3 Things I Learned Last Week #75 – Pain, Productivity, and Dopamine

Welcome to the 75th edition of “3 Things I Learned Last Week”! 🌟

We’re about to embark on a journey through the wild jungle of my brain. Each week, I wade through the murky waters of the internet, wrestle with podcasts, and occasionally crack open a book (gasp!) to bring you the juiciest tidbits of knowledge.

Think of me as your personal Indiana Jones, but instead of ancient artifacts, I’m hunting for mind-blowing facts that’ll make you the most interesting person at your next Zoom happy hour.

Here’s this week’s haul of brain candy:

1. Why People Are Gluttons for Punishment (No, it’s not just a weird kink)
2. Slow and Steady Wins the Race (And Gets You a Promotion)
3. Your Brain on Dopamine: It’s Not Just for TikTok Anymore

Let’s dive in faster than your aunt Karen into Facebook conspiracy theories!

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🤔 Why People Prefer More Pain (Because We’re All a Little Masochistic)

Ever wonder why some people choose to watch all eight seasons of Game of Thrones instead of just reading the Wikipedia summary? Turns out, our brains are weirder than we thought (and that’s saying something).

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Duration Neglect: Your brain is like that friend who always underestimates how long it’ll take to “grab a quick drink.”
• Cognitive Biases: Your mind plays more tricks on you than a street magician in Vegas.
• Peak-End Rule: Life is like a bad romcom – you only remember the climax and the ending.

🎥 Watch this video to understand why you keep going back to that hot-but-toxic ex.

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🐢 Slow Productivity – How To Achieve More By Working Less (AKA The Sloth’s Guide to Success)

In a world where “hustle culture” is more prevalent than avocado toast, here’s a revolutionary idea: what if we all just… slowed down a bit?

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Do Fewer Things, Do Them Better: Quality over quantity – it’s not just for wine anymore.
• Work at Your Natural Pace: Embrace your inner sloth. They’ve been around for 64 million years, so they must be doing something right.
• Obsess Over Quality: Channel your inner Beyoncé – she didn’t become Queen B by rushing “Single Ladies.”

🎥 Learn how to succeed by embracing your inner couch potato here.

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🧠 You’re Destroying Your Mind – How to Control Dopamine (Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Brain Chemicals)

Dopamine: it’s not just for lab rats anymore! This little neurotransmitter is the reason you can’t stop scrolling through Instagram at 2 AM.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Dopamine Deficit State: When your brain becomes the neurochemical equivalent of a spoiled toddler.
• Dopamine Detox: Like a juice cleanse, but for your brain. And actually effective.
• Strategies for Control: Employ the “Rule of Pain Before Pleasure,” “Rule of Voidance,” “Rule of Barriers,” and “Rule of Boredom.” Or as I call it, “The Four Horsemen of Actually Getting Stuff Done.”

🎥 Discover how to tame your dopamine dragon and reclaim your life here.

That’s all for this edition of “3 Things I Learned Last Week.” If your mind isn’t at least a little blown, you might want to check your pulse.

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May your week be filled with more “aha!” moments than “d’oh!” moments!

Stay curious, stay weird,

~ Nathan

P.S. If you enjoyed this newsletter more than your morning coffee, share it with a friend. If you didn’t… well, you might want to reconsider your taste in beverages.