I was at a dinner recently where I casually mentioned:
"I'm actively trying to deny myself what I find interesting."
I didn't mean much by it, but the statement raised a few eyebrows.
"Are you okay?" "Do you want to talk about it?"
Actually, yes.
This isn't some grand rejection of what is interesting.
It's a disciplined pursuit of more valuable.
Let's talk about it.
The human brain is a remarkable machine.
Capable of complex thought. Incredible processing speed. Handling multiple streams of information at once.
But it has its flaws.
It's drawn to novelty. It craves stimulation.
It watches reality TV. It wants to know the latest gossip. It follows world events it can't influence.
Not because these things are valuable.
Because they're interesting.
It's very difficult to control what your brain finds interesting.
Just because you want to stop an interest doesn't mean your brain will cooperate.
That's the problem.
So I'm trying something different.
I'm actively resetting my inputs.
Denying myself what is interesting, and focusing on what is valuable.
The goal is that this gives me more time, attention and clarity for the things that are actually valuable to me and my life.
Marriage. Family. Business. Creating. Friends. Reading. Health. Dogs.
Removing anything that isn't valuable.
Let's walk through a simple example.
You hear about some drama between two actors you enjoy watching.
There's a video.
You'll almost certainly find it interesting.
You'll almost certainly get no value from it.
Scenario A:
You watch the video.
That's it.
You think about it briefly, then move on.
No learning. No application. No compounding.
Just an input with no return.
Scenario B:
You watch the video and mention it to someone.
"Did you see that clip?" "I did. It was crazy."
Conversation ends.
Now it's taken more of your time, still with no return.
Scenario C:
You watch the video and spend hours discussing it.
Now there's a "return" in the form of conversation.
But is that what you want your attention and relationships to be built around?
Talking about people you've never met, and never will?
That's an even greater cost in my mind.
That's one example of thousands.
There could be gossip between coworkers.
There could be a podcast episode with a competitor.
There could be the latest AI tool that promises to 10x your output.
Every single day, you're presented with opportunities to give your attention to something interesting.
Most of them provide no real value.
Most people let interest lead.
I'm trying to reverse that.
Start with value.
Then allow interest to follow.
Because something can be both valuable and interesting.
But something that is only interesting is rarely valuable.
One caveat:
Enjoyment is valuable.
If something brings you genuine enjoyment, that counts.
This isn't about eliminating everything that isn't productive.
It's about being intentional with your attention. Actively choosing what you give your time to.
I'm just holding up a mirror.
And asking you to pause, just for a second, before you give something your attention.
If it doesn't change how you think, what you do, or who you become — it's probably just interesting. Not valuable.
I'd recommend making a list of things you know you find interesting — but also know aren't valuable.
This creates awareness.
And more importantly, it creates a pause when something interesting appears.
You're far more likely to make a better decision if you've already decided in advance.
Here's my list. Feel free to borrow it.
If you know me personally, help keep me accountable.
I want all of us to engage with what is most valuable and nothing else, so we can live the most valuable lives we can.
World news
I have no influence over it, and most of it doesn't impact my day-to-day life. If something truly matters, I'll hear about it.
Gossip
A complete waste of time, and a poor way to spend a conversation.
People no longer in my life
Old friends and people from school — they're strangers to me now. Keeping up adds no value.
Social media
I'm actively reducing consumption and focusing on creation. Most content is low-value and designed to deliver cheap dopamine.
YouTube
An incredible tool when used intentionally. But it's built to keep you watching forever. I've unsubscribed from almost everything.
Movies & TV
I still watch what I genuinely enjoy. But I'm no longer "keeping up" just to stay relevant. If it's not something I love, it's not worth the time.
Reality TV
It's not reality. And it's barely worth calling TV.
Notifications
Most are just interruptions disguised as urgency. Very few actually require immediate attention.
Constantly checking email creates the illusion of productivity. Most emails don't move anything forward.
Endless learning without application
Podcasts, courses, articles — all useful. But without action, they're just intellectual entertainment.
Comparing yourself to others
You're comparing your day-to-day to someone else's. It rarely leads to anything productive.
Debating things you can't influence
Politics, opinions, internet arguments. High emotional cost, zero tangible return.
Perfectionism on low-impact tasks
Spending extra time polishing something that doesn't materially change the outcome.
Checking metrics that don't matter
Likes, views, impressions — interesting, but often not valuable unless tied to real outcomes.
Revisiting old decisions
Second-guessing choices you've already made instead of moving forward.