AstroBoy

For the last 3 months, I encouraged myself to take a dopamine detox. Let me explain. Dopamine is the brain's version of a high-five. When you get a LOT of Instagram likes, or binge your favourite Netflix series, your brain releases this hormone. For a short while, you feel warm and fuzzy. However. This feeling is addictive. You'll want to post more Instagram photos for more likes. Or perhaps you'll want to binge a few more episodes. When your source of Dopamine is a sub-optimal one, this addictive effect will have negative impacts on your life. Take the example of Netflix dopamine: - You'll be doing less exercise - Your sleep will be messed up - Your cognitive abilities impaired - More social isolation Etc. Compare this with for example, if your dopamine came from: - Physical activity - Achievements in your career - Mindfulness practice (such as meditation) - Volunteering/giving back to your community There is a concerning lack of awareness here. I didn't hear about dopamine detox myself until I saw @KoroushAK mention it in a post. Hopefully, this encourages one or two people to consider where they are getting their dopamine. Happy Sunday 🙏