Why You Can’t Focus: How to make work more addictive

We often think that focusing on work is a matter of willpower

In a world overflowing with distractions, I’ve found that focusing on work feels harder than ever. For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out why it was such a struggle.

Then in a somewhat ironic twist, while I was wasting time browsing Instagram — yet again — I stumbled upon the real culprit: my brain’s constant hunt for dopamine. And the more I learned about it, the more I realized I wasn’t lacking discipline, I was just wired to chase quick rewards.

I’d sit down, determined to get things done, but before I knew it, I’d be reaching for my phone or scrolling through social media, wondering where the last hour went. It was frustrating.

My brain wasn’t “against me” when I couldn’t focus — it was just following its instinct to chase whatever made it feel good in the moment. Once I understood how dopamine shaped my decisions, I realized that I could actually take control of it. And when I did, work didn’t just become easier — it actually became more enjoyable.

Let me share how this shift changed everything for me.

The Brain and Dopamine: Why We Crave Distractions

Understanding how dopamine influences our decisions is key to creating an environment that promotes productivity.