Ayuno de dopamina

Over a year ago,
I first heard the term 'dopamine fasting.'

And this is nothing new, considering
that we live in an era of immediacy.

We're hyperconnected with everyone,
and this, of course, has its advantages.

It allows us to complete
tasks in less time,

stay in touch with our loved ones

despite the distance,

and access information immediately.

However, this bombardment of information

leads to constant overstimulation.

Everything is fast, ephemeral,

and that translates into an
endless series of dopamine spikes.

You've probably heard of dopamine by now

It's known as the happiness hormone
although it's not actually a hormone.

It's a neurotransmitter that activates
our reward system in the brain

It's released in response to pleasures

like when we eat a piece of chocolate
or buy something we like,

creating feelings of satisfaction
and happiness.

But what happens if we're constantly
releasing dopamine, as happens

with frequent use of social media
and other forms of instant gratification

well, our brain can become dependent
on these stimuli and therefore gets

used to them and is always looking for
more and more and more.

It's paradoxical because
we think we have everything

we ever wanted,
but the more things we have

the more dissatisfied we feel.

So how can we stop this constant
overstimulation in a world

that moves too fast?

Well, it turns out that this
same question was raised

many years ago in silicon
valley, where it is said that the term

"dopamine fasting" originated
in response to a routine that

faced a frenetic lifestyle
full of stimuli.

Seeking to reduce the hours spent in
front of a screen, reduce impulsive

behaviors, excessive use
of social networks,

consumption of ultra-processed
foods, etcetera.

But what does dopamine fasting
consist of and

what is its purpose?

There really is no strict rule
on how to do dopamine fasting,

but rather the intention is to
achieve a temporary disconnection. That is,

to take a break from everything that
generates a lot of dopamine.