Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

A good friend of mine put me onto an interesting podcast last week. It fell at just the right time as I was stepping out of my normal routine for a few days and in a position to cultivate some new habits.

The interview (on Fern Cotton's Happy Place podcast) was with neuroscientist TJ Power (a good name!). He shared how our brain's design and our modern lives, don't always make for a helpful mix. While I know this to be true, he explained it in ways that felt very easy to understand, as well as offering simple solutions for creating changes that  improve our mental wellbeing. 

I particularly loved how he explained that dopamine (the feel-good neurotransmitter in our brains) accumulates as we sleep, and is meant to provide the motivating force to drive us towards action when we wake. Given that thousands of years ago we would have had to put in considerable effort to find our breakfast, this build up would give us the drive to go out hunting and gathering for several hours.  We would then reap the rewards when dopamine is released as we enjoy the well-earned food in our bellies. Similarly seeking safety, shelter and social bonding would require effort rather than an instant fix. 

He talked of how our ability to get dopamine 'hits' in our modern lives however is very different. Without any effort at all we can reach for our phones to see how many 'likes' we have, tuck into snacks (I'm partial to cheesy puffs for this!) or pop online to make an impulsive purchase. He talked of how without careful attention we can easily get hooked on such behaviours (e.g. addicted to endless scrolling, the excitement of shopping, the craving for snacking) without really being satisfied by it. This can then lead us to repeating unhelpful behaviours, continually reaching for another 'hit'. 

I loved his analogy that when we reach for our phones first thing in the morning it is like all the stored up dopamine in our brains gets an instant release; we get our fix but then feel flat and lacking in motivation (having burst the bubble of our inner drive).  One of his simple recommendations he offered for managing dopamine better is "sunlight before screens".

So for the last week I have made this my mantra and I've loved it. Whether with a cup of tea in my garden, or a quick walk around the block, I've felt the benefits of putting in some effort rather than seeking a quick fix. It's helped me see things as 'dopamine fixes' that I can hold off from rather than needing to instantly satisfy (and I have to say my energy levels and appetite feel better for it). 

The podcast also discusses ways of supporting ourselves better in relation to the other 'feel good' hormones oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins (hence his brand revolves around DOSE). If you feel like listening you can find it here. 

And my claim to fame is that I have been walking around with half a big bag of salt and vinegar crisps in it, having opened it 3 days ago.  Anyone who knows me well will know that that is quite some feat!.