More Dopamine, More Motivation

We tend to think that the things that motivate us are different for each person, and ——in part—— that's true. Some people are motivated by the search for happiness, others to fulfill their work goals, others to follow their passions, and others more by the joy of the people around them. There are thousands of reasons why everyone feels motivated enough to start walking in the morning, but behind all these reasons there is a common element: dopamine.

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Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, meaning that its primary role is to carry messages from one neuron to another. This neurotransmitter is essential for carrying out multiple activities of the central nervous system, since it is responsible for helping us control our movements, storing memories, learning, concentrating, sleeping and regulating our mood. This substance is stored with greater concentration in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible ——among other things—— for our decision-making.

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There are as many reasons why dopamine production can fail as there are reasons to get out of bed, but some of the most important are stress, lack of sleep, substance abuse, dietary imbalances and mental health disorders. Regardless of the cause of a dopamine deficiency, most people with this deficiency have the same symptoms. If you think this could be the case for you, here are some of the most common ones:

• Lack of motivation
• Tiredness
• Trouble focusing
• Bad mood
• Anxiety
• Loss of emotion due to activities that were previously enjoyed
• Low libido
• Depression
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Trouble sleeping

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In addition to these symptoms, some people also have hand tremors, coordination problems, restless leg syndrome, isolation, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The good news is that there are also many things we can do to encourage our body to produce the dopamine we need to carry out our daily activities with impetus and motivation. Here are a few:

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1. Go to the light: If human beings and plants have one thing in common, it's the need to absorb sunlight. Attempting to sunbathe for 10 to 30 minutes in the morning will help your body naturally produce the dopamine it requires. For this reason, it is important to avoid wearing dark lenses or looking at the sun directly so that this activity is truly effective and does not harm your body.
2. Tyrosine for life: Tyrosine-rich foods—such as red meat, legumes, and fermented cheese—will provide your body with the chemicals needed to generate dopamine. A popular saying goes around that “a full belly, a happy heart” and this phrase has never been so accurate.
3. Melatonin supplements are canceled: Melatonin supplements have become very popular among people who have trouble sleeping. The problem is that these medications lower dopamine levels and can cause disruptions in the sleep cycle.
4. For the umpteenth time, turn off the screens: We say it all the time, the light from screens after 10 p.m. keeps your brain active, which significantly reduces the circulation of dopamine in the system. Even artificial light can have this effect on the body. For this reason, it's best to use dim lights at night and avoid phone screens, television, tablets and all electronics.
5. What about caffeine? : Coffee or tea increases both dopamine and the availability of dopamine receptors, helping your body to secrete and produce this neurotransmitter more regularly. However, to avoid lack of sleep at bedtime, we recommend avoiding sleep after 2 p.m.

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Of course, these aren't the only activities you can do to encourage the production of dopamine. Exercising, getting enough sleep, listening to music, balancing your gut microbiota and taking care of your mental health are essential to this motivational process.

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We recommend that you download Mindsurf directly on your cell phone, there you will find incredible tools that will help you to achieve your general emotional well-being, which is very important for the continuous production of dopamine.

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