Biohacking, the practice of using science, technology, and nature to optimize your body and mind has been gaining momentum since the first biohackers started sharing their findings in the 1990s. Many early biohackers came to the movement through necessity– they had health issues traditional medicine couldn’t solve and turned to the biohacking/self-experimentation community for support. The biohacking trend has been gaining momentum ever since, and the term was even added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 2018.
Biohacking can take many forms from simple dietary protocols like taking supplements or nootropics to more complex techniques involving electronic devices, ice baths, and even invasive medical procedures. Some biohacks are free. Others are extremely expensive. But what they all share is a drive to optimize the human body.
The biohacking world is rich and deep, offering a huge range of options to choose from. It can be overwhelming to get your head around all your choices so to make it easier for you, below I offer you your best biohacking health tip, based on your Enneagram type.
Type 1, the Perfectionist/Improver: Track Your Stats with a Fitbit or Oura Ring
You love efficiency and getting things correct so tracking your daily health metrics is right up your alley. Invest in a Fitbit or Oura ring so you can monitor your steps, calories burned, workouts, sleep cycle, stress levels, and more. Start with the basics and when you are ready, you can add things like SpO2 monitoring, resting heart rates, skin temperatures, and more. You’ll love getting all this data–just make sure you don’t get overly obsessive about it.
Type 2, the Helper: Intermittent Fasting
You offer so much to so many, but self-care isn’t your strong point. Rather than nourishment, it is easy for you to eat for emotional reasons which makes intermittent fasting the perfect biohack to help keep your health on track. Rather than blunting your emotions with food, put some guardrails around your eating habits.
What is intermittent fasting? It means you forgo eating for specific time periods. If you aren’t sure how to start, try a 12-hour eating window as your first step. When you forgo eating or drinking anything with calories for 12 hours a day, your body starts its self-healing process.You might be shocked to discover how much your body can heal itself when you give it the right environment. You’ll find lots of literature about the benefits of fasting and for women, be sure to check out Cynthia Thurlow who offers the latest science around fasting specifically focused on women’s health.
Type 3, the Achiever: Blue Light Blockers
With your drive to achieve as much as possible as fast as possible, it goes without saying that you try to be productive right up until your head hits the pillow. While this tendency serves you well in many ways, your heavy screen time might not be good for your health.
Studies show the blue light emitted from our devices (laptops, tablets, mobile phones, etc.) can disrupt our sleep patterns and might even impact mental health. The good news is you can invest in a simple pair of blue light blockers to use during the evening hours. Try these top-rated, value-conscious Benicci blue light blocking glasses from Amazon.
Type 4, the Individualist: Go Outside for 10 Minutes of Natural Sunlight in the Morning
We love that you’ve got access to the full emotional range, but you know that you have to be mindful that you don’t spend too much time on the darker side of the emotional spectrum. With that in mind, the morning sun biohack is yours.
Experts like Stanford neuroscientist and lecturer Andrew Huberman consider viewing morning sunlight in the top five of all actions that support mental health, physical health, and performance. Viewing sunlight within the first hours of waking (even if through cloud cover) increases early-day cortisol release, positively influencing your immune system, metabolism and ability to focus during the day. This hack is so simple–give your day a boost by making sure to get at least 10 minutes of direct sunlight first thing in the morning. No direct sunlight where you live? Invest in a light box for the next best thing.
Type 5, the Investigator: Track Your Blood Sugar Spikes with a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)
We call you the intellectual deep diver of the Enneagram and getting complete information is what you seek so using a CGM is your biohack of choice. A CGM offers you a window into your own body and your body’s reaction to different foods, drinks, and activities. Monitoring your blood sugar helps you to optimize your metabolism and overall health. It can be an effective tool for weight loss. Each body is different and finally, you can learn yours.
Zoe and Levels offer CGM devices and support staff to help you learn how to interpret the data. And for those who want to explore managing their blood sugar without any hardware, check out The Glucose Goddess for lots of free hacks and tips about how to keep your blood sugar stable.
Type 6, the Loyalist: Boost Your Immunity with Xlear
With your focus on what could go wrong, you strive to be preventative with your health so Xlear is your biohack. Described as “soap for your nose,” Xlear’s saline-based nasal spray gets its biohacking status from the addition of xylitol.
Your nose is the gateway to most viruses and nearly 75% of the visits to primary care physicians in the U.S. are related to upper respiratory issues. As a Type 6, you are probably already masked up, but you can improve your odds of staying healthy by cleaning your nasal pathways with the xylitol found in Xlear. Plus, you’ll love the science supporting your new hack.
Type 7, the Enthusiast: Take an Ice Bath
This biohack isn’t for everyone, but you love trying new things so your recommended health hack is to take an ice bath. Cold therapy has been shown to reduce inflammation, boost metabolism, support immunity, increase focus, and increase energy.
The Jasonwell Ice Bath Tub is a top rated choice, and you’ll love both the shock to your system and the invigorating feeling you have after your icy dip. If a full ice bath is logistically challenging, an ice cold shower is the next best thing.
Type 8, the Leader: Incorporate Strength Training
You love to feel strong and powerful so strength training is the biohack for you. Using resistance such as bands, weights, or your own body weight, strength training stimulates muscle growth, improves bone density, and reduces the risk of chronic diseases. Strength training is one of the top anti-aging biohack tips since it can reduce and reverse sarcopenia, the muscle loss associated with aging.
Find a strength training class near you or buy these resistance bands and get started at home.
Type 9, the Peacemaker: Cozy Up with an Infrared Sauna Blanket
You love harmony and that warm, cozy feeling so an infrared sauna blanket is your biohack of choice.
What is a sauna blanket? It’s a sleeping bag-shaped blanket made out of heat-resistant materials that uses infrared light to increase your body temperature —mimicking the effects of a physical sauna but available in the comfort of your home. You’ll love the feeling of stepping into your sauna blanket but don’t be fooled–this hack delivers serious benefits including increased circulation, alleviation of pain, a boost to your immune system, detoxification, and lowering overall inflammation.
There are tons of infrared sauna blankets but if you aren’t sure where to start, check out Amazon’s highly ranked LifePro sauna blanket which offers both high end and more budget conscious options.
In summary: While these nine health tips are mapped to each Enneagram type, all personality styles can benefit from any of these biohacks.
I’ve been following biohacking since the early 2000s and became a full blown biohacker when I started my functional medicine program in 2019. Biohacking offers amazing tips and tricks to optimize your body and combat aging. If you want to learn about the latest trends in biohacking, join me in Helsinki, Finland July 2-3 for the 10th annual Biohackers Summit. Are you in? 🙂