Digital consumption keeps me from getting better at my job

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Digital “doomscrolling” and always-on learning are leaving many knowledge workers feeling less focused, less creative, and paradoxically less skilled at their jobs. Commenters describe cycles of overconsumption—HN, Reddit, “edu-tainment,” productivity advice—that feel productive but displace deliberate practice and deep work, while also noting that some level of information intake is necessary to stay relevant. Proposed remedies range from strict digital diets and eliminating social media to more moderate approaches like setting consumption budgets, tying learning tightly to concrete projects, and using techniques such as body doubling or pairing to protect focus.

Digital Overconsumption and “Fake Productivity”

  • Many relate to consuming “educational” content (videos, blogs, posts) that feels productive but doesn’t translate into doing real work.
  • Several note the trap of chasing productivity systems, “internet diets,” tools, and thought-leader advice instead of actually building things.
  • Overabundance of information leads to FOMO, endless bookmarks/tabs, and a sense of always being “late,” which discourages deep study (e.g., sticking with a book for months).

Discipline vs. Deeper Causes

  • One camp emphasizes pure discipline: just stop consuming, like quitting junk food; greatness requires sacrifice.
  • Others argue this is incomplete or harmful, especially for people with ADHD, depression, or poor executive function; they need tailored strategies, not shaming.
  • Some reject “champion” or hustler ideals altogether, advocating “everything in moderation” and questioning why life must be optimized so hard.

Consumption vs. Creation: Practical Strategies

  • Suggestions include:
    • Digital declutters and “information diets.”
    • Deleting social media accounts, using dumb phones, blocking sites, or using tools to limit video/social feeds.
    • Setting “budgets” (e.g., 1:3 rule: 10 minutes of input → 30 minutes of hands-on work), reflection, note-taking, and connecting ideas across sources.
    • Tying learning to concrete projects and problems rather than open-ended browsing.
  • Some use LLMs or curated HN/reddit feeds more deliberately, but acknowledge these can also become time sinks.

Social Media, ‘Good Content,’ and Self-Delusion

  • Debate over whether HN/Reddit are fundamentally different from other social media; some see them as “healthier,” others call this self-deception.
  • Distinction is drawn between content that nourishes long-term growth vs. short dopamine hits, though what counts as “good” is contested.

Work, Focus, and Collaboration Patterns

  • Pair/mob programming and “body doubling” are praised for preventing distraction and raising focus, especially for ADHD.
  • Others find mobbing performative, creativity-killing, or exhausting; benefits depend heavily on implementation and voluntariness.

Career Growth vs. Optimization Anxiety

  • Several argue that simply showing up consistently, doing solid work, and building relationships matters more than constant self-optimization.
  • There’s discussion about workplaces where productivity is vs. isn’t tied to job security, and how that shapes motivation and burnout.