To encourage and enable your employees to produce more dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins, you need to consider current situations that may have a negative impact on the mental health of your employees and ask yourself how you can support this. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

“How are your employees currently rewarded and recognised? What opportunities are there for your employees to challenge themselves to achieve greater things?”

“How does your organisation encourage positive connections with their colleagues, friends, family, and the community?”

Creating a positive working environment contributes to the increase of these happy hormones which also leads to positive mental and physical health. This also enables your employees to function better and be the best of themselves in work and their personal lives. 

How to increase dopamine hormones in the brain at work:

Most types of rewards contribute to the increase of dopamine such as improving on a skill, receiving recognition or praise, and achieving a goal. Food can also have an impact on dopamine.

Whilst businesses don't normally prescribe supplements to their employees you can inform employees about the power of supplements to help them take control of their well-being and mental state.

L-Tyrosine is a naturally occurring form of tyrosine, an amino acid. The body uses it to produce proteins, neurotransmitters, and other important compounds. Aside from this, it also plays a role in metabolism and boosting endurance for better brain function.

Studies have shown that L-tyrosine increases endurance and energy. This is extremely helpful for people who are always on the go or active—just like your employees.

In a clinical trial, athletes were given L-tyrosine supplements regularly in the form of a drink. Participants showed improvement in their performances even in extreme conditions. 

People struggling with energy and drive at work tend to have low levels of dopamine which can be alleviated by the use of L-tyrosine,  Along with other activities like reducing junk food diets and improving exercise and experiences in natural environments like woods and forests. 

Serotonin 

Perhaps most well-known these days is the Hormone serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a vital role in boosting mood and helps in regulating body functions such as sleep, bone health, and digestion. Serotonin is important to regulate anxiety, balance mood,  and reduce depression. It also helps improve social behaviour. 

Having enough serotonin levels in our body improves memory, learning, and focus. It also means better levels of melatonin that help improve sleep. It is a fantastic antioxidant that is also good for the immune system.

While low levels of serotonin cause irritability, insomnia, anxiety, depression, panic, and pain. It can also affect memory and other cognitive functions and knock back work performance and cohesion with colleagues.

How can you increase Seratonin hormones in the brain?

Having a healthy mind and body can increase the levels of serotonin. Getting enough sleep, drinking adequate amounts of water, looking after ourselves, and eating healthy foods are just some ways to have a healthy mind and body. 

Mindfulness (Meditation exercises) is shown to raise Serotonin levels. 

Knowing how to distribute this information across your organisation can be difficult because some prefer it to be confidential. The solution is to have a more open and inclusive environment. Each organisation’s approach and judgment depend on its own culture. 

Some commentators think that the best way to keep employees informed about this topic is by being open and publishing information or content on DOSE hormones on your intranet’s wellbeing section. 

Remember whilst it's important for employees to have an understanding of DOSE. Organisations need to be mindful of to what extent they get involved with an individual in the business and leave this up to employees to discuss with their doctors or to research things themselves. Note organizations like Mental Health in the Workplace can also help.