> I procrastinate a huge lot ... by reading HN. But this also is my primary channel through which I get useful knowledge Speaking as someone in the same boat,

> I procrastinate a huge lot ... by reading HN. But this also is my primary channel through which I get useful knowledge Speaking as someone in the same boat, yes, this is pretty much what the pop concept "dopamine addiction" is meant to convey. I've also heard it called "intermittent variable reward" (which also may not be the correct technical term). You and I come here, and most of the time we get nothing interesting, but every so often -- just often enough -- there's something stimulating. And the brain remembers that stimulation, and "decides" that the wasted time does not outweigh the reward, and keeps wanting to go try again, hoping to get a juicy tidbit.