Dopamine Detox: How to Reset Your Mind

I came to an alarming realization in the last few weeks: I never give my mind a break. Maybe it's the society that we live in, maybe it was an addiction to productivity that I have developed but either way, in recent times I've started to feel bogged down, like I'm trying to run through mud. I'm constantly pushing to do more without considering my wellbeing and the importance of stopping and reflecting.

So I decided to do something a little different. I gave myself an entire day to reset: I would do nothing stimulating for 24 hours. No work, no internet, no exercise, no music, no reading and no food. I wanted to see what happen.

I'll just say it was well worth it.

#dopaminefast #waterfast #24hourfast #reset

[nathanieldrew]

I totally recognize I bent the rules a little bit by documenting my experience. I'm okay with that. I plan to do this again in the future without any cameras involved, but I wanted to share what it was like for the first time.

Feel free to leave any questions you might have as a response to this comment. Like I said, I'm thinking of responding and talking more about my experience on my Patreon.

[carmomille]

I'm the opposite. I have too much time on my hands and nothing to do yet I have this fear of not getting things done. I stimulate my brain with social media and Youtube to get away from those thoughts, drowning myself in passiveness.

[shedoesconcerts]

"I've always had a hard time with ending the day" - when I was in college, one day, I just *quit* I decided that 8:00 was the end of my day and I stopped working that day. And the next. And I kept it up. I wrote down anything I had left to do before bed and then worked on it first thing in the morning. Writing it down enabled me to release the feeling of 'I need to XYZ!!' that kept me up at night. I also found that quitting before I was past the point of exhaustion enabled me to better organize my life. I'd clean up more. I'd pick an outfit for the next day. I'd take better care of my body in general. It turned out that "letting go" of some time actually saved time in the long run. That was easily the happiest and most productive period of my life.

[tobiasg]

Ali ibn Abib Talib, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, answered "Man! Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

[dreamingsince]

"The problem I have is I love what I do" I wish I had that problem lol

[ShermidhSattar]

SO. RELATABLE.

I too am addicted to productivity and feel like shit every time I have a slow day

[torahall]

When he said “I refuse to let my life be governed by fear and doubt”, I FELT THAT

[jeffersonpn]

You and Matt D'avella are saving YouTube.

[samuelbuchanan]

Definitely relevant and if you read this comment I want you to know that : Your story is valuable, your insight when shared is easy to connect with as you're genuine and honest in what your experience has been like. I hope you continue to walk on a more peaceful path that can allow you to have fulfillment from your work and relaxing where its due.

[hanaday]

addiction to productivity
honestly I hope to find a job/passion that allows to feel like that

[वाला-रस]

11:58 In my opinion having unlimited access to anything is just killing the magic of it. Like Netflix for T.V. Shows, Music streaming services and a lot of other things. Scarcity is what makes things, valuable. Isn't that the rule of commodities, diamonds are rare and so expensive.

[ossen]

*Boredom is one of the most potent ways of finding your calling.*
You become so restless, granted you aren't distracted by people, events or technology, that you start to ponder over your life.
It's through that silence and time alone that you get inspired and find your deepest wishes - within.

[gabrielmarchev]

Hi, I attempted this yesterday after watching this video. It was an interesting experience - definitely the longest day I've had in a while. Got up around 8am, did some meditation, journaling, a bit of stretching. Around noon I went out and was outside for 2-3 hours. I felt a bit more aware of things around me and even though the weather wasn't great it was still good to be outside. When I came back I decided to have an nap and slept for OVER 2 HOURS. Maybe my body really was that tired and I hadn't acknowledged it. After that I meditated and journaled a bit more. Around 8 I decided to break my fast, and had some protein and veg, really simple but tasted so good and weirdly I got full really fast. I realise I don't take the time to actually appreciate the good food I get to eat every day. I then decided to do a bit of work on my laptop for 1hr and even with a light filter my eyes felt very tired in front of the screen. I decided to go to bed and end the day. Overall I didn't do the full 24hr but I think I learned a fair bit. There was a dread at the start of my day for not doing anything that had slowly got replaced with the confidence that I can do anything and I always have a choice. I realised how much pressure I put on myself to get so many things done and to get them done the right way. I also noticed how much time there is in the day and in how much of it I numb myself with my phone and the through the Internet just so I don't have to look at the current moment. Usually when I get up in the morning I feel very irritable and frustrated straight away. The morning after doing this challenge is the first time in a while that I've felt so peaceful. Overall I guess this was worth trying. A new and odd experience. Thanks for reading :)

[TheMindlessAutumn]

"I'm already like an adult." I love that line, and I don't think that feeling ever really goes away. Intellectually we now we are older but we don't really feel like a grown up. Maybe not everyone, but a lot of people. :)

[NostrilNuisance]

*_If my sense self-worth is entirely dependent on what I'm capable of doing right now, I think I'm going to have to face some harsh realities eventually_*
- Nathaniel Drew


I really needed to hear that. Not heavy on quotes but I'm writing that one down.

I feel you 100%, this vid helped me a lot to organize and realize my own thoughts and feelings! Thanks!!

[zuzanapavlikova]

"I'm just a kid on the internet"
Yes you are. But your thoughts and opinions go much beyond that. You are really talented and definitely a huge inspiration for us, the other kids on the internet.

[disharana]

He’s just so adorable. I could watch his videos forever

[XavierGuillaume]

It's like you were a cat for the day. Just napping, relaxing, gazing out the window. Hehe!

[myflyingkidney]

It is a culture thing. I live in a country where life revolves around friends, family and free time. Those are priorities in life and we all strive to complete the work just to be able to spend time longing around with close people. And those who are obsessed with productivity and work are different, and non typical. I hope pther cultures help you relax a bit a reset ypur priorities even just for one rest day.