by Juan Apolinario C. Reyes
My dopamine experience with video production for math
If ever I seemed to many people as a high-achieving and highly productive adult that is maybe because of my frequent bouts with dopamine experience.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which gives us the feeling of high, and since we tend to pursue experiences which give us a high, this neurochemical is tagged as the substance responsible for our addiction to thrills, drugs, sex, alcoholism, etc. Good for me, I became addicted to a different sort of thrills.
When I was a triathlete, it gave me great thrill and rush to set new personal records in swim, bike, and run, either in training exercises or actual competitions. It was a bigger thrill to make a podium finish or see my name in the top 10 finishers of prestigious races. This is possibly the chemical reason why I was so intensely into triathlon for 15 years.
I spent the prime of my adult life competing seriously in a sport where I was never born and trained to do in my youth. The thought that I achieved something which was outside my zone of competence is what unleashed a flood of dopamine into my brain. That is the one and only reason why I became persistent and intense as a triathlete years ago.
Now, I am retired from triathlon and am into writing textbooks. I led the writing of 10 books in two years. The reason why these numbers are stacking up is because I am pursuing the dopamine experience. I have done enough self psychoanalysis to conclude that I became extraordinarily productive because I was hoping each book will reward me with the rush I used to get from competing in triathlon races.
After 10 books, I can fairly say I get a lot more satisfaction drinking beer alone than in seeing my books in print and used by schools. This is the most lame achievement I have had in my life. Were it not for the fact that people, in general, finds this output extraordinary, I would lump the achievement of writing and publishing books as inconsequential as brushing my teeth.
Now, stay with me in this page for two more paragraphs, because I recently discovered a source of dopamine rush. I discovered that producing videos for my math online video tutorials gives me some rush and thrill quite close, but not too close, to triathlon experience. This is the only reason why I am kind of addicted to it right now. I have not returned to writing General Physics since two weeks ago. I have 500 more pages to write in that book.
What are the reasons why video production is my new supplier of dopamine?
1. Quick results. In less than 24 hours, I can already see the results of my efforts. I do video recording during the day, and voice-over work at night. The next day, my videos are ready for upload in youtube and facebook.
2. Likes and views from youtube and FB. Yes, my dear friends, psychologists are right. We hunger for the likes and views we get online. I like it, and am subconsciously longing to see my numbers improve.
3. BLUE LIGHT from videos. When you work on videos, you are exposed to light beamed by your gadget. I have this theory that the frequency of light beamed by my ipad is calibrated to stimulate my brain into releasing dopamine.
I am addicted to producing math online video tutorials right now, this addiction needs more psychoanalysis, because I do not know where this will lead me.
My dopamine experience with video production for math
If ever I seemed to many people as a high-achieving and highly productive adult that is maybe because of my frequent bouts with dopamine experience.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which gives us the feeling of high, and since we tend to pursue experiences which give us a high, this neurochemical is tagged as the substance responsible for our addiction to thrills, drugs, sex, alcoholism, etc. Good for me, I became addicted to a different sort of thrills.
When I was a triathlete, it gave me great thrill and rush to set new personal records in swim, bike, and run, either in training exercises or actual competitions. It was a bigger thrill to make a podium finish or see my name in the top 10 finishers of prestigious races. This is possibly the chemical reason why I was so intensely into triathlon for 15 years.
I spent the prime of my adult life competing seriously in a sport where I was never born and trained to do in my youth. The thought that I achieved something which was outside my zone of competence is what unleashed a flood of dopamine into my brain. That is the one and only reason why I became persistent and intense as a triathlete years ago.
Now, I am retired from triathlon and am into writing textbooks. I led the writing of 10 books in two years. The reason why these numbers are stacking up is because I am pursuing the dopamine experience. I have done enough self psychoanalysis to conclude that I became extraordinarily productive because I was hoping each book will reward me with the rush I used to get from competing in triathlon races.
After 10 books, I can fairly say I get a lot more satisfaction drinking beer alone than in seeing my books in print and used by schools. This is the most lame achievement I have had in my life. Were it not for the fact that people, in general, finds this output extraordinary, I would lump the achievement of writing and publishing books as inconsequential as brushing my teeth.
Now, stay with me in this page for two more paragraphs, because I recently discovered a source of dopamine rush. I discovered that producing videos for my math online video tutorials gives me some rush and thrill quite close, but not too close, to triathlon experience. This is the only reason why I am kind of addicted to it right now. I have not returned to writing General Physics since two weeks ago. I have 500 more pages to write in that book.
What are the reasons why video production is my new supplier of dopamine?
1. Quick results. In less than 24 hours, I can already see the results of my efforts. I do video recording during the day, and voice-over work at night. The next day, my videos are ready for upload in youtube and facebook.
2. Likes and views from youtube and FB. Yes, my dear friends, psychologists are right. We hunger for the likes and views we get online. I like it, and am subconsciously longing to see my numbers improve.
3. BLUE LIGHT from videos. When you work on videos, you are exposed to light beamed by your gadget. I have this theory that the frequency of light beamed by my ipad is calibrated to stimulate my brain into releasing dopamine.
I am addicted to producing math online video tutorials right now, this addiction needs more psychoanalysis, because I do not know where this will lead me.