#Tips on storywriting for games how to
#Tips on storywriting for games professional

Committing to a rewarding hobby or sport can be just as gratifying as professional goals. You may already have goals set around your career, work or how much money you'd like to make. Why Science Says the Pursuit of Happiness Has a Dark Side.The repetition will build a new dopamine pathway until it's big enough to compete with the dopamine habit that you're better off without,' Breuning says. Your brain will reward you with dopamine each time you take a step. 'Embrace a new goal and take small steps toward it every day. But you can find ways to kick this hormone up without turning to potentially unhealthy or addictive substances. There are some not-so-healthy habits that increase dopamine like drinking caffeine, eating sugar or taking certain recreational drugs.

#Tips on storywriting for games how to

'The expectation of a reward triggers a good feeling in the mammal brain, and releases the energy you need to reach the reward.' How to boost dopamine Your ancestors released dopamine when they found a water hole,' Breuning says. When a lion approaches a gazelle, her dopamine surges and the energy she needs for the hunt is released. Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision/Getty Images On the flip side, if you have low dopamine (which experts say can occur with depression), it can explain feelings of low motivation or loss of interest in something you used to enjoy.Ĭommitting to a hobby or sport can boost your dopamine. It's why you feel gumption when you set an exciting or important goal, and why it feels good to reach that goal. The hormone dopamine is associated with motivation and reward. Here are some ways you can boost them naturally. Happy chemicals: The secret to a happy brainĪlmost everything that makes you feel 'happy' is linked to one of the four happiness hormones: dopamine, serotonin, endorphin and oxytocin. To explain exactly how these 'happiness' chemicals work, I spoke to Loretta Breuning, founder of the Inner Mammal Institute and author of Habits of a Happy Brain. Understanding these chemicals and how they work can help you figure out even small ways to feel better amid such a stressful time. There are four main hormones (a type of chemical your body makes) that trigger feelings of happiness, and each chemical is connected to specific events or rewards.

Sure, a cup of coffee won't change whether you feel truly fulfilled - but in uncertain times, there's value in boosting your mood when you can. For example, there are a few simple rituals that always bring me happiness: cuddles with my puppy, reading before work, getting some exercise and even that first sip of coffee. I'm here to tell you there are small practices you can do each day that can make a real difference in improving your mood. But I'm not here to make you more anxious than you already are. There's a lot going on in the world that can contribute to high levels of stress: rising gas prices, surging inflation, a potential recession on the horizon, and the plenty of day-to-day stressors that arise between work, school and life. This story is part of Tech for a Better World, stories about the diverse teams creating products, apps and services to improve our lives and society.