I doubt this is why political engagement isn’t present on TikTokers’ dopamenus, but as someone who’s gotten more and more involved in local organizing, I can say it’s not always something I’d associate with mood boosting, which partially seems to be the point. Even when it’s frustrating, I sometimes come away from it reinvigorated, but other times, it’s just soul-sucking. If you have likeminded individuals who share the same struggles, however, then kvetching about it is actually wonderful and should be on everyone’s dopamenu, imo.
One positive thing from the overview you shared, though, is that there were more than a few tactile-based suggestions, which I think is wonderful. It’s unfortunate that some were based in unobtainable beauty standards (the “everything shower”) or consumption (“go buy a little food/drink treat”), but even doing something like folding your laundry while listening to an audiobook, music, or a podcast that makes you think is tactile. I think getting into a repetitive motion activity can be great, barring body aches.
I think you have a really good point that it’s not about being *bored* so much as restless, overwhelmed, uneasy, trapped by capitalism.
Left completely to my own devices I will find ways to entertain myself, but doomscrolling and scrolling in general is what happens when im overwhelmed by a sense of personal responsibility—like when i am on lunch break and know I need to go back to work so theres no time to do anything else, or when I need to get ready for work and am trying to make myself feel motivated to start moving. Like, it is seeking stimuli but not for the reasons that some of the pop culture dopamine theory proponents suggest
I relate so hard to this, I'm always finalizing eBay carts, researching ancient Roman insult graffiti, watching intricate wire wrap tutorials, or saving gardening tricks to experiment with at the most inconvenient, I'm supposed to be getting dressed/ready (which takes me hundreds of years with how distracted and out of touch with how most experience the passing of time).. all while getting a contrarian rush of glee that I'm, what? Stealing time from myself? Being rude to someone waiting on me to come groom their dog, which they are already way too understanding of how slow I am, how abismal I can be in calling back, rescheduling constantly, and always rushing out 30min after I said I'd be there? I intellectually grasp the pathological demand avoidance brand of autistic spectrum I'm splattered across, but the lingering, all powerful capitalist conditioning bullying me in my head still berates me for being stupid, lazy, apathetic, failing, etc over how my brain experiences, processes, and interprets the sensory bombardment that is existence within an expanding spacetime continuum in which the only constant, guarantee, and necessity is change. The teetering undulation of chaotic drive through cycles of homeostasis and entropy.
Earlier this year I needed to stay away from my phone/the internet to avoid triggering health anxiety-health depression, and I made something like a dopamenu that helped me find things to do that weren't on my phone, or crying nonstop. It was a checklist type but it had different categories (House, Phone, Social, Seasonal), and none 'needed' to be done, but 'could' be done or would be done. All of the things took enough of my attention, and most were simple enough to transition into, esp when off my phone.
When the list looked sufficiently messy, with checks, additions and redefined tasks, i'd make a new list and just throw the old one out. Making the list itself felt nice but so did the checking off (is this always goal accomplishment at its core?). It didn't feel like a productivity goal because throwing out the list essentially meant I couldn't keep track of any of the things I'd done lol.
Some days I'd do only one thing and still rewrite the list so i could make it look cuter (more drawings!). I stopped making lists as frequently when I got my anxiety under control but I miss the clarity it gave me.
I almost always only scroll because I'm doing something i need to do on my phone and then need emotional regulation. I choose scrolling because transitioning to something off-phone feels hard! I don't even like scrolling: I love looking at new stuff but almost always feel that jittery sense of loss of control when I've scrolled for more than 10 minutes, esp when the algo isn't just right hahah
As a person who's trying to figure out what even makes me happy, I've stopped scrolling. (yes I opened Reddit on reflex today then closed it when I realized I don't give a shit about any of the suggested ragebait posts). I've been sitting more with being bored, the pre-cell phone feeling, when I'm in the in-between times I let myself move through dissociation, then boredom, then actually recognizing any needs or feelings I have.
My therapist said to "consider the consequences", and honestly any time I log on to the internet I'm met with an amount of overstimulation and hyper connection that increases my overall anxiety. Like, instead of sitting on my phone I watched a longform YouTube video about something I was interested in. Letting the boredom creep in also lets in our questions about the universe. It also helps me get my chores done because when I'm bored I would much rather be folding laundry or whatever (lol).
I do still play my nonogram game on my phone when I need the depressurization or transition from work/activity/to home, but then I figure out what else I need. it might just be playing with slime or a glitter wand or laying on the floor.
