What if the most expensive waste of time is the chase itself—the endless loop of clicks, bites, buys, and swipes that never quite deliver what they promise? We pull apart the difference between a quick hit and a lasting glow, showing how the hedonic treadmill and dopamine’s “more” drive keep us busy but unsatisfied. Instead of vague self-help, we map the biology, the economics, and the philosophy—then bring it down to earth with raw stories about dating for the high, friendships that only exist at the party, and the quiet power of building things that outlast a mood.