Ask HN: How are you preventing brainrot?

Hey there, full time software engineer of around 6 years here (post-grad). I’m using Claude Code half of the day now at work, I just can’t keep up with my team if I were to stop coding with AI. I’m more “productive” but my brain feels less sharp and am curious how others are staying sharp, I guess I just need to allocate time to learning new things again but wondering how others are dealing with this. Thanks!

4 points | by flyingcoder 2 hours ago

6 comments

  • wseqyrku 1 hour ago
    I self-quarantined ever since AI took over the industry and it's been the most productive year so far. I essentially take the next problem to tackle and go insane for a couple days until it compiles. Highly recommend.
  • pir8life4me 1 hour ago
    I stay sharp by using AI to explore things I don't know.

    Kinda works. Helps if you enjoy testing unusual ideas.

    • al_borland 1 hour ago
      I’ve been conflicted on this one, as I will ask it stuff I know a bit about and am looking at getting into the weeds on it, and it gives me bad info. Then I have to correct it to redirect it, and it’s eventually just a parrot. So can I really trust it to tell me what I don’t know at all?

      It also feels like another form of brain rot… it’s like arguing online, but worse, since I know for a fact it’s just a bot on the other end.

  • josh-wrale 2 hours ago
    Chess on phone, with people, but disable chat.
  • nicbou 1 hour ago
    I touch grass.

    The world out there is largely still there. You can get curious, read about it, join communities, ask people, practice skills and so on.

  • jxhx76 2 hours ago
    Move into Management.
  • andsoitis 2 hours ago
    meditate. exercise. fuck. read. go out. be bored. garden. travel.