Your Brain Needs a Reset

How MIT neuroscientist Dr. Teresa Cramer optimizes her own dopamine

Author

New Zapiens
December 04, 2025

Happy Thursday, Zapien — Here’s what we’re diving into this week:

  • Spot burnout warning signs at work and implement strategies that actually stick

  • Dopamine Reset Guide: MIT neuroscientist Dr. Teresa Cramer’s science-backed protocol to reset your brain’s reward system and reclaim focus

  • Community highlights: Health-tech founder connections, cast iron cooking tips, and compact treadmill reality check

  • How does a brain expert stay optimized? Dr. Teresa Cramer shares her complete health stack

Stay sharp,
Karol, Martin, Simon & Andy

Presented By

Community Discussion

Mental Health in the Workplace: Recognizing Warning Signs, Taking Action, and Building Sustainable Wellbeing

Mental health challenges in the workplace are becoming increasingly common—and increasingly visible. Whether it’s a colleague who seems withdrawn, a team member struggling with deadlines, or even noticing changes in your own mood and energy, the signs are there.

But recognizing them is only the first step. The reality is that most of us spend a significant portion of our lives at work. When mental health begins to suffer, it doesn’t just affect productivity—it impacts relationships, physical health, and overall quality of life. Yet many workplaces still lack the tools, language, or culture to address these issues openly and effectively.

This article explores the warning signs of declining mental health in professional settings, practical first steps for individuals and managers, and sustainable strategies to build workplaces that genuinely support wellbeing—not just as a policy, but as a practice.

Short Hack Long Life

Forest Bathing

When stress and mental fatigue peak, your nervous system needs a full reset. Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), a Japanese practice of immersive time in nature, significantly reduces cortisol, lowers blood pressure, and improves mood through phytoncides (airborne compounds released by trees) and parasympathetic nervous system activation.

The fix: Spend 2 hours in a forest environment weekly, moving slowly and engaging all senses. A study in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine found participants experienced 50% reduction in stress hormones and improved immune function for up to 7 days after a single session.

The Protocol:

📅 Timing: 2-hour sessions, ideally mid-morning
🌲 Location: Dense forest or wooded park (tree density matters)
🚶 Pace: Slow, mindful walking—not exercise
👃 Engagement: Focus on sounds, smells, textures (no phones/podcasts)
🔄 Consistency: Weekly for sustained stress reduction and immune benefits​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Dopamine Reset Guide

Practical Protocols for Reclaiming Your Focus

✔ Science-backed strategies, not willpower tactics — designed for modern professionals
✔ Protocols for dopamine regulation, attention recovery, cognitive breaks, and digital detox
✔ Trusted by professionals who optimize attention, not surrender it

WhatsApp Group Summary

Health-Tech Networking: Where Are the Longevity Founders?

Discussion: Oliver asked where health-tech and longevity entrepreneurs connect for networking, co-founder matching, and investor access. Multiple members expressed interest in joining.

Consider this: We’re hearing you loud and clear. We’re creating a dedicated WhatsApp channel for health-tech and longevity founders to connect, find co-founders, share insights, and explore partnerships. If you’re building in the wellness or longevity space, join us and help shape the European health-tech ecosystem.

Cast Iron Pan Mastery: Better Cooking vs. Coating Confusion

Discussion: 
A member struggled with cast iron pans—everything sticking despite drowning food in oil. The group debated cookware solutions: Karol recommended Turk forged iron pans (zero coatings, fully natural) with proper seasoning. Mr M defended Tefal’s PFOA-free PTFE coating as safe when used correctly. Eric shared a preheating technique: warm pan 2 minutes before oil, heat oil 20 seconds, then cook—drastically reduces sticking.

The verdict: Technique trumps coating type. Proper preheating and seasoning prevent sticking better than switching pans.

Consider this:
Cast iron pans leach dietary iron into food—especially beneficial for those prone to iron deficiency (women, vegetarians), but worth monitoring if you have high ferritin levels or take iron supplements. The effect is strongest with acidic foods and longer cooking times.

Compact Treadmills: Walking Pad vs. Zone 2 Reality Check

Discussion: 
Karol asked about the Moovv folding treadmill (€300, 12 km/h, 6% incline) for home walking and Zone 2 runs. Fabian, who used a similar Amazon model for over a year, cautioned that compact treadmills work well for walking but are risky for running—especially for people over 1.75m tall. The small surface area requires constant precision to avoid stepping off, creating high injury risk regardless of price point.

Consider this:
Consider your height and primary use before buying. A compact treadmill that sits unused because it’s too risky for running is more expensive than a proper treadmill you’ll actually use consistently.

Community Health Stack

Dr. Teresa Cramer

Teresa is a neuroscientist at MIT’s Picower Institute investigating a question most of us are grappling with: why has sustained focus become nearly impossible? Trained at Harvard and University College London, she researches how our dopamine-hijacked environments are fundamentally rewiring our brains—and what we can do about it.

Teresa`s Trusted Brands

Teresa`s Health Routine

Morning
• Wake up around 6:30 AM
• 30 minutes phone/laptop-free to stabilise morning dopamine and prevent reward-driven distraction
• Drink 1L warm water with freshly squeezed lemon
• 2 protein yogurts (Oikos Triple Zero is my favorite)
• 5g Taurine
• Take 1 BOOST shot
• Batch similar tasks (emails, admin, creative work) to avoid switching fatigue and conserve cognitive bandwidth

Afternoon
• Lunch: lean protein with vegetables
• 15-minute outdoor walk (light movement stabilises dopamine and clears mental load)
• Take a FOCUS shot
• One-Task Rule: one goal, one tab, one screen — protects working memory and prevents cognitive overload

Die Ärztin & Der Nerd (Episode #7)

Digital Toxins—Is Social Media Worse Than Drugs?

Endless feeds, dopamine hopping, shrinking focus. Dr. Anne Latz and Toan Nguyen uncover the real cost of digital toxins with Elisabeth Koblitz — and how to protect your brain and attention.

👉 P.S. — Hit reply and share your thoughts. We read every feedback.

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Health Disclaimer

New Zapiens’ products and services are not intended to substitute for professional medical guidance. Our content and media offerings do not aim to diagnose, cure, or address any medical issues.

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