---
title: Gaming Ourselves
description: With ADHD, it's easy to have the desire to “game” ourselves into motivation. This episode explores what a more honest path to productivity might look like.
image: https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/Gaming%20Ourselves%20Featured%20Image.jpg
---
[](https://www.kouroshdini.com)
- [Blog page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog)
- [Podcast page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/podcast)
- [Music page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/music)
- [Courses & Books page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/courses-and-books)
- [Psychoanalysis page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/psy)
- [About page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/about)
- [Contact page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/contact)
- [Waves of Focus page](https://www.kouroshdini.com/waves-of-focus)
[](mailto:kmdini@gmail.com)
[Return to Blog](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog)
# Gaming Ourselves
Apr 10, 2026
> Maybe if I trick myself. Maybe if I reward myself. Maybe if I use that app that gives me points, sparkles, and fanfare, I'll get my chores done.
The idea of dopamine dependence or perhaps a dopamine starvation is often a suspect in the world of ADHD and wandering minds. If I only had more dopamine I'd get things done.
The phrase is supported by the idea of an "Interest-based" nervous system - this idea that has somehow been interpreted to mean that we can only do things that we have an *a priori* interest in, effectively arguing for a lack of free will.
And so, some of us look for ways that we can "game" ourselves.
- Maybe we consider ways to set up a points system for which chores are worth something.
- Maybe we turn our to-do list into a set of quests with levels, loot and the like.
- Or how about "how fast can I clear this Inbox?" reminding me of trying to get a kid to get their shoes on in the morning by asking them to race out the door.
- Maybe we even use a chemical like coffee after the work report is done, quite literally trying to get a flush of dopamine after doing something we'd otherwise avoid.
If it works for you, great.
But I believe, more often than not, it works once or a few times, but then some part of us, starts to say "no."
Why? Because we have been dishonest with ourselves.
In today’s episode, [Gaming Ourselves](https://rhythms-of-focus.captivate.fm/episode/gaming-ourselves-for-motivation/), we explore the need honesty, what the real idea behind “gaming” might be, and what an honest path forward might look like.
- Kourosh
Listen to the podcast episode below, and/or subscribe on your favorite podcast app.
Share this article
## Recent Articles
[](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/adhd-productivity-dopamine-struggle)
#### [I'm Sorry. I Can't Do the Laundry. I Just Don't Have the Dopamine.](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/adhd-productivity-dopamine-struggle)
Sep 18, 2026
Sorry, I can't do the laundry. I just don't have the dopamine. I saw this post on Instagram. It was funny. I l...
[](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/you-dont-need-another-list-you-need-a-better-prompt)
#### [You Don't Need Another List — You Need a Better Prompt](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/you-dont-need-another-list-you-need-a-better-prompt)
Sep 11, 2026
Maybe I just need another list. Things are piling up, something slips. Deadlines creeping up. Project we were ...
[](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/single-threading-ai-adhd-and-the-cost-of-switching)
#### [Single-Threading: AI, ADHD, and the Cost of Switching](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/single-threading-ai-adhd-and-the-cost-of-switching)
Sep 04, 2026
Recently I've found myself bouncing around between eight or nine different open threads with my AI, choosing o...
[Return to Blog](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog)
## Publications
Over the years, I’ve written five main works on productivity. Sign up for the Weekly Wind Down newsletter to get free previews.
 
[See all the publications](https://www.kouroshdini.com/courses-and-books)
- [Kourosh Dini Instagram (opens in new window)](https://www.instagram.com/kouroshdinimd/)
- [Kourosh Dini LinkedIn (opens in new window)](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kouroshdini)
- [Kourosh Dini X/Twitter (opens in new window)](https://x.com/kouroshdini)
- [Kourosh Dini YouTube (opens in new window)](https://www.youtube.com/c/KouroshDini)
### Contact Us
If you have a clinical matter, please call.
For books and productivity matters, please email.
- [1020 South Wabash Ave, Unit 4G, Chicago, IL 60605 (Opens Address in google Maps)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/7agnPcDjwB6PRNuX6)
- [312-391-3171 (opens phone dialer)](tel:+13123913171)
- [dinigroup@kouroshdini.com (Opens mail application)](mailto:dinigroup@kouroshdini.com)
- [Home](https://www.kouroshdini.com/)
- [Blog](https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog)
- [Podcast](https://www.kouroshdini.com/podcast)
- [Music](https://www.kouroshdini.com/music)
- [Books & Courses](https://www.kouroshdini.com/courses-and-books)
- [Psychoanalysis](https://www.kouroshdini.com/psy)
- [About](https://www.kouroshdini.com/about)
- [Contact](https://www.kouroshdini.com/contact)
- [Privacy Policy](https://www.kouroshdini.com/privacy-policy)
- [Terms & Conditions](https://www.kouroshdini.com/terms-and-conditions)
© 2026 The Dini Group, Ltd.
```json
{
"@context" : "https://schema.org",
"@type" : "BlogPosting",
"author" : {
"@type" : "Person",
"name" : "Kourosh",
"url" : "https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/author/kourosh"
},
"dateModified" : "2026-04-10T17:04:59.944Z",
"datePublished" : "2026-04-10T17:04:59.000Z",
"headline" : "Gaming Ourselves",
"image" : [ "https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/Gaming%20Ourselves%20Featured%20Image.jpg" ],
"mainEntityOfPage" : {
"@id" : "https://www.kouroshdini.com/the-dini-group-ltd-blog/gaming-ourselves-adhd-and-motivation",
"@type" : "WebPage"
},
"publisher" : {
"@type" : "Organization",
"logo" : {
"@type" : "ImageObject",
"url" : "https://www.kouroshdini.com/hubfs/logos/kourosh-logo.svg"
}
}
}
```