If you’re into health and wellness, you’ve probably noticed the constant in-flow of new ideas, trends, and methods to upgrade your body and mind. In fact, “biohacking” isn’t exactly a new buzzword. However, if you’re just hearing about it or you’re curious about implementing a few biohacks to level up your health, this article is for you.
Below, we’re going to outline exactly what biohacking is, as well as offer up a few examples of popular biohacks you might want to try!
Simply put, biohacking is an attempt to enhance your body and brain for certain positive effects, such as increased performance, better health, or increased productivity. In fact, biohacking can include anything from adding specific supplements or food to your diet to even simply getting your sleep schedule on track.
In more complex terms, it might involve implementing certain habits and using other habits to optimize their effectiveness.
For instance, you might use red light therapy for the supposed health benefits. Yet, taking this biohacking habit to the next level would involve using red light therapy during the times of sunrise or sunset, since it mimics the time of day our body would naturally receive more of this type of light.
Generally, yes, biohacking is safe.
Yet, this does depend on the type of biohack you’re implementing. Inevitably, not every biohack is right for every person. This simply comes down to the fact that we aren’t built exactly the same.
Before switching things up with a new biohacking method you found online (or even in this article), it might be a good idea to discuss whether or not it’s right for you with your family doctor. They know you best, and can run any necessary tests, such as blood or hormone testing, to ensure it makes sense for you.
Additionally, the safest biohacks usually involve mental training, experimenting with exercise, small dietary adjustments, and prioritizing your sleep in a way that works for you.
An easy way to know if a biohack is working for you or not is by tracking the data. For instance, you can track your steps or heart rate variability with various wearable technology devices and you can track how you feel by journaling. This can offer you insights, helping you understand if the changes you are making are getting you to where you want to be.
So, where should you get started? Before we dive in, again, it’s likely a good idea to discuss whether or not a particular biohack is right for you. This can ensure you actually do your body and mind good, as opposed to worsening any particular health situation.
Let’s get biohacking! Check out our top 5 below.
This one basically applies to everyone. The human body and mind function better with adequate rest. Sleep allows your body time to repair and reset—in multiple ways!
The average adult requires 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Yet, a whooping 50-70 million Americans struggle with sleep. Luckily, there are many ways to biohack and optimize your sleep including:
At the same time, sleeping well doesn’t just come down to what you do around your bedtime. A good night’s sleep also involves your habits during the day. For instance, you shouldn’t consume caffeine after 2 pm. You also should get some movement in throughout your day, as well as provide your body with enough fuel and nutrients to function optimally.
Related Article: 18 Tips For Better Sleep At Night
The sun gets a bad rap. And you definitely should wear sunscreen if you’re planning on staying outside for extended durations. However, the sun also has major health benefits, boosting your mental and physical wellbeing.
Just 15 minutes of sun a day can help:
Red light therapy has various benefits, including enhancing wound healing, decreasing stretch marks, improving overall skin appearance, improving mood, decreasing inflammation, and more.
In fact, red light therapy is thought to have such significant effects since it is theorized that it increases the mitochondria in the body and enhances their function. Mitochondria produce ATP, cellular energy, and are often referred to as the “powerhouses” of the cells. They help fuel everything you do. Thus, the more of them, the better!
Red light therapy devices are also ultra-easy to order online nowadays, making it really easy for you to get your hands on this super simple biohacking method. Use your red light device once a day for 10-20 minutes.
Related Article: 5 Awesome Benefits of Light Therapy Lamps & Can They Help Depression?
Too much blue light exposure close to bedtime can lead to sleeping troubles and serious fatigue as you go about your day. Yet, using blue light glasses later in the day can prevent these rays from entering your eyes and causing such detrimental effects.
At the same time, if you sit at a computer all day, blue light glasses may help reduce eyestrain and other negative eye effects that could develop over time, such as macular degeneration or cataracts.
Hack your mind by taking note of the things in your life you appreciate. This biohacking technique simply involves taking a few minutes out of your day (preferably first thing in the morning) to write down everything you are grateful for. During this time, you really want to feel that appreciation and then, you want to carry that with you throughout the rest of your day!
This biohack can help improve your mental state and your mood, helping you focus on what you have versus what you don’t.
At the end of the day, biohacking could generally be a term used to refer to any change you make to enhance your life and health. And usually, there are always areas we can improve!
This by no way means that you should go full-throttle and try to improve them all at once. Instead, choose one particular habit you want to develop or get rid of and focus on doing that. From there, you can continue to knock down bad habits and build good ones so that you can live the life you want.
Read Next: 7 Secret Habits of Very Content and Satisfied People
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