The Dopamine Menu: A Guide To Romanticizing Your Life & Boosting Happiness
Hello, and Welcome to the Dopamine Cafe! Have a seat, and look over your menu. We truly have so many options to choose from! Okay, all jokes aside. Who doesn't love dopamine? Oftentimes dopamine is referred to as the “happy hormone” or the “feel-good hormone”, and that is because dopamine is released in the part of the brain that is the reward center. Dopamine is released when we are doing pleasurable activities, such as eating, having sex, hanging out with a friend, or even just by putting on a cute outfit. Dopamine also helps us set goals, concentrate and stay on task, and of course contributes to our sense of well-being and happiness! So, what is a dopamine menu? Basically, we are breaking down all the activities that we can do to release dopamine, and separating them into categories as if you were at a restaurant. Appetizers, Entrees, Desserts, Sides, and Specials! I am not sure about you, but when I am in a funk, or in a bad mood, I tend to forget about everything that I could to make myself feel better, and then I feel stuck and stagnant. However, having a physical ‘menu’ of all the things I love to do hanging up somewhere that i can read everyday, I know I am much more likely to stay focused on the things that make me happy and bring me joy. Mood-Boosting Starters Alright, picture this, we have just arrived at The Dopamine Cafe, and we are feeling so hungry, and need something to munch on right now. We…