Neurotransmitters 2: Dopamine
Dear Friend,
Welcome to the middle of summer and our email series on neurotransmitters. Since dopamine hits abound in summer, we’ll start with this “feel-good” hormone.
Hopefully, students are playing outside, jumping off high dives, swaying on rope swings, or sliding down waterslides. These activities flood their brains with dopamine, the big pay-off after trying something new.
Dopamine encourages students to seek out new experiences, take risks, and pay attention to danger.
It impacts self-discipline, self-motivation, decision-making, and a student’s ability to anticipate and evaluate the consequences of their actions.
Answer the following questions to examine what dopamine feels like in your body. Then, ask your friends or family, too.
Mindfulness Activity of the Week
Take Inventory of Your Dopamine Hits
- How and when do you seek out new experiences?
- What makes you want to take risks?
- Are you a thrill seeker? Do you pay attention to danger?
- How much time are you engaging in behaviors that are addictive, like scrolling, eating sugar, gaming, or even compulsive shopping? These behaviors also provide high dopamine rushes.
- Would you like to limit any of these behaviors, but the dopamine feels too good?
- What replacement behaviors can you swap for addictive ones? Could you give examples like eating fruit instead of sugar?
- You can track your progress. It’s helpful to compare results across different times during your day.
Movement Activity of the Week
Side Plank
Practice aligning your mind and your body by stimulating dopamine production. Try something new, like Side Plank.