I doubt this is why political engagement isn’t present on TikTokers’ dopamenus, but as someone who’s gotten more and more involved in local organizing, I can say it’s not always something I’d associate with mood boosting, which partially seems to be the point. Even when it’s frustrating, I sometimes come away from it reinvigorated, but other times, it’s just soul-sucking. If you have likeminded individuals who share the same struggles, however, then kvetching about it is actually wonderful and should be on everyone’s dopamenu, imo.
One positive thing from the overview you shared, though, is that there were more than a few tactile-based suggestions, which I think is wonderful. It’s unfortunate that some were based in unobtainable beauty standards (the “everything shower”) or consumption (“go buy a little food/drink treat”), but even doing something like folding your laundry while listening to an audiobook, music, or a podcast that makes you think is tactile. I think getting into a repetitive motion activity can be great, barring body aches.
I think you have a really good point that it’s not about being *bored* so much as restless, overwhelmed, uneasy, trapped by capitalism.
Left completely to my own devices I will find ways to entertain myself, but doomscrolling and scrolling in general is what happens when im overwhelmed by a sense of personal responsibility—like when i am on lunch break and know I need to go back to work so theres no time to do anything else, or when I need to get ready for work and am trying to make myself feel motivated to start moving. Like, it is seeking stimuli but not for the reasons that some of the pop culture dopamine theory proponents suggest
I relate so hard to this, I'm always finalizing eBay carts, researching ancient Roman insult graffiti, watching intricate wire wrap tutorials, or saving gardening tricks to experiment with at the most inconvenient, I'm supposed to be getting dressed/ready (which takes me hundreds of years with how distracted and out of touch with how most experience the passing of time).. all while getting a contrarian rush of glee that I'm, what? Stealing time from myself? Being rude to someone waiting on me to come groom their dog, which they are already way too understanding of how slow I am, how abismal I can be in calling back, rescheduling constantly, and always rushing out 30min after I said I'd be there? I intellectually grasp the pathological demand avoidance brand of autistic spectrum I'm splattered across, but the lingering, all powerful capitalist conditioning bullying me in my head still berates me for being stupid, lazy, apathetic, failing, etc over how my brain experiences, processes, and interprets the sensory bombardment that is existence within an expanding spacetime continuum in which the only constant, guarantee, and necessity is change. The teetering undulation of chaotic drive through cycles of homeostasis and entropy.
Respect and solidarity, fellow sapien,
All power to all the people 🤘🐌
Earlier this year I needed to stay away from my phone/the internet to avoid triggering health anxiety-health depression, and I made something like a dopamenu that helped me find things to do that weren't on my phone, or crying nonstop. It was a checklist type but it had different categories (House, Phone, Social, Seasonal), and none 'needed' to be done, but 'could' be done or would be done. All of the things took enough of my attention, and most were simple enough to transition into, esp when off my phone.
When the list looked sufficiently messy, with checks, additions and redefined tasks, i'd make a new list and just throw the old one out. Making the list itself felt nice but so did the checking off (is this always goal accomplishment at its core?). It didn't feel like a productivity goal because throwing out the list essentially meant I couldn't keep track of any of the things I'd done lol.
Some days I'd do only one thing and still rewrite the list so i could make it look cuter (more drawings!). I stopped making lists as frequently when I got my anxiety under control but I miss the clarity it gave me.
I almost always only scroll because I'm doing something i need to do on my phone and then need emotional regulation. I choose scrolling because transitioning to something off-phone feels hard! I don't even like scrolling: I love looking at new stuff but almost always feel that jittery sense of loss of control when I've scrolled for more than 10 minutes, esp when the algo isn't just right hahah
As a person who's trying to figure out what even makes me happy, I've stopped scrolling. (yes I opened Reddit on reflex today then closed it when I realized I don't give a shit about any of the suggested ragebait posts). I've been sitting more with being bored, the pre-cell phone feeling, when I'm in the in-between times I let myself move through dissociation, then boredom, then actually recognizing any needs or feelings I have.
My therapist said to "consider the consequences", and honestly any time I log on to the internet I'm met with an amount of overstimulation and hyper connection that increases my overall anxiety. Like, instead of sitting on my phone I watched a longform YouTube video about something I was interested in. Letting the boredom creep in also lets in our questions about the universe. It also helps me get my chores done because when I'm bored I would much rather be folding laundry or whatever (lol).
I do still play my nonogram game on my phone when I need the depressurization or transition from work/activity/to home, but then I figure out what else I need. it might just be playing with slime or a glitter wand or laying on the floor.