The Chemistry of Happiness: Unlock the Power of DOSE to be a happier you!

Are you looking for a way to increase your happiness and well-being? I am sure your response will be — Who isn’t? To understand the science of happiness, look no further than DOSE. DOSE is an acronym I use for the four happy chemicals — Dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins - that are responsible for making us feel good. You need to increase the level of these chemicals for that feeling of joy, love, and contentment. Let’s take a closer look at these scary-sounding incredible chemicals, which have the power to DOSE up your life with happiness.

Dopamine: This one gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling of reward. Dopamine is why you feel good when you find something you are looking for or do something that needs to be done. It is the reward we get when we complete a project, finish a task, or even reach a milestone on our way to a bigger goal. It is that feeling of triumph whenever you cross an item on your To-Do list. Dopamine is also released when you visualize the achievement of a goal, which incentivizes you to make some progress towards that goal. This, in turn, again releases some dopamine, thus setting off a virtuous cycle to crush your big goals. Dopamine is your very personal cheerleader, not losing any moment to shout, “You did it! You’re amazing!” in your brain.

Oxytocin: Oxytocin, aka the love chemical, is released when we experience friendship, love or deep trust. You release oxytocin when you hug someone, cuddle a pet, or have a heart-to-heart conversation. Don’t you really feel good when you do something nice for someone or even when someone does something nice for you? This is thanks to the release of oxytocin in your body.

Serotonin: Serotonin is the mood-booster and gives you that feeling of euphoria. If you feel down in the dumps, your serotonin levels are probably low. When you feel happy and content, your serotonin levels will shoot up. Serotonin is released when we exercise (along with other happy chemicals), sleep well enough and have a healthy diet. Serotonin is also released when we experience the feeling of pride and respect. The reward and recognition programs, the graduation ceremonies, and the certificates we get to hang on completing the learning programs are all designed to give us bursts of serotonin. You can also get tiny shots of serotonin by earning likes for your random social media posts. Yet that high is so short-lived that it is hardly worth it!

Endorphins: Endorphins are natural painkillers. These are released in response to stress and fear; they mask physical pain with pleasure. The feeling of runner’s high or the feeling you get when you push your body during exercise. We develop a craving for endorphins, which makes exercise nerds want to go for a run or do a workout despite the stressful day they may have had. Laughing also releases endorphins to mask the pain we are causing ourselves when our organs convulse. This probably explains the benefits of all the laughter clubs we see around, especially for people who don’t exercise enough.

So, let’s buckle up, folks, because it’s time to get happy! Equipped with the science of happy hormones, let’s see how you can get your daily DOSE of happy hormones. Here is what you can do to live a physically, mentally and socially more fulfilling and happier life.

· Create realistic and meaningful goals and align your daily tasks with the same. Organize yourself with a To-do list and list what you want to do the next day, the previous evening. Slice your big, hairy, audacious goals into more doable tasks and activities which you can slot on your daily To-do list. Give yourself an opportunity to win every day with some ‘done’ ticks and ‘scratched-out’ tasks on your To-do list. Make sure you get your nano-shots of dopamine every single day.

· Make time for relationships. Build well-meaning relationships at work and home based on love and trust. Do something nice from someone around, however little it may be. Holding the door, a well-meaning thank you and a well-deserved compliment — all count. Find occasions and make time to release some oxytocin every single day.

· Keep your learning going. In today’s digital age, unlimited opportunities exist to add to your knowledge, skills and qualifications. Enrol in some learning programs alongside your work, earning more respect from those around you and helping yourself become a better person and leader.

· Render community service or volunteer hours to make a difference in the lives of others, society or the planet.

· Do some exercise every single day, pushing your body beyond normal. It doesn’t have to be a long and rigorous routine. Even 15 mins of skipping, 3 km of a jog, some push-ups and planks can make a difference to the endorphins you release in your body. And see how it makes you feel!

· Get enough sleep, don’t ever compromise on it. Turn off that Netflix episode, put your phone away and slide into the comfort of your bed.

· Don’t miss opportunities to have fun and laugh out loud with your friends and families.

And there you have the magic DOSE for a happier life, folks. A bit of exercise, some learning, socializing, healthy eating, and sleep can go a long way in boosting your happy hormones. So go forth and get happy!