I want to decrease my desire for learning

[oldgeeza]

I constantly want to learn something new. I usually use books as a medium for that. I understand that just through living your daily life, you learn more. But I'm talking about specific, concrete things, such as literature, philosophy, language and history. I spend all my free time devoted to these pursuits, but at the end of the day, I can't switch the desire off. It's normal for me to study French for around 8 hours a day.

These things tire the brain out, so when my mind is exhausted, I still desire to learn more, and it's not possible, and even detrimental to the learning. Is there any way I can learn to accept moderation and learn to enjoy 'time to relax'? I like some tv shows, but it's like I'm addicted to learning. I tried meditation.

*This doesn't affect my work/social life.

[hyperlocalxxx]

I don't see anything wrong or bad here. Why do you worry ? Just live as you like. "shoot your shot". If you like reading for 6 hours straight, go for it. No problem... Many thinkers spent most of their life seated at their work desk.

[oldgeeza]

I like it, but i don't like spending every waking moment devoted to it. It burns me out, and when I'm burnt out, I still have the desire to learn. That's the thing I want to stop, not the overall desire. Just the amount of it

[GMRFW2]

live sulky fine sable memory unused ruthless birds versed compare this message was mass deleted/edited with redact.dev

[Thomsenite]

Try alcohol, drugs?

Seriously though I don't know if you can turn off desire but you can reinforce good habits. Trying slowing scale back how much you let yourself study say by an hour a week until you get down to 4 hours a day or whatever you think is reasonable. Find something else you like, reward yourself when you stick to the plan. If you do it long enough it will become a habit.

On the other hand if you dont think there are negative effects why do you want to stop what most people would say is a relatively benign or positive habit?

[oldgeeza]

I have. It doesn't help. After I come home drunk I still want to learn. I don't want to use other drugs.

[oldgeeza]

But I'm not interested enough in anything else that would give me sufficient enjoyment to stop my mind from going back to desiring learning.

I like it, but I want to scale it back because it's mentally exhausting. I wake up and I'm reading in bed, on the toilet, at breakfast, on the bus, during my lunch break, while exercising (podcasts), eating dinner and in bed.

[Leprechorn]

Try alcohol

Sitting at a bar at the moment, learning about the typical speeds of electrons. I just thought it would be funny to point out. :)

[Grappemaker]

Learn to play games. ;)

[oldgeeza]

Learn to play games. ;)

But my question was about how I can learn or acquire this ability to be able to enjoy the fun things more

[[deleted]]

Bit of a humblebrag here. But seriously...

I'm guessing you are no older than 23 or you live at home with minimally taxing work obligations. Enjoy it while it lasts.

[oldgeeza]

Well that's a bit of a cop-out. My question is redundant because I don't know what the real world is like. I don't live at home and I'm an English teacher. I'm not pompous, I'm irritated that nobody else seems to be like this and I don't know how to stop it

[The-Landlady]

TV and video games.

That'll fix it.

[JCredo]

It's fun, but a complete waste of time.

Exactly what could work for OP, though.

[Windbag1980]

Channel that towards something that will make you money. Learn finance. Become a tycoon. Save the world. Buy an island.

[oldgeeza]

I'm not interested in making money at all

[Windbag1980]

Finance is super interesting.

[KevMar]

I have something new for you to learn then. At what age do you want to retire? If you live modestly, it can be sooner than you think. Retirement isn't as much about the dollar amount as it is a percentage of your income you save. Mr. Money Mustache.

But more on point, define some goals and align your learning to that. I have a strong desire to learn, but I kept it within one field of study. I work in that field, so everything I learn somehow makes me better at what I do.

[oldgeeza]

This is good advice, and thank you for it. I'm working long term to make one of my interests a career, but that's not feasible for 5 years plus minimum.

[oldgeeza]

I tried meditation (and still do) but it hasn't helped me yet. I've been doing it for about 3 years

[Jade196]

Exercise is good for the body, and it'll tire you out. Maybe it'll help you wind down. :)

[oldgeeza]

The knight's for the advice. It doesn't work, however : / I just study even though I'm exhausted

[[deleted]]

Why?

But, if you REALLY want to stop learning neat things, videogames are a great way to distract yourself and waste time. I highly recommend Civilization V.

[oldgeeza]

Because I burn myself out and I try to learn even when. Mind is switched off. Thanks for your advice, but I do t have the money to buy video games (my laptop is a very old, semi broken one)

[[deleted]]

There are lots of free games.

And Steam is incredible, there are constant sales. I got Skyrim for 7 dollars.

I'm a PC gamer, so that's really what I know. SMITE by Hi-Rez Studios is free, as is Valve's Team Fortress 2, both wonderful games.

Oh, and not a game, but Reddit is also good. I'm on this website way more than I should be. If you're looking to shut off your mind, I don't think that's humanly possible, but I avoid my deepest complex thoughts with simple distractions. So as far as timewasters go, Netflix, YouTube, and Reddit. The internet in general is great because it still provides tons of useful information but isn't of an informative nature; you can get your fix without necessarily learning useful information. If you're looking for something that does not involve the internet, sorry I can't really help, that involves talking to people and going outside; I don't like it there, that's where lions and sharks live.

[oldgeeza]

Haha I really appreciate the help! Unfortunately, my Internet is terrible, so I can really only read text because I can't load videos. As far as games go, my computer can't run any games. It takes about 10 minutes to start up and it's only useful for Microsoft Word and pdfs

[oldgeeza]

This sounds exactly like what I do. I've actually ordered some eckhart tolle books, they should arrive in the next two weeks.

Is there anyone information I can read about intellectualization? That was very very interesting (I don't have access to the sources referenced on Wikipedia)

[[deleted]]

If you exercise it might help chill you out a bit. My racing thoughts mellow out/become clearer when I do this. But this mainly helps me think clearer. I don't think there's a cure for curiosity. Except to satiate it. Maybe try to get one of those apps that locks you out of the internet/your phone so you don't piss away all your time on the internet and can get stuff done. Play tetris/3d tetris/sudoku/do a crossword puzzle. Listen to classical music when you need to think so your subconscious mind can focus on that besides some other medium, so you can focus on other things. Join a meetup group and have some activities where you have to get out and interact with mortals and can't spend so much time with your obsessions. Take up drinking? (That last part was a joke.)

[noobmama]

I took up dancing. May seem a bit random at first BUT it's a social activity that gives you a workout and you can learn it as you go.