Did you know when you complete a puzzle you get a squirt of dopamine in the same pathways that hit when you watch an entertaining Tik Tok reel? Dopamine is that “feel good” brain transmitter that is produced when we undertake pleasurable activities – like eating a piece of chocolate etc. The only difference is imagine the Tik Tok reel producing a floodgate of dopamine in such a huge rush that your dopamine receptors are left gasping for air yet yearning for more – because it felt so good. Many online activities flood our dopamine pathways in such a way that the brain craves more and more of said activities.
The key for us and our kids is alternate between high and low producing dopamine activities over a 24-hour period. Dr. Sussman has done great work and breaks down the science behind this. It is okay to enjoy entertainment – feel good rush. But it is better to ensure you are releasing dopamine through activities such as a short walk / hike, completing a task / project etc.
The pics above are two puzzles that our kids (6) and (4) completed earlier today and I could just see their faces beaming with joy when they were done. Some other examples of low dopamine activities include :
Arts and crafts
Assembly toys (e.g., Legos)
books
Board and tabletop games
Indoor sports (e.g., ping pong or billiards)
Backyard sports
Charity work
Cooking dancing
Musical instruments