#doing more productive engaging and fun things is a good goal

[green-cargaytions]

gritting my teeth white knuckling the bathroom sink the 6 days between christmas and new years are for the express purpose of doing as little as possible. you are not allowed to feel bad for staring at your phone and eating So Much peanut brittle.

[dragonnarrative-writes]

‘Generative AI invites users to bypass mindfully engaging with the physical act of creating’ this hit me like a bag of fucking bricks, you’re a gem darling

I've been thinking about this again, and I want to expand.

A lot of us look at writing or making art as focused on the end goal. The point seems to be that final, publishable draft, the thing that makes us look at it and say "yeah, that's it! that's the idea, the feeling, i've captured it!"

But in our world of instant gratification, the sense of satisfaction involved with the process is diminished. The actual practice of creating, and learning how to create, has been framed as the thing "keeping" you from reaching the goal. It's almost a punishment - the time and effort is a cost to pay for an end product.

So of course people would try to reduce the time and effort. They think they're saving something by doing it. But the time and effort saved come at the cost of fun and connection and physical satisfaction.

This isn't a surprise. A lot of the things that are "good" for us have been muted and dulled and repackaged for "convenience" or "maturity" or a demonstration of "natural skill."

The easiest comparison I can make is movement. How many of us would look forward to moving if we were playing low-stakes kickball, or taking a walk and chatting with friends, or splashing and laughing in some water? Who remembers Pokemon Go summer, and how people were out and about? And how many of us have ever felt anxious, uncomfortable, or discouraged by the very idea of hopping on a treadmill or going to the gym? For a lot of us (me included) going to the gym feels like working toward a goal, not an actually fun time for its own sake.

Writing, in my experience, can be enjoyable as an action, not just a means to an end. I like writing! I love putting pen to paper, and I love the purple ink I use. I love my dot grid notebook, I love writing in messy cursive and rediscovering my penmanship. I love typing on my computer (except when my E key sticks when I'm typing really fast), and I like using scrivener and figuring out the music for the story I'm working on. I love using a thesaurus to look up just the right word. I love sharing a first draft with my partner, my boyfriend, my friends, and asking them "does that make sense?" so we can all laugh and screech and cackle. I love looking back on some of my writing and saying "what was I thinking????" I love rediscovering some of my favorite lines and saying "yeah, that? that slaps."

When you have generative ai make your process more "efficient," you don't learn what physically feels good about writing. You don't figure out what gives you those warm fuzzies, what makes you smile about your own action. And you deserve to feel good in that way.

[idontmindifuforgetme]

You are so productive and living your best life I admire it so much! I don't understand how you do it... do you have any advice for forcing yourself to do the things you know are good for you even when you are feeling sad and not up to it? Have a lovely day ❣️❣️❣️

Plan your day hour by hour. This actually revolutionized my life. Plan when you’ll wake up, plan what you’ll do every hour of the day, and make it as realistic as possible to stick to your goals. Start with simple things and gradually ramp it up. Don’t overwhelm your day with 60 different goals. I’d pair one passive goal (be on your phone less, for example) with one active goal (study more, take more walks, read more) and go from there. It’s better to start small and be consistent than to start big and quit one day in.

Lower the resistance necessary to accomplish tasks. If you have somewhere to be early tomorrow, plan your outfit the night before. If you have studying to do, have your textbooks/notebooks/notes on your desk by the time you wake up. If you have an overwhelming task, break it into smaller subtasks and focus on them one at a time. If you don’t want to be on your phone in the morning, charge it somewhere you won’t be able to see the moment you open your eyes. I’m trying to overcome the phone issue right now, so instead of setting an alarm on my phone I just bought a digital alarm clock bc I know I’m way less likely to get on my phone that way. I’m lowering the effort needed to actually get started on a task.

Have motivational things handy for when you’re down!! I’m a highly visual person, so it actually really helps me to make moodboards. I have moodboards for things I wanna accomplish, moodboards for things I’ve already accomplished, a Pinterest board for affirmations etc etc. I have a list on my notes app for all the reasons why it’s important to me to accomplish my goals. I have another notes app page dedicated to pasting all the motivational quotes that help me whenever I’m in a funk. You could even print them and hang them up on your wall if you want. In times where instant gratification overshadows getting things done, make it very accessible to remember why they’re important to you to begin with.

Romanticize your tasks. I make silly to-do lists, I make sure I’m always in cute outfits when I’m running errands, I put on perfume and mascara and lip gloss even if I’m literally all on my own in my bedroom about to do a 3 hour study session. I love getting manicures bc there’s nothing more satisfying than studying with pretty dark red fall nails. This may sound extra but I go through my notes pretending I’m Elle Woods or something bc it makes it so much fun. A huge part of why I’m consistent with going to the gym is bc I buy pretty workout fits that just make me feel good. I wear lingerie under my clothes wherever I am bc it makes me feel like a bad bitch even if no one sees it. I don’t start a task with the thought in mind that I want to get it done already—I try to make the act of doing it in and of itself as engaging as possible.

To piggyback off that point, switch your environment if your current one isn’t serving you. Don’t just default to quitting if one approach isn’t working. If studying in your bedroom isn’t doing it, go to the nearest coffee shop. If the coffee shop isn’t working, do the library. Study indoors. Study outdoors. Study in nature. Hell study at a beach if you want to. It doesn’t matter where you are if you’re getting things done. Exhaust all your alternatives before calling it quits.

Set firm boundaries with yourself. This is so big. Self-care is absolutely treating yourself, but it’s also being your own parent and disciplining yourself if you feel like you’re not putting your all into something. In a world where it’s very easy to go “just a few more minutes on my phone” “I’ll do it tomorrow” “I can skip working out today” it’s really important to be able to parent yourself and exercise some tough love and do some things even if you don’t feel like you want to. I really struggle with this as a gen z girl bc this is THE era of instant gratification. But my goals are just more important to me than momentary comfort.

No zero days. Just bc you’re not being your 100% on one day doesn’t mean you should just lie down and do nothing. Being at 50% performance is better than being at 0%. I try to make sure I get some light tasks done on days where I don’t feel like going all in. It helps me not feel like I’ve just derailed my whole life, which consequently helps me move on from my ruts faster.

