My cranium is enormous. The back of it protrudes like the hatch on a 1992 Saab 900. My forehead refuses to be contained by a hairline, despite daily oral minoxidil and the best efforts of the entire staff at Legends Barber Lounge in Columbus, Ohio.
Stored within my vast noggin are terabytes of information, far too much of it useless due to constant scrolling and clicking and texting and algorithms. Now, after a hard reset, my brain is recovering and being selectively refilled. Here’s how I’m getting my powers back.
I’m reading actual hard copy books. A bit of background: My love for reading developed early. In elementary school, I read a bunch of books and earned free pizza through Pizza Hut’s Book It program. As a teen, I worked at Waldenbooks and learned that sex scenes in romance novels were even better than what I could find on Skinemax.
As a young adult, smartphones became a thing. The constant dopamine rush pushed me away from novels, though I did manage to write a book that became a hit in Mansfield Correctional Institution after Uncle Boo (RIP❤︎) shared it with the homies on lockdown.
I’m now grinding through at least one book per month. The benefits: delayed gratification and increased mental perseverance, and of course, learning new words that make a ni@@a feel intelligent. Want some recommendations? My recent favorites: Gravel Heart, The Night Guest, Entitlement, Heads of the Colored People, Vantage Point, What Kind of Paradise, The Awkward Black Man, Harlem Rhapsody, and The Winner.
I’m also resetting my brain through exercise. The trick is to go raw when exercising. Not “raw” in the way that led me to have three kids, but “raw” as in walking, running, and lifting weights without a phone and earbuds.
This allows my mind to go on random deep-dives. While these thoughts are sometimes violent or otherwise socially unacceptable, it’s better than listening to yet another personal finance podcast or worse, murder rap. (No offense, 21 Savage. I’m still a fan.)
Lastly, I’ve been microdosing a miracle drug called marijuana, which is surprisingly legal in Ohio (it’s the only thing Dems and MAGA agree on). I don’t get stoned—usually—but a five milligram edible helps me destress and get into a “none of this really matters because agentic artificial intelligence is taking over life as we know it” mindset.
Speaking of legal substances, I’m drinking less alcohol. I still feel alcohol has social benefits for a shy guy like me, but it’s a brain drainer. High ABV Belgian tripels go great with Netflix, and I was downing one per night and/or sipping various wines from Trader Joe’s. These days I abstain a couple-few nights and wake up clear-minded with a lil’ more brain matter intact.
Next up? Maintaining set hours of when I can use my cell phone. Want to reach me during off hours…best come a’knockin’ or send a telegram. Come to think of it, in-person conversations with friends is also good for the brain.
-Dewan Gibson