Life is like a roller coaster, sometimes you’ll be riding up towards your goals and dreams, and sometimes you’ll be on your way down. Both are natural parts of life. Much to our dismay, we can’t control our life’s course. One thing we can do is choose whether we scream in fear or enjoy the ride. A great way to ensure you’ll be able to appreciate your journey to the fullest is making sure you have the right amount of dopamine in your brain. But what is it, exactly?

Just like Serotinon, Doampine is s a chemical messenger in our brains. It is in charge of many important functions such as motivation, moods, sleep, memory, and behavioral regulation. Having the right amount of dopamine is key to resilience and overall satisfaction with life. So what can you do to increase your dopamine and make sure you’ll be coasting through life’s lows?

Sleep More

We all get told that we should get at least nine hours of sleep a night. But is it actually that important? Well, according to experts it is. If you don’t get at least seven hours of sleep, your dopamine receptors don’t function as well as they should, which means you are more likely to feel cranky and sad.

Listen to Music

You probably know what effect music has on you, it can change your mood in an instant. If you feel low or unmotivated just put some music on. Create a playlist of some of your favorite happy songs. A 2011 study shows that when you listen to pleasant music, your dopamine levels are increased.