Look ahead. Can not emphasize this enough. Death motivates me like nothing else. You do not have an infinite time on this earth. You don’t want to be at the same place you’ve been at a year from now. Resist the “I’ll do it tomorrow” mentality as much as possible. Change happens in small increments & there’s no better time for it than the present. What may seem like little things you can skip out on now can quickly snowball into the very things that are preventing you from being where you want to be.

Acknowledge your limits. Someone with two full-time jobs and school should not be comparing themself to the progress of someone with one part-time job and like nothing else. I’m currently studying full-time and also trying to maintain a consistent workout routine, so I don’t expect myself to recreationally read more than 30 minutes a day, even if ideally I’d like that time to be way higher. I know it’s pointless to compare myself to someone who reads 70 books a month but has much less workload than I do. Comparison is inherently flawed bc no one else has been the dealt the cards you’ve been dealt. Tailor your schedule to your own unique situation. Make a list of your priorities and assign them to your hours accordingly.

Listen to your needs!! Mental health is the most important thing. You need to be in tune with yourself to know when you could be pushing yourself a little harder, and when it’s necessary to give yourself time off. If I’m in an actual burnout, I go out with friends. I go see a movie. I give myself the grace of being human and step back for a little bit. It’s completely okay to have those days, and acknowledging them helps you recover quicker. Take care of yourself <3

[deathbysports]

Actually, it's okay to admit your favorite player sucks.

(PT: Actually, it's okay to admit your favorite player sucks. End PT) Trigger Warning: References to sexual assault, violence, alcohol use and bigotry. And no. I'm not talking about point production (though it's okay to admit that they're not having a good year either) Last year I made a post talking about problematic players and what to do if it turns out a player we like sucks. Consider this to be a part two to that post because I feel like it's something to talk about again, especially with the amount of hockey players outing themselves as MAGA for the past months, as well as the upcoming Hockey Canada trial and, more recently, Artemi Panarin's sexual assault allegation. This time, I want to talk about the people who continue to defend them for some reason. And why you really need to cut it out with the "oh x player would NEVER do that!" bullshit.

Hockey is an enjoyable sport. It's fun, full of excitement and brings us joy. But I'm going to be honest, the culture around it fucking sucks. And with terrible culture, comes players who do bad shit. In particular, a lot of hockey players (and athletes in general, but the focus here is hockey players) are pretty fucking conservative, and hockey as a whole is a conservative sport. Let's take T.J Oshie as an example. A silly guy. A fun hockey player to watch. Both his personality and on-ice skills made me... rather fond of him. And then he made that pro-Trump post. Needless to say, I was... not thrilled. I was disappointed, disgusted, and unfortunately not surprised. Still, it hurt. Do I hate him? No, not really. I can't entirely bring myself to do that. But the whole thing definitely destroyed any desire I had of buying his jersey. Oshie's not the only one. Way too many players have outed themselves as MAGA as of late, with Ryker Evans being the most recent. Now I'm not going to deny that hockey is a conservative sport. It always has been a conservative white sport, full of rich, mostly white men. Still, it's pretty damn depressing when a player you've admired for so long is supporting a fascist. From Matthew Tkachuk to the Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky. And it's not just American politics either. Alex Ovechkin, a superstar that many people enjoy watching (myself included), and the man chasing Gretzky's goal ironically enough, is a well-known Putin supporter. And it goes beyond political views. Multiple players in the NHL have also been alleged or charged with *literal* crimes. And many of them are still playing in the NHL. Of course, it wouldn't be a 'problematic hockey players' post if we didn't bring up Patrick Kane. Ah Kaner... where do I begin with him? I'll admit, Patrick Kane's a player I do genuinely enjoy watching even as a Blues fan. Even though Chicago wasn't my favorite team. The moment I saw him play during the 2020 All-Stars I grew rather fond of him. That fondness didn't last, as a year later the Kyle Beach stuff came out. Rumors that he likely knew about it all and did nothing. Some believe he was partaking in the bullying that Beach endured. We may never know; I highly doubt we'll ever get full closure on it. But one thing is for sure: his response to the investigation findings was very, very fucking disappointing. Then I learned of his other controversies. Not just the 2015 sexual assault allegations. I'm talking about the cab driver incident. His drunken bender in Madison. His immaturity during his early years. The fucking blackface. I stopped engaging with content involving him after that for a while. I was disgusted. I was angry. I did eventually start looking at Kane content again, but even now there's a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. I will give credit where credit is due: Kane's actually made an effort to improve his image. He's stopped drinking, spoke out during the 2020 BLM movement, and showed remorse for his poor response to the Beach situation. But that doesn't absolve him of everything. He's never addressed the blackface as far as I know. He still punched a cab driver and got arrested for that. And he still has that sexual assault allegation from 2015. While I know he was never charged for it, that shit's not something that goes away easily, even with attempts to improve as a person. He's most likely going to have to live with that for the rest of his career, maybe even his life. So yeah, as much as I love watching guys like Kaner and Oshie and Ovi... I'm sorry but I also have to admit it; they kinda fucking suck as humans lmfao. Which brings me to something I've noticed; a lot of peeps aren't so willing to admit that about their own favorites, as well as a bunch of people who can't seem to handle criticism of said favorites. Here's an ask I got a while back when I posted about Kaner's alcoholism and how fans shouldn't be glorifying it (And that post wasn't even an anti-kane post!)

