What’s on your dopamine menu?

This trend is onto something.

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In a Nutshell Hello! I'm back from vacation and ready to take over your inboxes again. I've missed you, and I hope you're doing well. I'm seeing dopamine menu content all over social media lately. In case you haven't heard, a dopamine menu is a personalized list of (healthy!) activities you can rely on to help you feel good. Today, we're discussing why we love this trend and sharing some science-backed options to consider adding to your menu. • 15 natural remedies for migraine • 8 convincing benefits of spending time in nature • How restricting calories can affect your health Be well, Morgan Mandriota Newsletter Editor, Healthline

Written by Morgan Mandriota September 20, 2024 • 3 min read

what's got us buzzing How to create a dopamine menu — and why you might want to ICYMI: Dopamine is a "feel-good" hormone your brain releases to create feelings of reward, pleasure, and motivation. You can get it from not-so-healthy sources, like using substances or scrolling on social media for hours. And you can also get it by doing things that are good for you — that's where a dopamine menu comes in. This handy list of healthy dopamine-boosting activities is something you can easily refer to whenever you're in need of some feel-good hormones. There are different ways to go about it. You can keep a simple list on your phone or create a vision board for your wall. You could also build an actual menu complete with the following: Appetizers: activities that only take a few minutes, such as dancing around your room, eating ripe fruit, or hugging your pet Entrees: more time consuming activities, like going for a walk, crafting, or baking Sides: complementary activities alongside other tasks, such as listening to a podcast or lighting candles Desserts: activities that you indulge in once in a while, like watching TV Specials: bigger, more infrequent activities, like going to a concert, getting a massage, or booking a vacation What does mine look like? So glad you asked! My go-to appetizer is getting into comfy clothes and cuddling my cat. My entree is playing video games, with a side of listening to my favorite album. For dessert, I'll rewatch an episode of one of my favorite shows for the 20th time. If you need some inspiration for your menu, research suggests these activities may spur the release of dopamine: Eat a meal that's high in protein. Go to the gym for a workout. Get a good night's rest. Establish a meditation routine. Sit in the sunshine (with sunscreen on!). naturally boost your dopamine 💌 Tell us: What's on your dopamine menu? Email wellnesswire@healthline.com to share. (Please note that we may include your name and response in an upcoming edition.)

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Thanks for reading! Before we part ways for the weekend, here's a message we received from reader Evangelina R. in response to our recent socks or no socks to bed newsletter: "I'm 81 years old… and I belong to Team Socks in my sleep. Ever since I live here in America I wear socks before going to bed whether hot or cold season. can not sleep without my pair of socks… and I really feel tremendously comfortable with it." Go, Team Socks! 🧦

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