The human brain thrives of novelty and exploration. When things get repetitive, your brain starts tuning it out. When you first learned to drive, it took focus and initiative and it was exciting. You had freedom! You could go fast! Your friends were jealous! Now, you can drive for 30 minutes and not even remember a moment of the drive. Your brain just tunes it out.
The nature of evolution caused us to be hyper aware of danger. New things can be dangerous -- old things are safe! Safe things can be ignored.
Your brain literally ignores the clothing on your body after just a few seconds of wearing it. Your nose (for those of you with a large schnozz like myself!) disappears from your vision -- your brain says, "That never moves, I don't need to see it," and erases it from your vision. If you focus, you see it, but if you don't... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
All of this is to say that common cliche we've all heard: variety is the spice of life. Passion is shorthand for your brain paying particular attention to something. When you are excited about something, it's because your brain thinks "Hey, if I don't pay attention to this, I might miss something important."
So the key? Variety. Spontenaeity. Try new things. In the world of computers, you may have solidly mastered programming, but try messing around with hardware. Try learning a brand new technology -- not just a new programming language, but a whole new way of thinking. If you're a backend engineer, try and build a mobile app. Consider experimenting with the new AI stuff that's the current rage, or explore retro computing.
Also consider expanding your repertoire -- the world is bigger than computers! (Join us in /r/outside!) Take up hiking, take up running, take up flying kites or canoeing or drinking a beer from every brewery in town. Join trivia nights, find friends.
The more you do the same (or similar!) things over and over, the more your brain thinks "That's not important," and the ho-hum becomes the hum-drums, and then you start thinking, "Do I have depression?"
Maybe you do. I'm not a shrink. But in my experience, and while working with my therapist, I've found that this working from home thing 100% of the time, and doing the same exact routine with my life every single day, has caused my brain to say "This is dull," and therefore I feel depressed.
I've started going into my work's office once a week. My wife and I go to trivia night once a week. I run or work out every day, but with different activities. I think of ways to give my dog novel experiences, too!
TL;DR: Passion is your brain on fire, but your brain doesn't catch on fire if it's safe. Mix it up. Inject variety. Your brain will thank you later.
(Disclaimer: I am not a therapist, and this is just my opinion. I hope it helps.)
Comments
The human brain thrives of novelty and exploration. When things get repetitive, your brain starts tuning it out. When you first learned to drive, it took focus and initiative and it was exciting. You had freedom! You could go fast! Your friends were jealous! Now, you can drive for 30 minutes and not even remember a moment of the drive. Your brain just tunes it out.
The nature of evolution caused us to be hyper aware of danger. New things can be dangerous -- old things are safe! Safe things can be ignored.
Your brain literally ignores the clothing on your body after just a few seconds of wearing it. Your nose (for those of you with a large schnozz like myself!) disappears from your vision -- your brain says, "That never moves, I don't need to see it," and erases it from your vision. If you focus, you see it, but if you don't... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
All of this is to say that common cliche we've all heard: variety is the spice of life. Passion is shorthand for your brain paying particular attention to something. When you are excited about something, it's because your brain thinks "Hey, if I don't pay attention to this, I might miss something important."
So the key? Variety. Spontenaeity. Try new things. In the world of computers, you may have solidly mastered programming, but try messing around with hardware. Try learning a brand new technology -- not just a new programming language, but a whole new way of thinking. If you're a backend engineer, try and build a mobile app. Consider experimenting with the new AI stuff that's the current rage, or explore retro computing.
Also consider expanding your repertoire -- the world is bigger than computers! (Join us in /r/outside!) Take up hiking, take up running, take up flying kites or canoeing or drinking a beer from every brewery in town. Join trivia nights, find friends.
The more you do the same (or similar!) things over and over, the more your brain thinks "That's not important," and the ho-hum becomes the hum-drums, and then you start thinking, "Do I have depression?"
Maybe you do. I'm not a shrink. But in my experience, and while working with my therapist, I've found that this working from home thing 100% of the time, and doing the same exact routine with my life every single day, has caused my brain to say "This is dull," and therefore I feel depressed.
I've started going into my work's office once a week. My wife and I go to trivia night once a week. I run or work out every day, but with different activities. I think of ways to give my dog novel experiences, too!
TL;DR: Passion is your brain on fire, but your brain doesn't catch on fire if it's safe. Mix it up. Inject variety. Your brain will thank you later.
(Disclaimer: I am not a therapist, and this is just my opinion. I hope it helps.)