A dopamine fast can be mightily invigorating over time, but doing it wrong will only make your feelings worse. I talk about this in the book in Part II, but here's a place to begin:
During a dopamine fast, limit dopamine-driving activities such as social media and "fun" shopping, but *replace them* with here-and-now activities such as doing things with friends, good conversation, good food, good music, and other in-the-moment fun. Human contact is vital. And remember, you cannot eliminate everything in this category. You have to live life! If you don't keep that in mind, you'll imagine you've failed when you haven't.
Bottom line: Those dopaminergic activities you're trimming or eliminating need to be replaced with here-and-now things that you enjoy by doing, not anticipating. Otherwise, you'll just feel deprived--and you'll give up the effort.
Thanks for sharing your ideas, Michael! I wonder what your view is on the "dopamine fasts" I've been hearing about people doing.
A dopamine fast can be mightily invigorating over time, but doing it wrong will only make your feelings worse. I talk about this in the book in Part II, but here's a place to begin:
During a dopamine fast, limit dopamine-driving activities such as social media and "fun" shopping, but *replace them* with here-and-now activities such as doing things with friends, good conversation, good food, good music, and other in-the-moment fun. Human contact is vital. And remember, you cannot eliminate everything in this category. You have to live life! If you don't keep that in mind, you'll imagine you've failed when you haven't.
Bottom line: Those dopaminergic activities you're trimming or eliminating need to be replaced with here-and-now things that you enjoy by doing, not anticipating. Otherwise, you'll just feel deprived--and you'll give up the effort.