How to Give Your Brain the Stimulation It Needs

The things we tend to do when we're bored often don't give our brains the level of stimulation they need. Here's how to make a dopa-menu full of things that do!
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WE WROTE A SONG!!
Get the “The Fish Song” on...

"How to Give Your Brain the Stimulation It Needs" Music:
"The Show Must Be Go”
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

[isharanmusic]

3:09 timestamp for anyone revisiting the video who just wants to rewatch the D.O.P.A. menu tutorial : )

[nytmare]

So having 37 tabs open, with 5 Youtube tabs, a Twitch tab, a Netflix tab, with 3 videos playing at the same time is not the way to go??? Asking for myself!

[webx]

6:41 I have Inattentive ADHD and Depression and it's a crazy 1-2 punch.

Basically, if my brain isn't constantly stimulated, then I "fall out" and it can't be stimulated again by anything, so I just fall asleep. If I can't be stimulated, my brain's like am I conscious, then?"

I used to think that's what "boredom" meant. Apparently "boredom" is agitation that you want to do stuff but can't. I thought it referred to that physical feeling of having nothing you WANT to do. So I'd tell my mom "I'm bored" and she would give me extra chores. I'd be like "how tf is that supposed to help? Nothing seems interesting, so you give me something uninteresting?"

[clownexe]

entrées - exciting/fulfilling activities
desserts - overdone go tos
appetizers - quick dopamine/low effort
sides - things to add to activities

specials - occaisonal high dopamime things (temporarily omit unrealistic ones)

BONUS:

- prep your surroundings by setting up what you need to start activities (decrease steps)
- set barriers for unwanted desserts (increase steps)

[amAfterlife]

Erick's change in tone when she asked "what if nothing is fun?" Oof, he knows the horrible lows of comorbid depression it sounds like. Definitely anyone out there who feels like they have ADHD and depression be careful and realize it's not healthy to feel like nothing is enjoyable. You deserve better as well 💜

[SaxandRelax]

Tip: a fun thing to do with ADHD is to learn languages. try to focus on one or two at a time. it even helps memory

[eggsalad]

As someone who wasn't diagnosed till college, I'm glad there's more resources coming out on dealing with ADHD that isn't exclusively targeted for parents of elementary schoolers.

[nataliesoutlet]

Loved this exercise! Now I just have to remember to do it 😅

[AdrianaNivaSchlosbergSG]

For "adding a challenge" I just wanted to share one my therapist suggested when I'm writing, which is to sit/bounce on an exercise ball. She said some progressive schools will let ADHD kids sit on them instead of at a desk and it helps with focus. It definitely helped me.

[abbyeffyeah]

if i could add on to this idea: menu pricing. for example, i like painting, but i know that each time i paint it'll take at least 30 minutes, so that entrée "costs" 30 minutes

[keiraeditsstuff]

"Hes a professional" "Will these tomatoes fit in my nose?"

[ChayaEscanor]

No ADHD here, but prone to depression. That change of tone is the greatest thing to remind yourself this : when the world seems to lose its colours and interest... Don't ignore the alert.
Thank you so much for this video, so helpful even if you're not directly concerned by the ADHD problem.

[Darkelf]

As a person with ADHD, I feel like a ferret living in a world designed and occupied by desert tortoises. Great video, love your channel!

[heylmao]

The problem isn’t that I don’t have fun activities, it’s that I can think about it but I can’t actually get my body to get up and do it 🙄

[josemiguelmaciasvocar]

Legend says he's still looking for the tomato

[huwguyver]

Sometimes when I am struggling to be productive I have a saying: "Do anything other than nothing". And relatedly: "if you get stuck, start with the easy stuff". I find the mere act of having done something, anything productive really helps me feel like I have started my day, because I can be an Olympic-level procrastinator if I am not careful.

[kismetkiss]

What if you're just starting on ADHD treatment and you've been depressed for so long you have no idea what activities bring you joy or make you feel fulfilled? It's improved immensely since I started treatment, but it feels like I've spent so much time guilty and blaming myself that I don't really know what actually feels good.

[jazperusual]

This is probably more to do with my depression, but I'm thinking of adding something like "leafy greens" to my menu - things I don't necessarily *want* to do but feel fulfilled once I finish the task. For me, that's like...folding my laundry or doing dishes.

[pienkunicorn]

I think my brain just exploded. You mean 3 hour social media binges is not just me being lazy? It's actual boredom? And I can help myself not do this. I have GOT to try this. This is genius.

[MAKRA]

6:50 I know it was edited this way, but the speed and tone with which Eric responds with "call your doctor" was so powerful. Like...of course thats an issue. Thats what depression is. No judgement, no beating around the bush. I wish someone had said that to me 7 years ago.