Dopamine Menu: Personalizing Your Joy with the Dopamine Sort Activity (Part 2)
Taking Your Dopamine Menu to the Next Level
In a previous blog post, we introduced the concept of the Dopamine Menu, a structured way to balance your daily sources of pleasure, motivation, and fulfillment. If you haven’t read Part 1, we highly recommend starting there for a deep dive into how different dopamine-boosting activities—Starters, Sides, Main Course, Desserts, and Specials—can be used to build a sustainable, healthy dopamine diet.
Read Part 1 Here → https://www.taylorhealinginstitute.com/blog/dopaminemenu
Now, let’s take it one step further. Introducing the Dopamine Sort Activity—a simple yet powerful way to personalize your own Dopamine Menu with activities that truly bring you joy, purpose, and balance.
This activity will help you:
✔ Recognize the different ways you currently get dopamine
✔ Identify which activities are truly fulfilling versus quick, fleeting hits
✔ Balance your daily habits to avoid overindulging in low-reward dopamine sources
✔ Personalize a system that works for YOU
Let’s dive in!
What is the Dopamine Sort Activity?
The Dopamine Sort Activity is designed to help you create a customized Dopamine Menu by categorizing over 50+ dopamine-boosting activities into different sections of your daily life.
Just like a balanced diet requires variety, your dopamine intake should come from different sources—not just one or two repeated behaviors.
Using this activity, you’ll sort different types of dopamine-releasing activities into categories based on what brings you long-term fulfillment versus quick dopamine spikes.
How to Use the Dopamine Sort Activity
📌 Step 1: Download & Print the Worksheet We’ve created a free printable Dopamine Sort Worksheet so you can physically sort your favorite dopamine activities into the right categories.
📥 Download the Dopamine Sort Worksheet Here → https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y4-YwUEvwIsjxgxgqxDSeyPis0Hzs9y7/view?usp=sharing
📌 Step 2: Review the List of Activities Go through the provided list of 50+ dopamine-releasing activities and reflect on how each one makes you feel.
📌 Step 3: Sort the Activities Into Categories Categorize each activity into the five sections of the Dopamine Menu—be honest with yourself about what brings long-term joy versus quick dopamine spikes. (For a full breakdown of each category, check out Part 1!)
📌 Step 4: Personalize Your Menu Write in your own meaningful activities that aren’t on the list! This is YOUR dopamine system—make it authentic to your life.
📌 Step 5: Display & Use Your Dopamine Menu Daily Keep your completed Dopamine Menu somewhere visible (like your refrigerator, desk, or phone wallpaper) as a reminder to nourish yourself with balanced dopamine sources.
Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your Dopamine Intake
By using the Dopamine Sort Activity, you’ll build awareness around your dopamine habits and create a balanced, fulfilling “dopamine diet.”
✅ You’ll be less reliant on quick-fix dopamine (scrolling, snacking, distractions).
✅ You’ll start choosing deeper, more nourishing dopamine sources (creativity, movement, relationships).
✅ You’ll feel more in control of your mood and motivation every day.
📥 Download the Dopamine Sort Activity Here → https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y4-YwUEvwIsjxgxgqxDSeyPis0Hzs9y7/view?usp=sharing
💡 If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, start here: https://www.taylorhealinginstitute.com/blog/dopaminemenu
💬 Have you tried organizing your dopamine intake before? Drop a comment below—what’s one activity that gives you the best long-term dopamine boost?
