Lately I’ve been thinking about brain rot.
Most people use that term to describe the mental decline that comes from consuming endless low-value content. TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and all the things constantly fighting for our attention.
But I started noticing some of the same patterns in my own life, and they weren’t coming from social media. They were coming from working in tech.
I realized that I didn’t have the focus or attention span that I used to. I’d sit down to do one thing and somehow end up doing three others first. I’d reread the same paragraph three times. I’d walk into a room and forget why I went there. I was still getting things done, but everything seemed to take more time and effort than it should have.
Technology is full of constant context switching. We jump from production issues to emails, meetings to messages, and code reviews to project planning. Every time we switch tasks, part of our attention stays behind. This is called attention residue, and over time it becomes harder to focus.
Then there’s attention overload. Too many notifications, too many priorities, and too many things competing for space in our heads.
AI has added another interesting challenge. It’s a great tool, but it’s also easy to let it solve problems so often that we stop exercising those same problem-solving muscles ourselves. This is called cognitive offloading.
The idea of taking a technology detox wasn’t originally mine, so I have to give credit to Adam Machanic for planting that idea. I decided it was time to challenge myself and try it, so I booked a cruise to Alaska. Yes, I also got my cruise advice from Brent Ozar.
For those who don’t know me, this probably sounds ridiculous. I’m scared of a lot of things, including public speaking, flying on planes, scuba diving, and heights. Which is funny because those are also most of my hobbies. I guess I have a habit of challenging myself and doing things that make me uncomfortable.
Six years ago, I couldn’t even ride an escalator. Cold open water and big ships have always been another fear of mine. Watching Titanic probably didn’t do me any favors either. Despite all of that, I went.
During the trip, I hiked, rode in a raft, and even kayaked. Somewhere along the way, I decided to learn how to play backgammon. I was also seasick for a good portion of the cruise. Looking back, I actually appreciated parts of it because I slept a lot.
More importantly, I didn’t check my email. I didn’t work on graduate school assignments. I didn’t think about production databases, migrations, presentations, or blog posts. For nine days, I disconnected from my professional life.
If you heard from me during that time, consider yourself special.
The worst part of any trip, however, is that my brain picked up a new skill. This time it learned how to order room service while I was sleeping.
I would wake up feeling full with no memory of ordering anything. Somehow, I was eating what could only be described as a Thanksgiving dinner while I was asleep. At one point, I woke up to find that eight meals had been ordered and eaten.
Apparently, even my subconscious knows how to enjoy vacation.
When I came home, I felt refreshed. My focus was better, reading was easier, and finishing things didn’t feel as difficult.
The experience reminded me that attention is like a muscle. If we never give it time to recover, eventually it stops performing the way it should.
I think many of us spend so much time searching for the next productivity system, AI tool, or time management technique that we overlook one of the simplest solutions. Sometimes the best thing we can do is unplug.
I know life is busy. We have migrations to finish, homework to complete, conferences to prepare for, and an endless list of new technologies to learn. The truth is those things will still be there when we get back.
Before I left, it felt like everything was urgent. There was always one more thing to do, one more project to finish, and one more responsibility competing for my attention.
We spend a lot of time investing in our careers, our education, and our technical skills. Those things are important, but taking care of ourselves should be important too.
Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is step back, recharge, and come back with a clearer mind.
For me, that meant taking a cruise to Alaska, facing a few fears, getting seasick, attempting to learn backgammon, and apparently ordering room service in my sleep.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll find every excuse to postpone taking a vacation. My advice is to schedule it. Put it on the calendar and make the time.
Go learn something new. Do something that makes you uncomfortable. Spend time away from your screens and give your mind the chance to focus on something different.
The best investment you can make isn’t another certification, another gadget, or another productivity app.
It’s yourself.
Leave a Reply