this is why nothing feels exciting anymore

Have you ever notice how nothing really hits anymore?

Like… music still plays, memes still make you laugh, TikToks still go viral —

but you don’t actually feel it.

Not like before.

That excitement you used to feel when something new happened…

It’s kinda gone.

And I think I know why.

The overstimulation loop

I don’t think we’re broken.

I just think we’re way too stimulated.

For me, it started slowly.

Wake up → check phone → quick scroll → coffee with YouTube → work tab open → music in the back → another scroll → back to work.

No real silence.

No real boredom.

And over time, no real joy.

Because if your brain is always chasing the next hit,

you train it to never be here.

The dopamine science

Every time you scroll, swipe, or refresh,

you get a tiny dopamine spike.

Not satisfaction — anticipation.

Over time, your brain adapts.

It needs more stimulation to feel anything.

Which means… the highs fade.

And so do the normal moments.

You’re not lazy. You’re overstimulated.

You stop feeling.

You stop thinking.

You stop dreaming like you used to.

Everything just becomes… grey.

And boredom, which used to be the birthplace of ideas and creativity is gone.

The numbers will scare you

• Avg screen time = 3.5 hours/day

• That’s 24.5 hours/week

• That’s 1,274 hours/year

• That’s 53 full days of your life. Every year. Gone.

Now imagine what you could do with 53 extra days.

The real cost isn’t time — it’s aliveness

We think we’re tired.

But really… we’re just numb.

No stillness. No presence.

Just noise.

And if you never disconnect — you never really connect.

How I’m breaking the loop

Here’s what I’ve been doing. Simple shifts that work:

1. 1 hour a day with no input

   No phone. No music. No stimulation. Let your mind wander again.

2. Grayscale your phone

   No colors. Less reward. Your phone becomes boring — in a good way.

3. Delete all entertainment apps for 7 days

   Cold turkey. It hurts. Then it heals.

4. Track screen time like money

   Treat your hours like currency. Because they are.

5. Create more than you consume

   One reel > 100 scrolls. One idea > 1,000 likes.

What you get back

You feel music again.

You think clearer.

You laugh harder.

You remember stuff.

You feel human again.

That’s the win.

The 7-Day Clarity Challenge

For the next 7 days, try this:

Morning

→ Delete one app that distracts you most

→ Set 1 intention for the day (on paper, not your phone)

Afternoon

→ Spend 30 minutes alone, no input — just you and your thoughts

→ Create one thing: a thought, a note, a post, a project step

Evening

→ Write down what you noticed without the noise

→ Ask yourself: Did I actually feel alive today?

Do this for 7 days and watch what comes back:

Clarity. Creativity. Direction.

Maybe even joy.

Because life doesn’t happen in the scroll.

It happens in the quiet in between.

Just one life,

Richard

Founder, Elevenstoic

P.S. If you’re ready to build an aesthetic, powerful brand like Elevenstoic — one that helps others while giving you freedom — check this out: 👉 https://elevenstoic.com