Phase 1 of the Experiment Done… Oh Wait, Is It?!
As per the phasing schedule—very project manager of me—yesterday marked the completion of Phase 1 of the experiment.
To quote myself:
Baseline Awareness & Cognitive Mapping (Days 0-14)
Tracking automatic thought patterns, behaviours, and physiological responses.
Identifying stress triggers, work habits, and emotional regulation patterns.
But no project is ever truly linear, especially behavioural personal experiments—no matter how organised we plan.
I refuse to accept my baseline fully—for one reason only: SLEEP.
I’m currently experiencing the worst sleep streak of my life. One of my proudest achievements used to be consistently getting 8-9 hours of sleep each night. Since stopping traditional work about eight weeks ago, I've barely had two consecutive good nights. Many factors could be at play, which I’ll dive deeper into in future posts, as sleep is now becoming my central focus.
My physiological measures reflect this disruption—my HRV is at 25ms, lower than my usual baseline of 28-30ms (Garmin metrics).
What I've Tried:
Magnesium bisglycinate – still uncertain about its effects.
Consistent wake time – effective while travelling, but now exhausting back in my baseline timezone.
Movement – usually helpful, but currently ineffective for sleep.
My Current Theory:
Previously, I operated predictably on exhaustion—emptying every ounce of mental and physical energy daily, possibly stabilising my sleep. Now, with increased restfulness and a newfound peace during weekdays, I realise I don't need my usual ‘Ana’s day’ on Saturdays—a sacred day of complete disconnect (tea, family, reading, zero phone). Pleasant, yet strange.
Movement & Exercise:
I've slowly resumed marathon training after an injury, clearly the best regulator for my ADHD. I'm gradually incorporating strength training—brilliant for cognitive health and synapse maintenance. (More on exercise, brain function, and productivity soon!)
Supplements & ADHD Stack:
Currently taking:
Lion's Mane: Linked with cognitive enhancement, improved neuroplasticity, and potential ADHD symptom management (Friedman, 2015).
L-Tyrosine: Supports dopamine production, aiding cognitive flexibility and alertness in ADHD (Colzato et al., 2015).
Theanine: Shown to enhance calmness, attention, and reduce anxiety, beneficial for ADHD-related symptoms (Nobre et al., 2008).
Additionally, my orthopaedist prescribed vitamin B12 and B6 injections for my Morton’s Neuroma however B12 also supports axonal myelination, enhancing neural efficiency (Kennedy, 2016)- lucky me!
Initially sceptical (I've tried many supplements before with little effect), I must admit—hand on heart—this combination noticeably improved my clarity and calmness by week two. Coffee, previously off-limits due to jitters, is now enjoyable again. I'll keep monitoring their effectiveness.
(Deep dive on ADHD supplementation and peptides research coming soon!)
Mood, Behaviour, and Beliefs:
The tenacity of my Default Mode Network (DMN) surprised me—I’m still learning to let go. However, I can now clearly distinguish between creative and sluggish workflows. When creativity hits, I batch tasks into these ‘waves,’ possibly affecting my sleep patterns (morning and late evening waves).
Most pleasantly, my creativity is back! With real emotion, I recall this feeling from when I was 16, painting and drawing bedroom walls at 3 am. Initially fearing rest would leave me anxious or frozen, mindful awareness and thoughtful self-management have instead propelled me into renewed creativity. This alone reassures me the experiment is working, reconnecting me to myself and the world around me.
Lingering thoughts of "running out of time" occasionally spark mini-panics, accompanied by dips after creative surges (dopamine depletion, sadly remedied by pastries!).
Nutrition:
I LOVE FOOD—no secret. Yet, one lecture claimed peak brain function occurs at a 20% caloric deficit (Mattson, 2012). I vehemently opposed this until, surprisingly, nine days on a reduced-calorie diet eliminated my morning brain fog entirely. I'll continue to explore this cautiously, balancing brain gains and muscle gains.
What’s Next? Opportunities, Revenue Streams & Identity
Phase 2 (Active Rewiring & Habit Disruption) would logically be next with:
Implementing neuroscience-backed strategies for habit and thought transformation.
Testing new cognitive frameworks, routines, and emotional regulation techniques.
Measuring early shifts in resilience, focus, and motivation.
However, I feel this phase naturally integrated into Phase 1, and it will remain interwoven throughout the experiment.
Given recent creative energy and emerging opportunities earlier than anticipated, I'll soon begin exploring work opportunities, revenue streams, and identity more explicitly (Phase 3). Specifically:
1. Embracing Unexpected Opportunities – How to assess and adapt to opportunities that don’t fit your original plan, without being held back by preconceived notions.
2. Understanding True Commitment – How to identify what you’re genuinely committed to and distinguish between healthy compromise and self-sacrifice.
3. Deciphering Nostalgia vs. Desire – How to recognise when nostalgia is pulling you backwards and avoid mistaking it for genuine longing or purpose.
4. Blending Different Paths Together – How to integrate seemingly unrelated projects, skills, or interests in a way that feels organic and aligned rather than forced.
5. The True Challenge of Letting Go – Why letting go in theory is one thing, but facing the past when it tries to return is a whole new test—how to stand firm in your growth.
This was meant to be short—but apparently, a lot can happen in a week!
Stay tuned, and thank you, as always, for joining this raw, authentic journey.
Let’s rewire together.
References
Colzato, L. S., Jongkees, B. J., Sellaro, R., & Hommel, B. (2015). Working memory reloaded: Tyrosine repletes updating in the N-back task. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 7(5), 200-205.
Friedman, M. (2015). Chemistry, nutrition, and health-promoting properties of Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane) mushroom. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 63(32), 7108-7114.
Kennedy, D. O. (2016). B Vitamins and the brain: Mechanisms, dose and efficacy—a review. Nutrients, 8(2), 68.
Mattson, M. P. (2012). Energy intake and exercise as determinants of brain health and vulnerability to injury and disease. Cell Metabolism, 16(6), 706-722.
Nobre, A. C., Rao, A., & Owen, G. N. (2008). L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 17(Suppl 1), 167-168.
