How do you get your dopamine hits?

[TeaHagTeaBag]

Please don't say exercise. I exercise a lot and don't get any type of high. I do it because it's good for me not because I enjoy it. (And I've tried lots of different things so no need to suggest others.) My main source is sugar which I really need to limit. I bought a gorgeous blazer today which will carry me through this evening, but it's unsustainable to use ongoing shopping. I knit a bit but that's to keep me from doom scrolling. What can you recommend?

Cryptic crosswords. I do a few a day. So satisfying!

Sex

Sugar, sadly. And shopping.

If I could only get the kids out of the house...

cryptic are definitely above my capabilities! I might try a simplex one first 😊

Cat cuddles and Diet Coke.

Cuddling the dog
Eating
Sex
Lists and organising

Concerta haha

duolingo - one or two lessons a day - nice and easy!
making a new meal once or twice a week from a recipe
cleaning and moving the stuff in the room around
atomic habits - little habits to get them done and ticked off
10k lux desk lamp in the morning to help regulate circadian rhythms
listening to music

Lists.
Scrolling pintrest.
Walking the dog.

Puzzgrid

Pina coladas

Cycling with an electric bike. No effort but you get thr lovely feeling of movement through the air, breeze on your face. I immediately feel great when I'm coasting on my bike. Given up car for trip to local town now.

Scrolling vinted
Charity shop rummaging
Good food magazine in bed with a cuppa

Jesus when did I get so tragic??

Reading
Good TV/films
Food and cooking
And exercise, sorry!

(ideally my answer would be ‘sugar’ but I love it so much I have to avoid it almost entirely or I would be v unhealthy)

Exercise is endorphin hits, not dopamine, I think?

I went through a phase of getting dopamine hits by playing a game on my phone where you were always levelling up, or playing on in the hope of being able to level up. Also you’d be unlocking or discovering new items or skills. You’d get more powerful but so would your opponents.

It was totally pointless and never ending, you could waste 1000 hours on the game! And it was nothing but a dopamine reward loop.

Glad that I quit it! But I think social media serves a similar function though with both positive and negative rewards.

Being kind, helping people, volunteering.

I also work for a charity which is very fulfilling.

A good shag
A cuddle with the cat (especially when he's purring)
Chocolate
The first sip of a great cup of tea

Dry herb vape of marijuana.

Cleaning (tragic but can see results)
Shopping - TK Max & Charity shops
New recipes

sugar sugar sugar

Exercise
Creative ‘stuff’ (making small things, flower arrangements, sewing projects, minor diy)
planning creative projects
planning travel/fun activities (as well as doing them

my actual job doesn’t supply much dopamine - wish it did, but I have plenty of other options it looks like

Gardening. Swimming outdoors. Walking and generally being outdoors.
Making the house all cosy with candles, blankets and nice hot drinks and curling up with a good book/tv show.

Good, wholesome homemade food - soups, stews, roast veggies.
Hot shower, nice body lotion, paint my toenails, snug pjs and clean sheets.

Swimming in the Irish Sea = cold water therapy 🌊🌊🌊

Buying stuff. Sugar.

Adhd medication.

That plus mindful colouring books.

Also sex, lifting heavy weights. It's not actually just dopamine, also serotonin you need which comes from social interaction, connection and cardio for me.