I curate articles from around the web that present an interesting perspective or helpful information using technology to improve our wellbeing. Each of these articles were featured in my October 2019 newsletter. I send out an update twice a month along with some notes on my latest work. Sign up for my newsletter here.
OCTOBER
7 Simple Biohacks For Beginners
Biohacking isn't more than creating new habits that help improve your wellbeing. While I often write about creating new habits, the term biohacking is used to describe how we can improve our performance and health using technology, chemicals, food and behavioral design.
While there are some extreme examples of biohacking, I found this article with a few simple biohacks you can do to improve mental and physical wellbeing. Here are the seven outlined in the article:
Meditation
Sleep Hacking
Intermittent Fasting
High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
Cold therapy
Light hacking
Nootropics (I use L-theanine)
Sleeping in this position can help you feel better in the morning — both mentally and physically
Sleep biohacking is one area I continue to try and optimize because it has such an impact on nearly every single one of our life's endeavors. So reading this article about sleep positioning was quite helpful. There's few sleep challenges worse than waking up with back or neck pain that doesn't seem to go away. The solution is side sleeping.
This position keeps your spine straight and aligned since “it helps prevent stress points that may aggravate joints and connective tissue,” says Dr. Robert Hayden, Georgia-based chiropractor and American Chiropractic Association spokesperson.
To achieve an optimal side sleeping position place a body pillow under your torso to support your upper arm and knee. The pillow in between your knees will help to relieve any pain and help keep your pelvis aligned. Also, your head pillow should be positioned to keep your head level with the mattress.
If you’re going to sleep on your back, place a pillow under your head and under both of your knees in order to support and level the spine. Also, avoid the fetal position as it can hinder breathing by restricting movement of your diaphragm.
Improper sleep posture can impact your emotional, psychological, and cardiovascular health in the long run. “Certain hormones are designed to ebb and flow during the sleep cycle,” explains Dr. Hayden. “The physical aspects of your health will spill into the emotional and mental aspects. When you feel your best physically, you’re more likely to have a positive self-image.”