How To Use Ultradian Cycles To Best Capture Neuroplasticity
Our bodies send us clear signals when we need a break. Fidgetiness, hunger, drowsiness, loss of focus. Mostly, we override them. We find artificial ways to pump up our energy: caffeine, sugary foods, and our body’s own stress hormones — adrenalin, norepinephrine, and cortisol. A much smarter way would be to work with something we all have at our disposal: Our ultradian rhythms. These rhythms exist in all of us, and we can leverage them as a way to engage in focused bouts of deep work. This is not just another productivity fad. It is a biological fact that we are optimized for focus and attention within these 90–120 minutes cycles. In his first Premium AMA, Stanford professor Andrew Huberman spoke at length about how he uses ultradian cycles to manage his day and best capture neuroplasticity (even on the weekends!). In this post, I describe everything I’ve learned about ultradian cycles, how they work and how I personally plan on applying this to my life (definitely not on the weekends!). The Science Behind Ultradian Rhythms Most of our body’s essential processes run on a 24-hour cycle called a ‘circadian rhythm’. Circadian = “about a day” On a coarse level, the circadian rhythm manages the transition between wakefulness and sleep. In addition, it...