Why is it easier to focus on things that we don’t have to do (like watching YT, TV shows, movies etc.) rather than things we “must” (for example studying, working out, going to job, finishing project and so on) ?
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I think that has many reasons. For one the things you mentioned all usually don’t require much focus in the first place. Like unless you somehow work with the music, seriously try to learn something from youtube videos or try to analyze tv shows you’re usually just there ignoring most of what isn’t part of that satisfaction you’re after.
That’s the second point, studying, working out or doing some job usually require actual focus without bringing immediate satisfaction. So while watching a tv show provides some “value” (as in hormone response) without much work, actual work has quite little “return on investment”.
Thirdly it depends on your interests. I for instance have a hard time studying but at the same time I can easily work for hours on end, even in my private time, on projects related to my student job. Why? Well because the process of studying often involves a lot of work without any results while my job, software engineering, is fun to me and provides immediate results (even though not necessarily positive).
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