Fasting is popular due to its many benefits, such as weight loss, religion, and detoxification. Nutritional fasting relates to help slowing the aging process and promoting cell renewal. This helps in breaking the regular cycle of using digital technologies and seeking instant gratification. The goal of dopamine fasting, in California, is to diminish addiction to certain unhealthy behaviors by reducing intense stimuli like digital content, overuse of smartphones, and online social media.
Dopamine plays an important role in your daily life, contributing to sleep, motivation, mood, learning, and attention. Those who believe in dopamine fasting say that overexposure to intense stimuli such as digital content, fast food, and social interactions can lead to a tolerance and subsequent addiction. They believe that cutting back on these behaviors may be beneficial, particularly as intense stimuli appear to be everywhere. The idea behind dopamine fasting is to reset your relationship with dopamine by forgoing unhealthy behaviors to become more sensitive to its effects.
Dr. Cameron Sepah created dopamine fasting to break various unhealthy addictions, such as online gambling, smartphone dependence, and other activities that bring instant gratification. However, it is important to note that scientific evidence supporting dopamine fasting is limited, and some medical professionals consider it nothing more than a fad due to the fact that dopamine is a naturally occurring substance that our bodies produce constantly throughout the day.
If you believe you may benefit from a digital detox, consider the following signs you might recognize: constantly checking your phone for notifications, feeling anxious if your phone is not nearby, feeling guilt regarding the time you spend online, and more.
To perform a dopamine fast, reduce your exposure to stimuli that provide a hit of dopamine, such as digital devices and online platforms. Muting notifications, removing social media apps from most of your devices, and finding other ways of entertaining yourself can help break your addiction. Spending time away from your phone, reading a real book, and spending time in nature can also help. However, be mindful that these activities aren’t negated by constant checking or use of digital devices.
