Looking for some advice: Should I add books to my dopamine detox?

[pine sable]

I was thinking of doing a dopamine detox following the protocol mentioned by Matty in his video (https://youtu.be/gh2m0dj_lFk), and I was wondering if I should add books to it to? Fictional books specifically. Even when I'm not using my phone I get absolutely absorbed in reading Heroes of Olympus and it gets in the way of my life. Similar to watching videos on YouTube or binging a show on Netflix, when I start reading I keep at it for a very long time instead of studying. It's even worse because of the fact that books are generally accepted by everyone as a good alternative to binging shows on Netflix, but the guilt doesn't set in until after a long time. So, should I add it to the protocol too?

Looking for some advice: Should I add books to my dopamine detox?

Looking for some advice: Should I add books to my dopamine detox?

[bitter mason]

I think it's ok, cuz reading is like a good habit n gives u some dopamine too so u won't be too stressed n bored during ur dopamine detox, like ull still hav around 20% of dopamine

[pine sable]

It is, but like I mentioned, it's almost the same as binging shows on Netflix for me. I get like basically addicted to reading a book and I end up neglecting studying.

[bitter mason]

Then in that case maybe not cuz it affects ur studying, so basically anything that affects u like distracts u or make u procrastinate, don't do em that much during dopamine detox, u can still do a little depending on how long u plan ur detox to be, but if it's like 7 days then try to not do the things that normally distract u n make u procrastinate

[pale mason]

Wonderful thought process here, @pine sable . You're being super mindful about the way you're going about it, and that's exactly how you're going to get the best outcomes from your detox.

On the surface books are a great substitute to turn to. However, a dopamine detox is supposed to be specifically curated to your own lifestyle/"triggers". If you feel that books, specifically, are drawing you away from productivity as a source of dopamine, then add them to the do-not-use list. OR if it is a certain type of book/series, then you can avoid that type/series during the detox and switch to a new type of book that is outside of comfort zone. Maybe even continue leisurely reading, but switch up the media (e.g., paperback books --> newspaper articles).

[pine sable]

Thank you so much! If I find them to be too distracting I'll cut them out for the duration of the detox :)) Or, like you said, switch it up and read non-fiction books instead.

[umbral ocean]

Definitely for a detox, I'd recommend avoiding reading fiction books. Try reading non fiction instead, or as Mirii recommended news articles.

I have the same struggle, where if I pick up a fiction book, I never put it down until im done with it. It's pretty terrifying when I read the big long books 🤣

Knowing this, I tend to only allow myself to read these books on the weekend, during a break, or listening to it on a very long car drive (4+ hours).

It isn't too horrible to abstain for a week. Then you can work towards either building self control or just setting aside times and dates for reading fiction books ✨

[bitter mason]

But if I don't rly hav a habit of reading any book should I read during dopamine detox? Cuz I only read on my way to school or when I'm waiting for smth, n i usually read fiction books,but I just don't do anything when I'm bored, not even listening to music sometimes so should I put that (listening to music) in the can-do list? Like I seldom listen to music anymore before dopamine detox, still don't so idk if I should, like it's a habit that I wanna hav, idk the benefits of listening to music tho n sometimes it distracts me when im studying, ig I do listen to music but only when I'm like doing hw or studying which isn't the best idea, so to conclude, should I listen to music (with lyrics) and read fiction books during dopamine detox?

[pine sable]

Thankss and yes btw, the books in the Heroes of Olympus series have like almost 600 pages each. The Mark of Athena has around 580. It's pretty thick. It's not like the dimensions are small either. It's about 20cm - 25cm x 15cm or something.

I've read Rich Dad Poor Dad before, and at the time it seemed rather large, and I started Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus after, and then my father wanted to read Rich Dad Poor Dad too, so I took it out after a while and I was shocked to see to small it really was.