Hormones play a key role in our behavior, influence how we perceive and react to what is happening around us, how we act in a given situation, and how we feel.
The work of hormones can explain even seemingly innate human qualities.
Neuroscience has recently developed a lot, and it is thanks to discoveries in this area that we can understand the role of hormones in productive work and study and use this knowledge in our lives.
Dopamine, or the pleasure hormone
This is a hormone that is closely related to motivation and the desire to achieve something, as well as the pleasure we feel after a successful job.
Dopamine levels increase when we have a craving for something, and this creates an incentive to act. “If I do this, I'll get something good, tasty, nice.” Then dopamine drops, and that makes us feel pain—we need to achieve our goal at all costs. If we succeed, dopamine levels rise again, and we experience pleasant feelings — the so-called “dopamine reward”.
Dopamine helps you focus on tasks and is the basis of the body's “reward system”.
How to increase “dopamine” motivation?
- Come up with rewards after a successful job
- Periodically conduct a “dopamine detox” — deliberately depriving yourself of some of the pleasures in order to improve the tone of dopamine chains.
- Exercise regularly
- Develop a healthy sleep habit
- Listen to music
- Meditate between work or school
Adrenaline, or stress hormone
The hormone responsible for anxiety, endurance, perseverance, fear. In the long run, adrenaline rush will, of course, hinder us from learning, but it is the best way to get us out of our state of rest and push us to action. This hormone is responsible for the ability to quickly cope with difficulties and overcome obstacles.
Adrenaline helps the brain to firmly remember programs that led to success (“positive reinforcement”) and block unsuccessful programs (“negative reinforcement”). Thus, the hormone helps us learn to avoid trouble and remember ways out of potentially or really dangerous situations.
The small, controlled stress caused by adrenaline has a positive effect on concentration.
Our consciousness seems to fall into a tube that creates the only direction for solving the problem. In this state, our body is as collected and productive as possible.
Acetylcholine
Acetylcholine can activate the brain. It helps you focus on solving problems while on the go. It affects the ability to maintain attention in one activity and pursue one goal. It has a positive effect on vigor, communication skills and productivity.
What will help increase acetylcholine?
- Breathing exercises
- Cool shower
Serotonin, or the hormone of happiness
This hormone and neurotransmitter has a balancing effect. It reduces stress levels and calms the central nervous system. Thanks to this chemical compound, we feel confident in ourselves and become less vulnerable to negative external influences. We are in an even emotionally stable state, which allows us to concentrate on studying or working for a long time.
What increases serotonin?
- Regular quality sleep (go to bed no later than 23:00)
- Fresh air and day/sunlight for at least 30 minutes a day
- Light exercise (yoga, pilates, swimming, walking, biking)
- Massage
- Reduce consumption of carbonated drinks and fructose
- Eat protein foods (meat, nuts, beans, hard cheeses, fish)
Thus, by maintaining a stable hormonal balance, we increase the productivity of any activity, in particular, study, and also have a positive effect on the quality of life in general.
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