And honestly, this one's probably more tame compared to the other things I've seen people say. This is the thing that frustrates me the most. And listen, I do get it. It's hard to believe that a guy you idolized is a piece of shit. Sometimes it's easier to force yourself to deny it. But here's the catch; it's not an excuse to lash out at others who have very valid criticism and harsh thoughts about these guys. It's not okay to bash others who have negative opinions about your favs. None of that is okay. And it is especially not fucking okay to defend or justify or downplay these guys' actions. It's easy to say "oh this player could never!" or "my player would never do this!". Which... WRONG. You don't know these people. You don't know if they 'would never'. Sadly, because hockey culture fucking sucks, they probably fucking would do that. They probably would say that slur. They probably would commit that crime. But then again, I don't know that either. Again, I'm a stranger on the internet talking. And regardless if they have or haven't been in a scandal, the harsh truth is, these guys aren't some innocent babies that can do no wrong and just don't know better. These aren't your friends or family. These are grown fucking adults that know exactly what they're fucking doing most of the time. These people don't know you. They don't need you whiteknighting them. It's time to stop treating these guys like innocent children because they aren't. And you're allowed to have your own limits (and those limits are different for everyone). You don't have to hate them or put up some disclaimer saying "HEY THIS GUY SUCKS". I can't convince you to do that. All I ask is that you quit fucking dickriding these guys and treating them like good people because you don't fucking know that! Like, it's okay to enjoy these guys' hockey while acknowledging that they did shitty things! That doesn't make you less of a fan! Criticism isn't the same thing as hatred, and that's something some of you need to realize. Criticizing your favorites is a GOOD THING. And likewise, people are allowed to have opinions. People are allowed to be uncomfortable with the players and teams you like. If you can't handle that, consider using the block button instead of going to their ask box and screaming about how you think their opinion is "wrong" or some shit.

The world's not going to end because someone doesn't like your problematic fav. I promise.

[homunculus-argument]

I am a hedonist with a protestant work ethic. I absolutely believe that one's purpose on this earth is to just have a good time, and simply find a way to arrange your life in a way that's enjoyable to you, personally. If whatever stupid shit you're up to is fun at the moment, and does not hinder your possibilities of enjoyment later, nor prevent anyone else's fun, it's the correct thing to be doing. While having to do work that is not fun at all is often necessary in order to ensure fun later, the ideal way to live is to find ways to combine the two: figuring out how to make the necessary work more enjoyable, or how to make fun activities productive.

The only true waste of time are activities that are neither enjoyable nor useful. I don't believe in sin but I'm pretty sure that being actively engaged in activities that are neither fun nor productive is a sin. Sitting completely still in a chair staring at the wall and doing absolutely fucking nothing for five hours straight is the ideal state of existing if you're genuinely enjoying that, but being engaged in the exact same activity while you're having a bad time doing it is a crime. The goal is to do what you enjoy and enjoy whatever you do, and if I'm not deriving some kind of satisfaction from whatever I'm doing, I'm literally failing at life.

My philosophical world view and moral code are very clear, internally consistent, and beyond my therapist's comprehension.

[alexanderwales]

Every now and then I try to find a mobile game to play, for when I have downtime while waiting in line or picking my son up from school or whatever.

It's shocking how many clearly competent games have been utterly crippled by predator designs. You start off playing something that's engaging and well-paced, with interesting mechanics and a clear gameplay loop, and then twenty minutes into it they start holding out their hand and saying "money please, give me the money or you can only play at a trickle, or there are some mechanics whose only purpose is to suck the joy out of everything". The sound design is good, the art is good, this was clearly something that a team of people spent a lot of time and effort on ... and the whole thing just buckles under the weight of the monetization.

I started playing Sandship: Crafting Factory and it's a game that's clearly taking some inspiration from Factorio, except you have a mobile "sandship" so have to do some constrained little builds to output iron plates or whatever. The gameplay is in hitting production goals, building and rebuilding these small internal factory floors, and it's exactly what I want in a mobile game ... but then it comes to a standstill unless I want to engage with their microtransactions, or grind through the "free to play" stuff.

I am more than happy to pay money for games. I have more than a thousand games in my Steam library. But there's no option to have the game without that junk, and even if you paid money, you would have to pay money again down the road, because that's how they design their system.

So there are hundreds of games that look fun, and for the first ten minutes are fun, but it's all a colorful, predatory trap. And look, I don't want to be complaining about microtransactions on mobile games in 2024, it's not a new problem, but it's just so damned pervasive and I hate having a hobby where I've got people trying to trick me.

(The use of misleading art has been a whole other thing, because you get these gorgeous, evocative screenshots that lead into shitty games. It's always been a problem, but I think AI art has made it a lot worse.)

[imthepunchlord]

Kwami Personalities

Wayzz is adaptable, patient, and cautious. He likes to work closely with his humans and will pay attention to their interests and try to join in, his means of eagerly bonding with humans and to become a quick friend. He likes to be a voice of reason, forewarn against reckless action and wants humans to think things through before they act. While he is for standing your guard and protecting others, he does stress the value of your own needs, and it's ok to withdraw into your own shell when you need to.

Pollen is sweet and eager, she likes to meet new humans and figure out their purpose and placement in the "hive", she wants to help humans find what they're good at and help them thrive and serve their purpose. She urges humans to be productive, creative, to be ready leaders but also ready team players. Depending on who she's dealing with, she's either going to push a human to be more of a leader or more of a follower. Pollen does have a limit of patience and has little tolerance for anyone unruly and unreasonable. She's more than happy to leave a human powerless until they change their ways.

Trixx is observant, coy, and manipulative. She's able to get a quick sense of what sort of human she's dealing with, getting a good idea of what to say to influence them, and likes to leave things open enough for a human to act on their own. Which can make her a tad chaotic and unpredictable, as while she stands for the greater good, sometimes she focuses on the human and their wants/needs. If she also thinks they need a hard lesson, she's willing to also set them up to fail.

Tikki is dedicated and diligent. She has high values for keeping the order, to a point she can rival Huuxi in how much she cares, and likes to urge her humans to be her ideal heroes. Those that step up to the challenge, and urge them to prioritize others. Tikki likes to push humans to step up as leaders, learn that there is much more they can handle if they put their mind to it. Tikki is also supportive and affectionate, eager to build a human up, it's often her tactic to reignite an unmotivated human. Tikki can be quite the romantic, and can attach herself to the ideas of soulmates and the one true love. She has though witnessed a lot of tragedies involving love so she can be a little wary to encourage it (though she'll glow with happiness when love thrives).

Spook is a kwami of pure chaos. She makes choices on whims and can be sporadic in her nature. The Guardians are the most nervous with her as they never knew what she was going to do. Only consistency with Spook is that she likes to go for humans who are more "orderly" either in personality or lifestyle, and need a good shake up. Spook like to encourage mischief with her humans, to work on the fly, to think out of the box, be aware of new perspectives or to look at things in a different light. To not be afraid of fun and exploring new boundaries. Spook will also like to prepare her humans to be leaders, but not always as tigers are typically solitary.

