7 Day Dopamine Detox

I’ve observed it for a while, this crazy world we live in. The dopamine ride. The highs, the lows, that take us out of our natural state.

Human Connection.

Everyone running around, making themselves busy. No time to stop, wearing it like a badge of pride.

A whole market has been made out of a life that once came naturally. A market to feel better when you’re not feeding the beast.

But a smoothie won’t cut it when you’re scrolling your phone. Nor yoga in the morning followed by a flat white and blueberry muffin. When you’re on ‘next day delivery’ ordering your matcha powder. The drug is the same. You just haven’t seen how it’s got you.

No time for a walk with the people that matter, nor to cook a good dinner that will nourish your body. But the worst? Oh the worst is avoiding the silence, suppressing your feelings, not listening to the guidance. The guidance you can hear in the whispers of nature. The guidance you hear when you’re relaxed and at peace. And you’ll know it’s your guidance as it will just feel like ease.

Dopamine. Dope.

A drug we can be too blind to see. Focusing on a ‘sugar detox’ or ‘sober January’.

There’s no wonder we never get ourselves out of this ‘mental health crisis’ in the UK. Statistics constantly stagnating or even rising.

But the real root of it all never quite addressed….

And the rise in use of technology EVERYWHERE (Even Blackpool pleasure beach!).

Having been on my own journey of consciously rewiring my brain for the last 60 days, I hit a point of overwhelm. No return and I knew what had to be done. I switched my phone off, gave it to my husband and said DO NOT let me have this for 3 days. Only, once that had started something else clicked…

I needed a FULL cleanse.

So 7 days. Dopamine detox.

No phone, no Netflix, no screens, no sugar, no caffeine, no external validation, no AI, no people pleasing or fake friendship, no gossiping, no next day delivery, no shopping, no tv, no processed food.

And honestly? It was easy.

Once I make a decision, I go all in.

To begin with I felt a bit lost. I napped more. Went for more walks. Drank LOTS of water (charcoal and coconut water to be specific) and stocked up on vitamins. I read, I wrote, played games with my children, went to the theatre, hugged my husband and I rested. All while my family were watching movies, eating chocolates, drinking coffee and phone scrolling around me! The real challenge was not to project it onto them or cast any judgement. This was a personal challenge for me.

And now, coming out the other side?

I feel clearer. Calmer. Slower. More focused and much more grounded.

I noticed a real difference when I went to my bell ringing lesson. The clarity and confidence I felt was astounding. No twitchiness, no loss of focus. Just clear, grounded presence.

At the theatre, I was absorbed and afterwards my husband said he could tell. He himself admitted that his mind kept wandering.

And seeing more clearly means that we had some good conversations too. There were a few leaky boundaries happening in our household. We sat down, had a really calm conversation and wrote up some new boundaries, responsibilities, rewards and consequences going forward.

However, the real test starts now. Re-integrating without letting it overcome me again.

But if it does, I know what to do.

And the most exciting part, is that this all just confirms that my K’nnekted workshops, courses and training for the whole will stay screen free. I don’t just think it’s me. Six years post Covid, a world of AI and not always knowing what’s real and what’s not, and I think we’re all ready for more human connection. The REAL dopamine.

Here’s to a year of feeling more connected to ourselves than ever before, to each other and to the communities around us. This year, I am all about REAL experiences and connection.

How about you? What would you like more of this year?

Rach xx