stay focused and think deeply will be your superpower in the digital age.

Here’s what I am doing to take back control

Slow Mornings: Don’t jump right into work. I’ve made that mistake. Instead I have worked on reading, listening to music, sitting outside, and then diving into work. I reward myself with periodic social media checks.

Slow Evenings: It’s easy to doom scroll at night BUT - you can’t park a Ferrari going 70 MPH. In other words, you can’t fall asleep overloading your brain with dopamine. So pick up a book, listen to a podcast, go for a walk. Those are the healthy habits that will help you sleep better!

That’s a wrap
…see ya next week

Have a great rest of the week 🙂 

Derek