Nooroo is a gentle and friendly kwami. Open minded, he's eager to work with humans and to help them grow and change and be who they want to be. He relishes being a mentor, adviser, and friend, offering light advise but leaving it up to a human to do as they need. His core strength is covering emotional needs, which has him be very empathetic, easily coming to understand a human's motivation and reasons. Depending on it, he may help the human with their goal or try to gentle sway them in a different direction.

Duusu is bubbly, energetic, flashy, and emotional. She likes to get involved with her humans and is very engaging and animated. Due to her energy, she's been regarded to be one of the cutest of the kwamis. Though she has also been regarded to be an airhead and easily distracted. Duusu can be surprisingly observant, and can throw humans off when she notices details they didn't or didn't think anyone noticed. Duusu likes to urge humans to express themselves, show off their colors and vibrancy, for what they have is beautiful. Duusu is a huge romantic and is engaging in her humans' love life. She doesn't believe in soulmates, but does believe they can be made, but she can also believe that love is fleeting and sporadic, and humans should roll with the emotion and feelings. And if it fades, that's ok, there will be others to catch their eye.

Huuxi has a strong sense of integrity and responsibility. He is a little haughty and bigheaded, and thinks highly of his morals, but he's not blind to others, their views, and needs. He prefers to going to more "chaotic" humans who clearly need some stability in their life. While he's securing that his humans are stepping up in responsibility and being the ideal heroes that keep the people and the order of the world safe, he will also be working on his human to help them find that foundation in life, for he knows they can't fully function efficiently until they are living without chaos. Which can make it challenging when they're their own source of chaos.

Plagg is lazy, gluttonous, and selfish, often prioritizing his own wants over his duty, which has him be selectively responsible. If there is a disaster that does demand his power, he'll step up then, but most cases he does question how needed is he. It's been noted by the Order that he should be paired with someone who cares greatly about being a hero and on task. Plagg is one of the few kwamis who doesn't bother trying to guide or teach humans, often he found he was ignored so he's deemed consequences for your own actions are the best teacher. It also works for him as he gets to enjoy the chaos of how things play out. While Plagg can be aloof and nonchalant with his humans and their feelings, he can come to care very deeply for them. He may be more limited on how to care and support his humans, but he'll do what he can to help however he feels is best.

[titleknown]

I will say, I'm glad folks are talking about the issues of global exploitation and the way the small-creator-merch production pipeline has a fucked up role in it, I think it's a conversation that absolutely needs to happen...

But I feel like y'all need to find a way to actually organize a campaign to materially do something about it instead of letting it devolve into a guilt-stick people bludgeon others over the head with without doing anything.

Like, for clarity's sake I'm the last person who should actually head such an org, and I'm saying this from a perspective of hypothesis, but I do at least have a list of questions you should ask yourself if you do want to start an org/movement.

Like, for the general ones:

What are your end-goals? both short-term and long term? What is a good immediately-achievable goal to work towards at the start to recruit?

What levers of power are available to use to get your goals done? What could you do to expand those levers of power?

What forces stand against you? What pillars support their power? How can you undermine those pillars?

Where is an adversarial framing avoidable? How do you build solidarity in that context? Where is adversarial framing unavoidable? How do you go forward then? How do you tell when that framing is avoidable and unavoidable?

How do you get people onboard? How do you get them to stay? How do you get them to actively work on this?

And for the ones specific to this:

What is your immediate goals for the production of these luxury goods? For it to cease because it is logistically impossible to do ethically? For it to be done with a fair wage by unionized workers if that is possible? For creatives to diversify and divest into smaller, more ethically producible merch? A combination?

How would you establish contact with those overseas workers to address their needs? Who would you ask amongst them, and how would you center their input? What would acting as a representative of your organization to speak with them entail?

What would more ethical small artists merch production entail? What methods are logistically possible? What barriers might prevent small artists from engaging in those methods? How does one deal with the problem of a consumer base that might not buy that ethical merch from said artists?

How do you propose dealing with the potential loss of income from this production for those artists who potentially cannot afford to lose it? Are there any other things causing artistic poverty or mitigations of the problem that can be addressed by this campaign as potential means to fill in that gap? Are there any orgs working on those you could potentially ally with?

What can be done to create solidarity between global north artists and global south workers rather than the current adversarial arrangement? Is that even possible? If so, what goals would achieve that in the immediate term, short term, long term?

Note I mean none of this as a bad faith rhetorical-question "gotcha," but rather, as the first steps to thinking about how one might go about this, because we need an org for this because it's an important issue we need to address as both creatives and as a larger society.

And like, while org-building is easier said than done, if this remains just in the realm of "vagueposting and scolding on social media," well...

...I ain't gonna stop you, but have fun being politically irrelevant.

[increasedopaminelevels]

How to Increase Dopamine: Boost Your Motivation and Happiness

Dopamine. You've probably heard of it. It's often referred to as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter, playing a starring role in your brain's reward system. But did you know that boosting dopamine can actually enhance your motivation, focus, and overall happiness? Whether you're looking to improve productivity, elevate your mood, or just feel a bit more energized, there are simple yet effective how to increase dopamine.

In this article, we’ll explore how you can boost your dopamine naturally, using lifestyle changes, diet, and even mental exercises. Let's dive into the brain's secret weapon!

What is Dopamine and Why Does It Matter?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which means it’s a chemical messenger in your brain. It plays a crucial role in how we feel pleasure, motivation, and reward. Think of it as the brain’s little cheerleader, encouraging you to keep going when you achieve something or experience something enjoyable.

However, when dopamine levels are low, it can lead to feelings of apathy, lack of motivation, and even depression. So, increasing dopamine isn’t just about feeling good—it’s about feeling driven and connected to your goals.

How Can You Naturally Increase Dopamine?

Now that you understand dopamine’s role in your life, let’s look at practical ways to give your dopamine levels a healthy boost.

1. Exercise: A Natural Dopamine Booster

Exercise is hands-down one of the best ways to pump up your dopamine levels. It’s like hitting the reset button for your brain! When you exercise, your body releases endorphins (feel-good hormones), but it also stimulates dopamine production.

