Hacking brain's reward system
How to get things done more quickly
Dopamine.
The “feel good” hormone.
You probably have heard about it many times, but do you know what it does?
Yes, it’s related to happiness and desire, but it’s much more complex.
Let’s take a deep dive, shall we?
How dopamine really works
Dopamine is a hormone that deals with expectations.
If you have low expectations from an activity, but it turned out well, then your dopamine levels increases.
If it’s the opposite, then your levels decrease, simple as that.
What’s more interesting is that dopamine reinforces habits.
That’s why it’s hard to quit playing video games or eating junk food.
Dopamine itself is more about motivation, than about happiness. Also, it isn’t necessarily a bad hormone that needs to be totaly eliminated - your body and brain needs it in a certain amount.
Making every activity fun
We can take advantage of dopamine and we can make activities fun by following these steps:
Make the activity visible: set clear goals, have visual reminders
Have no entry expectations: don’t think about making it perfect
Focus on small improvements: be consistent and patient
Use rewards: reward yourself after reaching new milestones
Set challenges: try to become better by using daily challenges
The hidden hero… Serotonin
We spoke a lot about dopamine, but what about serotonin?
Well, serotonin is one another hormone that regulates your mood and well-being.
It’s often triggered when doing purposeful activities like following your passions.
So, here’s how you can boost your serotonin:
Exercise and be active
Get enough sunlight and fresh air
Have positive social connections and conversations
Improve your gut health (about 90% of serotonin is produced there)
Have restful sleep
That’s all for today! Hope you found this post useful and, as always, don’t forget to check out our other posts and join our chat!
