Chapter 1: Reflections on My Dopamine-Light Week

Greetings, Friday! It's delightful to see you. And to all my friends and followers, I've been a bit more reserved lately, engaging in activities like selecting pumpkins (this year, we got four—two large and two small, ready for carving on Sunday!), tidying up my floors (aiming for near-daily cleaning), and indulging in some knitting.

Additionally, I've been writing. While I haven't contributed much here on Medium, I have been working on a personal project that I hope will come to fruition in 2023. Progress is slow and steady, which suits my style. What can I say? I’m making headway.

I've also been meticulously tracking my social media usage throughout the week.

Drumroll, please.

Monday, October 24 - Day 14

I checked social media a total of five times, all within my designated two-hour windows. The final check of the day was at 4:50 PM, suggesting that I engaged in another pursuit afterward. Honestly, I can't recall what it was, but it must have been more productive or enjoyable than mindlessly scrolling through Tweetbook.

Tuesday, October 25 — Day 15

I recorded six checks. The last check was at 6:00 PM, after which I spent the evening watching the finale of The Patient with my son. In my opinion, any time spent with my child and Steve Carell is time well invested.

Wednesday, October 26 — Day 16

I had seven checks today. Although they all adhered to my two-hour limit, this is a higher frequency than I prefer. My final check was at 8:30 PM. I wonder if I was checking for a specific reason or simply out of habit.

I aim to reduce evening checks, as avoiding them makes rising at 5 AM much more appealing. Surely, I’d wake up to find that all my stories went viral overnight, turning me into a millionaire. At the very least, I might find a few encouraging comments from readers, which always brightens my day.

Thursday, October 27 — Day 17

I achieved a personal best with only four checks! However, I noted in my journal: “Goal: Only twice today.” I didn’t meet that target, but I’ll keep it in mind for the future. Perhaps today will be the day?

My last check was at 6:00 PM while waiting for my son to finish his martial arts class.

And Now… A Confession

While I’m thrilled about my four checks yesterday, I feel I may have cheated a bit. I can't genuinely claim that my minimal app checks reflect a dopamine-light day. I had a day off from my job and was quite fatigued, as I usually am by Thursday.

Although I intended to write and did manage a little, around 11 AM, I decided to take a break. I mean complete physical and mental rest, allowing myself not to feel guilty about doing very little.

Here’s what I did: I brewed a seventh cup of coffee, settled at my desktop, and listened to a few podcasts. But what else was I doing while listening? Playing a computer game.

This game involves arranging vibrant, shiny gems that explode in a delightful burst of color and sound—definitely a classic dopamine-inducing activity. However, can I justify this by claiming that listening to enriching content while playing helped me engage my mind better? Is there some neuroscience backing this notion, or am I just imagining it?

I believe I can argue that playing a lighthearted game while absorbing information about rising food prices and the growing issue of food insecurity in my country (and brainstorming ways to contribute) was a productive use of my time. Also, if you’re able, please consider donating to your local food bank.

From a neuroscientific perspective, is this game less detrimental to my brain than switching between social media apps? Any neuroscientists reading this, feel free to share your thoughts!

Thank you all for following my journey. Please check back on Monday for a recap of my weekend, and if you're on a dopamine detox yourself, I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments.

Wishing you a fantastic weekend, friends!

Chapter 2: Insights from My Detox Journey

The first video, "Controlling Your Dopamine For Motivation, Focus & Satisfaction," explores how managing dopamine levels can enhance motivation and satisfaction in life.

The second video, "Time Perception & Entrainment by Dopamine, Serotonin & Hormones," delves into how our perception of time is influenced by neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, shaping our daily experiences and interactions.