Best Exercises for Dopamine:

Cardio workouts like running, cycling, and swimming

Strength training or weightlifting

Yoga and meditation (especially when combined with mindfulness)

Dancing (yes, dancing—it’s fun, energizing, and a dopamine dynamo)

2. Diet: Fuel Your Brain with Dopamine-Boosting Foods

You are what you eat—and your brain’s neurotransmitters are no exception! Consuming foods that are rich in tyrosine, an amino acid that helps produce dopamine, can work wonders. Think of your brain like a car: you need quality fuel to keep things running smoothly.

Dopamine-Boosting Foods:

Bananas: A perfect snack packed with dopamine-friendly nutrients.

Nuts and seeds: High in tyrosine, they help promote dopamine production.

Dark chocolate: It’s not just a treat; it can boost dopamine levels too!

Fish (especially salmon and mackerel): Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which support dopamine function.

Leafy greens (like spinach and kale): These help protect the dopamine-producing neurons.

3. Get Enough Sleep: Don’t Sleep on Dopamine

You might be thinking, "How can sleep affect dopamine?" Well, your brain produces dopamine when you’re awake, but it also replenishes dopamine stores while you sleep. If you're skimping on sleep, you’re not giving your brain the time it needs to recharge its dopamine levels.

Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night.

Establish a sleep routine to enhance the quality of your rest.

Avoid screens and caffeine before bed to improve your sleep hygiene.

4. Sunshine and Fresh Air: Nature’s Dopamine Boosters

It might sound cliché, but fresh air and sunlight do wonders for dopamine production. Exposure to natural light triggers the release of dopamine and boosts your mood. Think of it as the brain’s way of saying "thank you" for taking a moment to breathe in the outdoors.

Spend at least 20 minutes in the sun each day.

Take walks or engage in outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or even gardening.

Consider using a light therapy box during the winter months if you're lacking sunlight.

5. Set and Achieve Small Goals: Build Momentum

Dopamine loves rewards. It’s the reason why checking things off your to-do list feels so satisfying. Each time you achieve a goal, no matter how small, your brain releases a little dose of dopamine, keeping you motivated to continue the task at hand.

Tips to Boost Motivation:

Break big tasks into smaller steps to make them more manageable.

Celebrate small victories, whether that’s enjoying a cup of coffee after finishing a task or treating yourself to something you love.

Create a rewards system that makes you feel accomplished.

6. Listen to Music: Get Your Dopamine Pumping

Music is like a direct line to the heart—and the brain. It has the power to activate dopamine release, making it one of the easiest ways to improve your mood. Ever notice how listening to your favorite song can instantly boost your energy?

Play upbeat music to get energized.

Create a playlist of your favorite tunes to listen to while working or exercising.

Experiment with sound frequencies (like binaural beats) to enhance your focus and mood.

7. Meditation and Mindfulness: Calm the Mind, Boost Dopamine

Meditation and mindfulness are often associated with stress reduction, but did you know they can also increase dopamine levels? By practicing mindfulness, you not only reduce cortisol (a stress hormone) but also stimulate dopamine production.

How to Practice Mindfulness:

Start with 5-10 minutes of deep breathing or guided meditation each day.

Focus on the present moment, gently guiding your mind back when it wanders.

Incorporate gratitude exercises to shift your mindset and promote a positive outlook.

Final Thoughts: Boosting Dopamine for a Better Life

Incorporating these simple strategies into your daily routine can lead to more energy, motivation, and happiness. Whether it’s through exercise, diet, or mindfulness, the goal is to nurture your brain’s dopamine levels for a richer, more fulfilling life.

So, what are you waiting for? Start small, pick one or two of these dopamine-boosting habits, and see how they impact your mood and motivation. Your brain will thank you for it!

If you’re feeling stuck or low-energy, it might just be the perfect time to give your dopamine a little love. After all, a happier, more motivated you is just a few simple changes away.

[overflowchute]

a lot of for profit game dev patterns are about how to maximize human attention, which isn't inherently evil on its own but i would also say isn't inherently of value either. maximizing human interest for the least effort is an interesting field but only sometimes is "good". i don't hate roguelikes, but it's a constant element of why i'm extremely wary about procgen overall. i think most procgen usage makes boring games that encourage you to interesting b/c it does smth new every tenth run

procgen and randomizers work in the same way mindlessly pressing an ai art generator does, it's addicting because you can press it and randomly get something new. they can be /fun in a unique way/ but i think making a satisfying experience using them is very difficult. ive seen several games where i thought i was going to be interested only to discover that it was focused on a procgen element that left the majority of its level design feeling like nonsense instead of bespoke, i feel too many people use it as a crutch

i think one of the problems is basically this: you have infinite bells and whistles and knobs you can use to vary things in a game. but weapons with randomly generated stats and dungeons with randomly placed blocks ultimately consolidate into many things that feel "the same". if you have to choose between weapons with random buffs and stats the randomness of the weapons is sort of transient b/c what really matters is a heuristic, perhaps as simple as "if i get a gun with better damage i switch", or "trait c is better than e is better than f". and if you're really making these decisions between large sets of things that are ultimately about the same, you might as well have just had like one or two types of gun representing each trait and had me make the decisions the exact same way

as such my opinion on procedural generation is that it is most practically used for filler between elements that matter, and has the greatest artistic value in the final product when it's really just dealing you cards from a preset assemblage of sculpted combinations. this is really interesting because if your goal is to make the randomness matter while also making it use pre-existing rooms or sets or what have you, you're going to need to make more stuff than you would experience in a single run. which means good procgen is MORE work! trading card games are fun b/c there's randomness but you're playing with carefully designed and released cards, and you know what you can draw b/c you made the deck. that's kind of a benchmark for effective randomization in a game, to me

that said i think "star of providence" is a game i had a pretty good time with. it's the only rogue-lite type game ive really deeply engaged with, although i used to play tboi too ages and ages ago. so it's not like i dislike the game style... it's just difficult to do well. i played a ton of pokemon randomizers and a lot of dungeon crawl stone soup and came to be bored with how while they do change things up, highly random nature can be relatively constraining, and if the heuristic for success doesn't change the games don't feel different run to run

and if i have to do a self-imposed challenge to keep things interesting even with randomization... well, i can also just do that when playing pokemon normally, no? so it's a tool of some value but one that i think should be used with deep consideration of its role in a game. but i mean, i've only finished like one real game of any size and i mostly ponder this sort of thing as a player rather than a creator, so feel free to take all my angles with grains of salt as always lol

[trubbishrubbish]

Happy Last Day of 2023. Here's a long overdue update over how I have been.

