Dopamine serves as the primary currency of reward and motivation, which is depleted by excessive, unearned dopamine surges but replenished and amplified by completing purposeful tasks.

“If one is not in a place of being able to set their goal on a particular lofty goal, a graduate degree, a book, etc., yet, the way one gets to that is by completing things in their immediate environment from start to finish and closing the dopaminergic loop.”

The dopamine release experienced after performing a beneficial activity is more important than the pleasure felt beforehand.

“I don't feel good before I go to the gym or maybe before I meditate or before I eat a healthy bowl of protein and food that's good for me but I always feel good after it I love that”

We should treat our dopamine reserves like a resource that should be invested in effortful challenges, rather than spent on low-friction, addictive activities that diminish our energy.

“The comfort crisis made me realize that every activity available to us, easy or challenging, destructive or constructive, can and should be viewed through the lens of whether it spends our dopamine reserves or invests them in a worthwhile way.”