Swimming Upstream – by Sara Cotner

Hi, Friend!

It could be simple to stroll round in a cloud of despair. Not solely is the each day information gut-wrenching, however the long-form commentary in regards to the society we reside in (and are evolving into) is equally miserable.

This week I listened to a podcast with the writer of the guide Dopamine Kids: A Science-Based Plan to Rewire Your Child’s Brain and Take Back Your Family in the Age of Screens and Ultraprocessed Foods. The writer argues that screens and ultraprocessed meals are engineered to activate dopamine (which I’ve heard earlier than) however she goes on the clarify that dopamine is extra about wanting one thing (or being motivated to do one thing) than really being glad if you lastly do get it.

So in different phrases, our screens and our meals make us need extra, extra, extra, however they don’t go away us feeling glad as soon as we even have it.

I really feel this acutely in my life. Scrolling on social media doesn’t go away me feeling glad, and but I nonetheless do it.

I really feel like I’ve to actively swim upstream to reside a significant life. In reality, I first have to hunt out some deep water as a result of a lot of what’s round me is shallow puddles!

In the Highs & Lows part down under, I am going into the small print of how I attempt to construct this sort of life for myself (and the way I’m interested by doing it sooner or later), however this podcast made me really feel like I must battle more durable to assist my youngsters see this sample of their lives and reply purposefully. I wish to assist them discover ways to separate out what they need from what really makes them really feel good. (My hunch is that a few of their display screen time makes them really feel good and a few of it doesn’t.)

I additionally wish to do extra to ensure they’ve go-to hobbies that actually deliver them pleasure as people within the bodily world. We’re going to start out by making a listing!

I really feel like I must one way or the other combine this observe into my each day life. Maybe we go to Target initially of each month to pick a brand new sport and a craft exercise? Or possibly I deliberately try library books as soon as a month that concentrate on hobby-like issues, together with cookbooks?

I’m trying ahead to persevering with to suppose this by way of!

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