2026-04 - W3

Productive procrastination — Max van IJsselmuiden

Guilty as charged! Did lots of side quests, without really be productive 😬

Our brain’s reward system is mainly focused around dopamine. Dopamine is released in response to reward-predictive cues, as found by Schultz in 1998. Immediately available stimuli generate stronger signals than abstract future stimuli. Our brains are trained to respond positively to new stimuli. Starting a new project feels exciting and thrilling because of this. This must be the reason why it’s hard to stick to a habit for a longer period, or why I personally always prefer wearing clothes that are new to me.

Humans have always been interested in the new. It has pointed us towards exploration and innovation.