What are your non food dopamine hits?

[Chasingdopamine]

NC. I’ve realised I use food for a dopamine hit, always thought it was the comfort eating but I don’t think so any more. Something about the thrill of an assortment of the food. The treat element. Mindless eating wasn’t really part of it and I always feel miserable afterwards but don’t seem able to avoid doing it almost every day.

I want to find other options but feeling low at the moment so looking for your go to, non food dopamine hits? Preferably experiences rather than purchases but I’m open to anything!

Pilates
Walking (even power walking at home)
Puzzles and books 😬

I’m struggling to concentrate on anything, especially reading but puzzles are a good idea. Thanks :)

Stickers! I have a journal that I put a few lines in each day and then fill the space with stickers - started as a way to use up my existing stash and now people give me stickers as presents 😂

Exercise! When I slack off and stop I start stuffing my face again. It took me months to learn to quite like it though. I don't enjoy the actual act, but the feeling after is great.

Swimming. I have been sick recently and haven't swum for ages. I feel quite down and depressed. I think it's a bit like meditation for me as well as exercise.

Meeting friends.

Work to some extent

Good TV drama

Hot bath

Gym. Lifting heavy weights is a great feeling.

I had very long break from puzzles and I forgot how fun they are. I needed some distraction from social media, as I felt overwhelmed and it's very relaxing, something different to mindless scrolling of facebook and instagram. Even 15-30 minutes a day is great.

Audiobooks/podcasts/radio plays, cleaning,
hot tub

Running! It's not called a runner's high for nothing.

Manicure/pedicure in the salon or at home.
Bath, face mask, body scrub then top to toe moisturiser.
Gym - hate going, always glad I went.
Walk - never fancy it, always enjoy it when I go.
Coffee with a friend.

I keep a journal and plan my food in advance. I like to choose interesting recipes and know what I’m having the next day as it eliminates the ‘I just grabbed’ issue I find with comfort food.

Dancing

Love this. We had a sticker craze at primary school and I loved it 😍

Tree spotting! As a child I had a book on British trees and learnt all the names and could recognise every tree when out and about.

As an adult, that knowledge was lost along the way (like many other things) and last year I bought a tiny book on tree identification to accompany me in my daily hike and it’s been brilliant remembering and relearning all the different types of tree again.

Fanfiction.

Walking (especially whilst listening to music/podcast)
Cleaning/housework (yes really lol) I feel so much better when the house is clean and tidy

Music. Extra dopamine if I play something I love loudly through my headphones and deep clean something.
Sensory things, for me that's fluffy things. I have a fluffy notebook and a cuddly dinosaur pencil case on my desk. Only a tiny bit of dopamine, but it helps if I'm struggling with work.
A walk somewhere really pretty.
Rainbows! I have some window stickers that throw rainbows when the sun hits them.
Movement. Heavy weights at the gym, but failing that, a quick kettlebell workout in the kitchen, or 5 minutes dancing with my headphones on.

Love it, keep them coming!

Sex
Sport (specifically going to the gym)
Singing to music and dancing around
Riding
shopping... unfortunately.
Doing my makeup
Having interesting conversations/discussion with people (recently had a fascinating conversation about religion and felt sooo energized by it.)

Music, as in very specifically picking a song or three and singing along (instruments parts too, if wanted!). This can be when doing chores, cooking or just a spare 10 mins where you don't have to/ can't be mithered to do anything else. Also, agree with @MangoBiscuit, rainbows! Love the visuals, can be natural through glass, graphic, just the colours.

You also might like small games like jigsaws, there are great ones online.

Exercise. Sex. Music.

And de-cluttering actually as well.

Netflix or Amazon prime 😂

katieabey.co.uk/products/sweary-rainbow-cat-sun-catcher-katie-abey-motivational-positivity-pride?_pos=2&_sid=bbdf211e8&_ss=r

This is the rainbow window sticker. Always makes me smile.

Cats.