As you recall, Jabberwock Genocide Part 2 was uploaded 3 weeks ago. And the only thing I did this whole month of December after Part 2 was uploaded was that I went to Canada to climb a huge mountain and confront my other self because it’s cheaper than going to therapy.

Just kidding, I just worked on more Jabberwock Genocide, nothing else.

This is a positive as I have made so much forward progress in the animation and the upcoming part 3 that you guys won’t have to wait 9 months for more Genocide Jack fun time. However, there is a cost to just working on Jabberwock Genocide, one that I’m currently struggling to find a way to deal with.

Basically, all my free time, focus and thinking has been dedicated to Jabberwock Genocide, but other stuff I do and create I have left to the dust.

My output in making Genocide Jack posts has just stopped.

I keep neglecting to share updates to my Sho Shrine. I am still getting new stuff for it but I have not yet organized it and taken picture of it.

I have barely played any new games. The last game I have beaten that is new was Super Mario Bros Wonder. I loved that game, but I had a hard time sitting down to play it for long sessions as I wanted to work on Jabberwock Genocide.

And tragically, I have really neglected interacting with my online friends. This I feel the most guilty of as I have no excuse for it. I know there are friends I used to talk to a lot before that I have now stopped engaging with for a really long time. If you are one of those people I just to say that I am sorry for ghosting you. I still consider you a friend I don't want our friendship to slowly die out due to lack of communication on my end.

This is my struggle. I love making Jabberwock Genocide. It’s honestly the most enriching thing I am currently doing in my life. I’m creating a story with my favorite character, Genocide Jack. I’m developing my skill as a sprite animator. I’m constantly thinking about how to create a particular scene with the limited resources I have. I get a real kick of joy when I am creating a scene and suddenly an idea comes to mind that I love and I put it in the animation.

I feel so satisfied when the ideas I have for a scene that I see in my head are transmitted into actual animation on my editor. More often then not, what I make in the final product is better than what I imagine in my head. Every single line, every single detail, every single joke, it all feels so amazing to craft them into a video.

It’s crazy to think that just a few months ago, I was at a low point in the animation where all of my motivation was drained and I struggled to make progress for weeks. But now, I feel so freaking happy and elated just thinking about the animation. Heck, even doing really tedious tasks like making every single sprite jump a little is still enjoyable to me. I’ve been working on this project since August 2022. I never expected this to be what is now when I first started writing down ideas. But I am happy the project did turn into this, because I really, truly enjoy working on this.

But… That’s the problem. I enjoy working on Jabberwock Genocide so much that any other hobbies, I find less fun. I rewrote my brain to dedicate huge parts of it to think about Jabberwock Genocide. I’m fully being this attached to a project like this isn’t healthy. I should be consuming different media and doing other activities and talking to my friends. I know this but I find it difficult to summon the energy to do it.

I’m still trying to find a good balance between working on the project and doing other leisure activities that I enjoy doing. I’m going to make this a goal for 2024, it might take me a while to find that balance but I will try to. Hopefully when I do, I can slowly rekindle friendships that I have abandoned.

That’s what I wanted to say. Thank you for taking the time to read this. See you in 2024.

[sapionic]

Horoscope For All 12 Signs For 3/30/2024

All 12 zodiac signs forecast for March 30, 2024

Aries - Your energy might be so active and possibly on overdrive that you will need to seek something that will ease your mind and bring you down a notch. You are likely to be more scattered than usual. If you can schedule some form of travel, that can help ease your mind, but just pay attention. You may be focused on being outdoors no questions asked or you can be very likely to want all information about communications that arise. You likely have choices between multiple things and should choose what will bring you the most satisfaction. Everything seems loud or extreme for you today so be aware. Some of you can have a high amount of interactions at work or near you in your environment. If you find yourself being extra critical today or nitpicking, just loosen up. Surrounding yourself around fun and positive energy is recommended. Some of you can have rowdy tempers today while others can just be surrounding by lots of stimulation.

Taurus - You may be detached today and focused on yourself. Rightfully so. If others seem detached, it is because this day is meant to be spent by yourself. There could be new opportunities presenting themselves to you one way or the other. You may need peace of mind. You could be very active on social media. If so, you should just post a picture instead of posting your personal business or worries. You may not be too focused on the details today. Some of you are loaded with work or other duties so when you find time to relax or pamper yourself today, do it. You may be busy for the most part, but it seems you definitely want to feel a sense of connectivity. The day is mainly looking dutiful.

Gemini - Just like Taurus, some of you guys could be busy or likely doing something tedious. You are likely productive today in some way. You can be cleaning, organizing, or simply working today. Good day for creators of any kind as you are likely to want to utilize your time wisely today and won't tired easily which you can put towards your ideals or projects. If work is the priority today, you will be more likely to make it fun while finding creative ways to use your time.

Cancer - You are hesitant and not likely to get into anything you dont feel whole about. This is not a day to shy away. It is a day to show up in some type of way. There is a wrapping up of some sort so if you feel heavy, this is why. There is likely something you are doing a lot of. Since you may have a lot of stamina today, this is a good work day or time to focus on projects. Good building day. Ethic, time, patience is the theme of the day. Some of you guys may be more likely to be private with certain things. Good day to keep things to yourself if you truly feel that is the best option. Some of you can be more avoidant on this day while others can tap into things related to beauty or creative art of some sort. There may be multiple things you can engage with, but it's conducive to spend this day with people close to you.

Leo - You may be extroverted today. Let me tell you that you dont have to try to force attention today because the energy supports a natural flow of fame just based on your natural creativity. You want to make sure you are not wearing yourself out for people today and know when to put more focus on yourself because today you are likely to overdo. Good day to volunteer. That would be a better way to utilize this energy. Romance is favored for you today. Big purchases is likely for some of you. You may be goal-oriented today so good day for any personal goals. Maybe you can do things in steps. Attention is definitely a highlight or you are feeling yourself.

