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?

Not looking after kids
Sex with DH
Baths with candles and uncanny podcast
Bed with film on tv
Singing loudly in car to a power ballad, zero fucks to anyone watching
Stroking random cats like I did today (it came up to my door I didn't act weird trying to find a cat)
Drinking really cold can of diet coke
Doing easy sodoku not the hard ones
Reading a good book
Going for a walk in woods
Eating

Amazon

Opening a new loo roll perfectly without ripping any of it... ah, bliss!

What a strange question. Why specifically dopamine? Are you really just asking what people do for fun, or how they derive pleasure from life? Or am I missing something? When does someone know they’re specifically getting a dopamine “hit”?

Sounds weird and unhealthy to be constantly chasing “highs”. I’d want to change that mindset! (Although I was all about it in my 20s 😏)

I enjoy the kind of relaxation that’s possible after physical or mental exertion, for example.

Sudoku on my ipad although its easy to get carried away and up doing them for hours!

I get mine from learning.
So I listen to podcasts and watch documentaries.
Also from meeting friends and going for a walk.
(As well as exercise, sugar, carbs, social media)

I'm thinking of joining a climbing club.

Researching holidays, weekends away even if I don't book anything and definitely then when I do.

I know you said not exercising but I tried trail running in the dark recently (in a group) and found it exhilarating so maybe a more extreme sport could work.

Going to see my football team.

Gardening and choosing plants and flowers for my garden.

Moving my furniture and stuff around to change the way my house looks and feels.

It's like I wrote it myself 😃

Good question! Sugar and caffeine are the cheap and reliable ways for me, but, like you, I don't want to rely on them.

Completing tasks, generally. So, not exercise specifically, but a Parkrun is a thing to tick off the list and work towards the next milestone. I wanted to read more this year, so I have an app where I record what I've read, and how far through each book I am. Like others, Duolingo.
... I have an app for housework tasks, and a Garmin to record exercise/work towards particular challenges. I use You need a budget for financial management, to track and manage spending.

Basically, I've gamified those tasks I want or need to prioritise 😂

More generally, time outdoors, particularly at this time of year if it's sunny, meeting up and having a laugh with friends, travelling to new places, really nailing a paper I'm giving. Those are all bigger highs but can't necessarily be relied on to give me a lift at 3pm when I'm in an a slump.

I was in Greggs the other day getting a coffee and an ambulance driver walked in behind me and asked for two sausage rolls
I paid for them and off she went back to her ambulance and gave one to her driver
they both looked pleased
I felt I had done my good deed for the day

Sea swimming.

Also sea swimming.
Baking bread and other bits for the week's lunchboxes.
Changing a room around or a good deep clean.
Reading a brilliant book.

(NB. usual everyday cleaning mostly releases feelings of doom 🤣).

Another one! Discovering a new place to walk when I'm on my own. Makes me feel like I'm the first person to have ever discovered it 🤣

Cleaning

wine on friday. One large wine.

but didnt last night as DC came from home from hospital so must have a clear head

Theatre
Ballet
Book.club
Volunteering

Duolingo!!

Elvanse

Other than that but trying not to repeat others suggestions:

Listening to a banging tune from my youth
Clearing out a cupboard (just hoping I'll actually put everything away afterwards!)