I want to lead this entry with my appreciation for science. I love science and I think our ability to think logically and use science in order to move us forward as a society is one of our greatest achievements as human beings. That’s also why I listen very carefully when scientist have to say something.
However, recently I found myself more stressed out by the knowledge I obtained from research scientists as Matthew Walker or Andrew Huberman. Let’s take Walker as an example. Matt Walker is a sleep researcher and therefore knows exactly what happens to the human body if one sleeps too little or just enough. The effects of too little sleep are «catastrophic» according to Walker.
- Men testicle size and testosterone levels decreases
- Life expectancy is lower
- Worse physical performance
- etc.
Me as a person who likes to be productive followed that advice. But nonetheless, life happend and I did not manage to sleep enough. Knowing how detremental too little sleep can be, I really started feeling bad about my lack of sleep. I felt and performed worse than I would have otherwise.
A similar thing happened to me with Andrew Huberman’s all time advice to catch some sun rays first thing in the morning. He stresses also to get outside (without sunglasses!) since getting the sun rays through a window for example do not have the same effect. This is «crucial» for good sleep and falling asleep easily at the end of the day. Again I started freaking out about it. Anyhow, I soon realized: Why should I? I have absolutely no problem falling asleep whatsovever, although I spent mostly every morning insides. Also my quality of sleep is pretty okay.
Interestingly enough do the negative effects of too little sun exposure diminish, if one is exposed to enough sun in the afternoon – as Huberman clarifies in one of his Tweets. That fact makes Hubermans prior findings not any less true, but shows us also that one has to be very careful when deriving general adivce from such studies. Studies or experiments are by design performed with very certain variables. It is not unlikely that you live a life with complete different variables.
The problem I have with these life optimizing advices is, they tend to be become an handicap. If you tell yourself:
“I need to sleep 8 hours every night. I need my 20 minute walk for sun exposure. Otherwise I wont work!”
This becomes a self-fullfilling prophecy and by the way – the placebo effect is real.
Anyhow, I presume Huberman, Walker and other scientist like them have our best interest at heart. Nevertheless, given their occputation they always will be biased, which should be take into consideration too.
Another problem I see is how their research is presented. Take this YouTube short by Chris Williamsons for example:
Personally, I decided not to focus to much on the negatives. Life happens and there will be very often no ideal situations. The question is, how well can you adapt, which leads me to a much stronger mindset you can cultivate :
I am adaptable and succeed despite all hardship.
Imagine waking up after only 4 hours of sleep, scrolling Instagram for 2 hours in your dark cellar room and afterwards absolutely killing it nonetheless.