Virgo - You are likely to picky with your energy today and you should be. Good day to focus on home and family matters. The energy is conducive for you to focus on yourself and your own comfort. What makes you feel safe? Some of you can be showing a lot of compassion and charm, but mainly to the people you truly value. Good day to do anything charitable. For some of you, you might be a little too quick to chat it up about too much so the day will require you to be cautious with your actions. Avoid unnecessary drama. Be careful that you dont come off rude or inconsiderate today. You might have some scattered energy.

Libra - You are advised to operate from a place of observance and innovation today with the outside experience you come across. Generally, the day may be pretty much smooth sailing for you. You may be pampering yourself or just in a good mood overall. This is a day where you will be willing to embrace spontaneity. Caution and sense will be used today fro many of you. It seems like some of you will have some tasks you are taking care of. Very ambitious energy so a lot can get accomplished today as you guys are feeling like you want to be proactive. Good energy for those of you with projects or businesses.

Scorpio - You guys might have some intense emotions today or there is just a lot on your mind today. Some of you may want to use your time wisely. Whatever you do, you are receiving a lot of attention and possibly may be in charge of something in particular. Impulse of some kind is likely today. You may find that you are more curious or invested in information you discover. Some of you can be coming off overbearing or pushy so be aware of that. For others, you can be operating from a place of innocent, immaturity, or playfulness. This is a day where it is better suited to focus on yourself.

Sagittarius - Likely to be a fun day for you and you will be operating from your natural energy as well. There can be a lot of fun about your day. Good day to party or attend stimulating events. You may want someone's attention romantically today and this would in fact be a good day for romance. You want to see what the day has to offer. You either want to spend a lot of time with good friends and company or there is some pressure regarding your friendships today. Something may push some of you guys to space out or distance yourselves. The day is active and full of adventure for you guys so you will likely enjoy it.

Capricorn - Big party energy. You can be entertaining today and also being entertained. Good day to party in some way. Social energy and battery is high. People may be more social with you today. You can be likely showing up with a bold, strong, or playful energy. Good day for creativity and pleasure. Although you are likely to still operate for your usual work-mode energy, you are advised to let loose and enjoy yourself today. It's like you get a pass.

Aquarius - Good day to focus on your own family and lover. This day is better suited for you and your direct family or surroundings. If you feel like you want to relax and be domestic today, the energy is screaming this. Good day to cook, eatm and watch movies or simply hang out with your loved ones. If certain things dont go your way, it is just leading you to relax today. You are likely to be private. People may be wanting to have more information about you, but you are only telling things you want to tell. You may be hiding information today or being selective and practical about your engagement. If you have to work today, you have the energy for it and will tackle your work with ease. Some of you can be a little more quiet than usual or this is an intimate type of day.

Pisces - You may feel like you are dealing with a natural heaviness today. The things you partake in though, you will likely spend a lot of time doing it. Good day to be practical. The energy is more balanced and serious, especially if you only want to spend time with yourself. There can be pressure with family or the home life in some way. Good day to do something useful. Use this day for proactivity. You are likely to be scattered or spontaneous today, but it is better suited for you to be sensible before getting into things. You may also decide this for yourself. You may be tempted to rush into something, but you may choose to be smart about it instead.

[sarapupac]

❄️CAS activity: Christmas fair

⏰Time and duration: Dec 27,2023 for the whole day

🎨Activity type: creativity,service

Activity description

❄️Our school organised a fair featuring soaps,holiday decorations and other things oir school's students created. The point of the faur was to sell as many products as we can since the profits will go to a charitable cause.

Learning outcomes

Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions

Show commitment and perseverance in CAS experiences

Reflection

❄️Participating in this fair was a great experience in itself,since we managed to do something of service to our community and people that would benefit from our efforts. As well as this beingdone for a good cause,I also personally got to develop better communication skills since our main goal was to sell as many products as possible. This naturally requires oneself to be able to persuade and catch attention. It was intimidating at first of course, however at the end of the day,I had much fun working as a team with my class on this project. I am honestly looking towards the next years fair and hoping we can earn even more donations then.

[glitchy-npc]

Can I ask for Philia 2, agape 3, pragma 4 for Tegan? And for fun a Philia 1 for Charlie? :)

Does your OC find it easy to make friends? Or are there barriers to them doing so? If so then are these due to issues of inclination, communication, or something else entirely?

Trust issues and a shitty attitude make it difficult for him to make friends but he softens over time to the persistent ones. He is defensive and loyal to the ones who do manage to get close.

To what extent does your OC believe in the value (or even existence) of true altruism? Do they see an unselfish concern for the welfare of others as being naïve or foolish? Or as a moral quality to which people should aspire?

Tegan was taught that every interaction is a transaction. No one does something out of the goodness of their heart. If they don't want something now, they will later. It did feel good to help people back in the hero days but that was more out of a desire to use his skill set for something productive and Ortega's encouragement than altruism. He does not believe in true altruism and morality as a whole is too broad and too influenceable and too perspective based to waste time debating it.

After the initial fires of passion cool to some degree, what would keep your OC engaged in a relationship? Shared goals? Similar values? Or contented companionship?

Comfortable routine and companionship. His partners have never asked for any kind of commitment from him, and he'd never ask it of them but if it ain't broke why fix it?

Does your OC have a Best Friend? If they do then how long have they known each other and how did they meet? If they don't then do they have a close group of friends they love equally? Or are they more of a loner?

Charlie is very much a loner. Alone is safe. The closest thing to a best friend she has is the Rat King and she loves them dearly. I'm hoping when she meets Vera and Arde and they can bring her out of her shell. She misses the comfort of seeing other regenes and the regene language.

