Recently, I’ve been viewing these challenges through the lens of Algorithms to Live By by Brian Christian and Tom Griffiths. It turns out that the same logic used to optimize computer processors can help us navigate the "messy" constraints of human time and emotion.
1. Optimal Stopping in Harm Reduction
In computer science, the 37% Rule tells us how long to search before committing to an option. In my work with gambling harm reduction, we deal with the "search" for stability.
Many individuals struggle because they are stuck in a loop of "searching" for the next win to fix their problems. As a Care Coordinator, my role is to help them find an Optimal Stopping point. We use algorithmic thinking to recognize when the "cost" of continuing the search (gambling) outweighs any potential data gained. By applying a structured framework to decision-making, we help people move from chaotic impulse to calculated recovery.
2. Explore/Exploit: The Business of Inalambrica
Running Inalambrica is a constant battle between the Explore/Exploit Tradeoff.
- Explore: Trying new business strategies, networking, and taking risks.
- Exploit: Doubling down on what is already working to provide for my family.
Computers handle this by using "Interval Scheduling." I’ve learned that to keep the business thriving without burning out, I have to treat my time as a finite resource. If I spend too much time "exploring," the business loses its foundation. If I only "exploit," we become obsolete. Finding that sweet spot allows Inalambrica to grow while keeping me available for the most important "client" in my life: my daughter.
3. Caching and Presence in Fatherhood
One of the most profound concepts in the book is Caching—how computers manage memory. The "Least Recently Used" (LRU) algorithm suggests that we should keep what we need most right at the front of our minds.
As a father, I use this to stay present. When I am with my daughter, I "cache" my work worries and business emails deep in the hard drive. By clearing my immediate "RAM" (my working memory), I can be 100% present for her. This isn't just a "nice" thing to do; it’s an efficient way to live. High-quality time is more valuable than high-quantity, distracted time.
4. The Rhythm of Chanting: Reducing Computational Overload
Perhaps the most "algorithmic" benefit to my life comes from my practice of chanting. In a world of high Computational Kindness, chanting acts as a reset button for my internal processor.
- Noise Reduction: It clears the "background processes" of anxiety.
- Steady State: It provides a rhythmic, predictable algorithm that balances the unpredictability of my work in harm reduction.
- Lowering Complexity: When life feels like an NP-hard problem (one that is impossible to solve perfectly), chanting brings me back to a simple, linear path. It reminds me that I don't need to solve the whole world today; I just need to process the current "packet" of information with grace.
Living the Framework
By applying these "Algorithms to Live By," I’ve realized that being a "good" father, a "successful" business owner, and a "helpful" coordinator isn't about working harder—it's about scheduling smarter. We all live under the constraints of 24 hours a day. Using the wisdom of computer science doesn't make us less human; it makes us more capable of handling the beautiful complexity of being human.
Reviewed by Hernani Del Giudice
on
December 21, 2025
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