Dear students,

Do you often struggle with procrastination or find it hard to stay motivated while studying? What if learning could be as engaging and enjoyable as playing a game?

Why not try the "Dopamine Learning Method", a scientific approach that activates your brain's reward system, turning every step of progress into a genuine sense of accomplishment?

This guide will teach you all about the Dopamine Learning Method and help you unlock a new, enjoyable learning experience.

What is the Dopamine Learning Method?

The core idea behind the Dopamine Learning Method is to connect learning behaviors with the brain's dopamine release mechanisms. By proactively creating and amplifying a sense of "immediate achievement" and "positive feedback" during the learning process, you can strengthen motivation and sustain focus.

When you acquire new knowledge, dopamine makes you feel good, and this pleasure, in turn, encourages you to keep learning, making the entire process more engaging.

How to practice dopamine learning?

1.Break down your goals

Break down long-term or complex learning tasks into smaller, specific, and measurable subtasks that can be completed quickly. Make each goal achievable to ensure a high success rate and reduce frustration caused by setbacks.

Example:

Original goal: Master the first chapter of a professional course

Broken-down goals: Understand the key points of Section 1.1, then Section 1.2, and so on until the entire chapter is mastered.

2.Design a reward system

Set up an immediate and enjoyable reward for completing each small goal. The rewards should match the difficulty and time required, and be given right after the task is completed. Avoid setting overly distracting rewards for insignificant tasks.

Example:

Not recommended: After reading for 30 minutes, reward yourself with three hours of basketball. This reward is disproportionate and may disrupt your focus.

Recommended: After reading for 30 minutes, reward yourself by listening to a favorite song.

Additionally, self-affirmation is a powerful intrinsic reward. The anticipation of a reward helps sustain long-term motivation and reinforces your brain's association between learning and pleasure.

3.Build a progress-tracking system

To make your progress visible, you can:

• Check off completed items on a to-do list
• Use focus-timer apps to track focused study sessions
• Create a simple progress bar or Gantt chart
• Keep a log of finished tasks and key takeaways to regularly review and observe your knowledge growth

When a long-term or complex task is fully completed, treat yourself to a "big reward."

Example:

Put up a sheet of paper on your wall and draw a progress bar. Color in one section for each small task you complete. Watching the bar gradually fill and anticipating the final reward, such as a hiking trip to a dream city, will keep you motivated.

4.Integrate learning into habits

Use "habit stacking" to attach a new learning behavior to an existing habit. Leverage dopamine's habitual nature to promote self-discipline, gradually turning the new learning habit into a natural part of your daily routine, just like eating or sleeping.

Example:

Existing habit: Make a cup of coffee every morning

New habit: Ten minutes of reading

Habit stacking: Read while waiting for the coffee to brew

5.Study together for mutual support

Partner with peers who share similar goals and progress levels to form study buddy pairs or small groups. Engage in regular online or offline study sessions, progress reviews, and problem-solving discussions. By combining social enjoyment with learning achievements, you can double your reward.

Peer recognition and companionship serve as powerful instant rewards that help you maintain enthusiasm for learning.

Example:

Form a "Chinese Culture Study Group" with fellow students focused on The Analects. Set a daily micro-goal, such as to closely read and understand one passage. After completion, share your key insight in one to two sentences in the group chat. You can also maintain a shared study progress table to track your learning process. Every share and interaction brings your brain both learning and social rewards.

As the new semester begins, you may need some time to adjust. We wish every student a fulfilling and joyful learning journey.

Source: Official WeChat account of China Scholarship Council at "gh_afaa09c3e5f3"