Made in the human brain, dopamine is a chemical messenger, essential for motivation, movement, memory, mood, sleep, and behaviour regulation.

Low dopamine levels can make you feel less motivated, apathetic, and affect your ability to concentrate.

In a message sent Monday to UWindsor faculty and staff, Human Resources shares tips to naturally increase your dopamine levels:

• Get enough sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, dopamine receptors in your body can be adversely affected, and sleep deprivation can lead to the suppression of some dopamine receptors in your body. Aim at seven or more hours of sleep every night.
• Listen to some music. Listening to music you find pleasurable can lead to a release of dopamine in your brain. Make a playlist of some of your favorite tunes and listen to it when you are feeling fatigued, listless, or unmotivated.
• Maintain a healthy diet. Foods that are rich in tyrosine, such as eggs, fish, chicken ,and almonds, are especially good for boosting dopamine levels.
• Exercise. Exercising regularly has been proven to be very important for your brain’s health. Engage in 30 minutes of aerobic exercise each day to boost your dopamine levels.
• Cut down on processed sugars. Processed sugars such as the ones found in candy and soda can increase your dopamine levels temporarily but this is typically followed by a “crash” that can leave you feeling down.

Read the entire Wellness Tip of the Week.