Balance Your Dopamine to Manage Procrastination
By Kevin Shirley, Associate Broker (DC), ASP, GRI, e-PRO
Everyone experience the impulse to procrastinate from time to time. But did you know some scientific factors can be at the root of your predisposition toward procrastination?
The role of Dopamine in your procrastination habit
Studies reveal that Dopamine plays a vital role in how people respond to day to day life. Dopamine is basically a naturally generated chemical in the human brain, better known as a neurotransmitter. Brain cells use this chemical to communicate with each other and establish pathways with different nerve cells in the execution of a specific operation.
According to WebMD, “Dopamine plays a role in how we feel pleasure. It’s a big part of our uniquely human ability to think and plan. It helps us strive, focus, and find things interesting. Your body spreads it along four major pathways in the brain. Like most other systems in the body, you don’t notice it (or maybe even know about it) until there’s a problem.”
A specific enzyme known as tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) helps regulate dopamine development in the human body. This chemical messenger is responsible for motivation, memory, and attention. TH gene levels differ among individuals, leading to varying dopamine levels and other neurotransmitters in the brain. Dopamine levels are closely associated with an individual’s cognitive flexibility and impulsive behavior.
A recent study reveals that females who carried a particular variant of the TH gene are believed to have less control over their routine activities and are more likely to show procrastination behavior. Genetically, they are observed to have higher dopamine levels as well.
When you are already aware of the Dopamine’s connection with procrastination behavior, it is crucial to find some appropriate ways to balance your dopamine levels. Here are a few trusted methods to deal with this issue:
Get your dopamine level tested
Before you start making efforts to recover, it is essential to test how much dopamine levels are currently present in your body. Test reports may help you understand the imbalance level in a clear manner.
Create a Dopamine friendly environment
When you notice a tendency to procrastinate, you can adjust your dopamine levels by setting small goals first. This rewarding experience can help you rewire the brain and help you to complete tasks on time.
Generate a positive feedback loop
You need to experience frequent positive feedback to achieve your goals efficiently. The flow of Dopamine in your body will be highly affected by the positive reinforcement you receive to meet a certain challenge or after executing a critical task.
Take small steps to achieve your goals
No matter what important task you wish to accomplish without procrastinating, it is vital to move ahead in small steps. Putting in a small effort every day may help you build a new habit of completing tasks on time.
When you start improving your routine activity level while staying focused on priority-based tasks, it is possible to make your life more simplified and happier.