Thanks for the ask! 💙

[whentherewerebicycles]

good morning! I felt pretty lousy all week but I feel so much better now—I think in retrospect I was bracing myself for something going wrong with the ultrasounds and delaying me another month. but I did the IUI yesterday and everything went well. I always feel most at peace right after the IUI because the timing is now out of my hands but I’m also still far enough from testing that I don’t feel too much anxiety about it. I’ve tentatively decided I won’t test at two weeks but will just wait for my period to come or not come. I am going to try not to calendar watch—luckily my days are a lot busier now that liz is here, school is starting, and I’m doing choir and voice lessons, so I hope the time won’t drag as much as it did last winter/spring. I’m also going to try to eat really well and will make it a fun meal planning game.

here are my goals for the next two weeks:

walk for 45-60 minutes every day (I’ve been slipping a little as things have gotten busier but I want to carve out time for it again esp while the weather is still so gorgeous)

no (or minimal) processed sugar

eat leafy dark greens every day—the easiest way to do this is to sauté big handfuls of frozen spinach with garlic and red pepper flakes and eat it as a little snack. so I will do that (but will also try to incorporate greens into my cooking).

try making beetroot juice lol apparently it’s very good for implantation in IVF cycles so might as well try it

really focus on whole food plant-based eating (although I am also eating eggs and full-fat dairy at the moment so not vegan)

don’t snack at work��people are always bringing in candy or pizza or treats which is nice but I can really mindlessly graze if it’s easily accessible. I’ll try chewing gum and/or making tea instead

hmm ok what else what else. choir was fine and then I had a great voice lesson yesterday. my teacher is a little eccentric but what person in a music career isn’t lol. she focuses a lot on helping you understand and manipulate the actual bodily mechanics of singing/sound production and I’m finding it really fascinating, so much so that it might be my next research rabbithole. I feel like she’s also good at identifying places where I’ve formed a very fixed rigid idea about what my voice “is” or is capable of doing, then creating exercises that get me to do the thing I thought I couldn’t without realizing I’m doing it. I think what I like most about the bodily-mechanics approach is that it does away with the idea that good singing is just a thing some people can naturally do and others can’t. it’s much closer to being an athlete! you have to strengthen and condition certain tiny muscles, and then through carefully scaffolded drills you develop a fine-grained ability to manipulate certain muscles and ligaments to produce different effects, and you have to be careful about using good technique when you train and perform (because like in sports, people develop bad habits to compensate for real or perceived weaknesses, which can put them at higher risk for injury). I sang for almost two decades and had 10+ years of formal vocal training as a kid/teen and I don’t know if anyone ever presented it to me in that way… or maybe they did but it didn’t click for me back then because I hadn’t yet done all of this reading and thinking about how people learn/improve/gain expertise in their chosen skills or fields. anyway I was originally thinking I’d just do a handful of voice lessons to help me feel more confident in choir but my interest is PIQUED you know my intellect is ENGAGED I think I might want to add weekly voice lessons to my budget. and I want to read everything out there on the subject lol. there is no greater joy for me than working in a focused way on improving at a skill.

okay and now let’s think about the day… here are some things I want to get done:

order peel and stick wallpaper (I am trying to figure out how to fix

plan meals

grocery shop

put laundry away

do old navy + everlane returns

swing by home depot to pick up soil, two paintbrushes, and paint (bring swatches to color match)

hourlong walk maybe on the paved trail

hammock reading in the park??

[providenceadworks2]

Behind the Scenes of the Best Creative Agency in Gurgaon

Best Creative Agency in Gurgaon: Walk into any successful brand office today, and you’ll find one common thread: a solid creative backbone. Whether it’s a memorable ad campaign, a well-timed social media reel, or a website that just gets the user, there’s usually a sharp, imaginative agency making it all work behind the scenes.

That’s the world we live in at one of the best creative agencies in Gurgaon. And trust us, it’s more than just good design and catchy slogans. It’s where strategy meets storytelling, every day.

What Makes an Agency the “Best”?

Let’s break this down. Every business claims creativity, but what separates the top creative agency in Delhi NCR from the rest is a deeper understanding of purpose. It’s not just about making things look pretty; it’s about creating impact. That’s what brands, especially in fast-paced hubs like Gurgaon and NCR, are looking for. They want ideas that move markets and narratives that stay with people.

Strategy First, Always

In the heart of Gurgaon’s business district, time runs fast. Startups are born, IPOs are planned, and product launches happen in weeks. For us, staying ahead means putting strategy first.

Being known for offering some of the best creative services in Gurgaon, we focus on understanding what a brand needs, not what’s trending on Instagram this week. Whether it’s an outdoor campaign for a real estate group or packaging design for a new organic FMCG product, we always start by asking: what problem are we solving?

And once the strategy is locked, that’s where the fun begins. Our designers, copywriters, and digital marketers collaborate like a well-oiled machine, brainstorming, testing, refining until every pixel, post, and punchline aligns with the brand’s voice.

Where Creativity Meets Gurgaon’s Energy

There’s something about Gurgaon’s spirit sharp, bold, and unapologetically ambitious. That energy reflects in our culture too. Being considered one of the famous branding agencies in Gurgaon doesn’t mean we just stick to big names. We work with everyone from homegrown businesses in Sector 29 to global tech firms in Cyber City. The goal is always the same: tell the brand’s story in a way that’s smart, compelling, and true to its identity.

Take our work with a luxury wellness brand. Instead of just focusing on visuals, we created a holistic digital-first experience that included storytelling videos, website redesign, influencer partnerships, and brand films, all tailored to speak to a premium audience across Delhi NCR.

The campaign not only boosted engagement but also built credibility. That’s the kind of behind-the-scenes work that gets real results.

It’s Not Just the Work, It’s the People

What truly makes an agency the best creative agency in Gurgaon isn’t just a brilliant portfolio; it’s the people behind it. The strategists who ask uncomfortable questions. The designers who care about the tiniest font detail. The account managers who go the extra mile to meet a client’s midnight deadline.

It’s the team culture that supports bold ideas, honest feedback, and everyday growth. And perhaps that’s what keeps clients coming back, not just for great work, but for the trust we build over time.

Looking Ahead

As brands in Gurgaon and across Delhi NCR evolve, the creative landscape continues to shift. New tech, changing audience behavior, tighter competition, it’s all part of the game. But one thing stays constant: the need for genuine, thoughtful creative partnerships.

So if you’re a brand looking for fresh ideas, or a business aiming to build something memorable, it might be time to look behind the curtain and see what working with a truly strategic, story-driven agency can do.

Behind every standout brand is a team quietly crafting brilliance.