Ready to Change Your Life? Beginning Biohacking

by Bo Moldez

Did you know that beginning biohacking can change your life? 

Yes, you’re probably wondering because you’ve heard it from someone or probably saw an article or two online. 

But yes, biohacking can change your life for the better. 

So you decide to do it for yourself. You choose to become the biohacker that will not only change yourself but probably the world. 

But when you googled or checked up on youtube how to be a biohacker, this is probably how you felt… 

With tons of information, your mind is probably racing because you can’t search for the right answers.  You hope that there’s a straight answer to the questions you have. But your thoughts just freeze. 

And mind you, when you are at it,  you find yourself repeating the questions that you can’t answer. It’s challenging to find the right words in this kind of situation. And as you tilt your head and purse your lips, there’s still no answer to the questions…

  • Where do I begin? 
  • What information do I need to get started? 
  • What do I do next? 

Because mind you, biohacking for all the hype that surrounds it is a very complex and demanding practice. 

And if you don’t have any idea where to begin, it’s just going to leave you in a pile of confusion. 

So in this article, we’re going to look at… 

  • Why should I do biohacking on myself? 
  • What biohacking disciplines do I establish?
  • How do I take action?

So let’s start with… 

Why should I start biohacking? 

For all the weirdness that surrounds biohacking, I think it’s something that we must do for ourselves. It’s not just taking pills or using machines straight out of a sci-fi novel. 

So here are three reasons why you do biohacking…

You take control of your biology, so it doesn’t control you. 

If you’re like me, you like watching science fiction. And one of the best science fiction movies that I’d recommend is the movie Gattaca. In this movie, getting the right career and even relationship is determined by the kind of genes you have. 

This is what’s known as genetic determinism. Right now, our society doesn’t have that capability to discriminate based on genetics. But the way we live can be influenced because of genetics. 

Think about it. When someone knows their genetics, they can do something drastic. For example, they can have breast surgery to avoid breast cancer. With increasing advances in genetic research and testing, the idea of genetic determinism is becoming a reality. 

But when you are a biohacker, you know that your genes don’t control you. You can control your gene expression. You can go beyond being influenced by your biology. This is called epigenetics.

With biohacking, you control biology, so it doesn’t control you. 

You don’t become a slave to misconception. 

Let’s face it. When people talk about biohacking, they think in terms of the exaggerated or the ridiculous. It could either be too sci-fi for them or too scammy. 

But when you start learning biohacking, you get to see the reality and fiction. And when that happens, you can make realistic decisions that can dramatically alter your body for the better. 

Think of it this way; biohacking is sci-fi realized. Because when you learn the right science, you gain so much more. You change not only your body but also your destiny. 

You become the best version of yourself. 

So much of what is known in biohacking is maging modifications on the physical nature of a person. But personally, it is more than that. 

In my study of biohacking, I look to these essential Latin phrases… 

Mens sana in corpore sano (A sound mind in a healthy body)

and 

Anima sana in corpore sano (A healthy soul in a healthy body)

These phrases underscore my idea of what biohacking is. It is a holistic approach to making someone a better person. 

Of what use is an optimized body when the mind and soul are damaged? 

Thus, when one becomes a biohacker, one must consider all the changes in a person’s being. 

These are my reasons. No doubt, you have yours. But to proceed, you have to …

Establish the disciplines of a biohacker

So what are these disciplines, and how does one establish it? 

Let’s look at each in turn…

Awareness and Mindset.

The start of every biohacker’s journey is to be aware. Not only about his or her current state, but also every aspect of a person’s being. 

Of course, the biohacker needs to learn and know how biohacking works. And as more knowledge and learning comes in, then comes the wisdom of mindset. 

Every practice a biohacker does is aimed at fulfilling the mindset brought about from learning and awareness. 

If the biohacker just proceeds to do activity after activity without the guidance of awareness and mindset, then the biohacker is sure to fail. 

Planning and Practice.

With awareness and mindset in place, the biohacker needs to learn the method behind the madness. This is where planning and practice come in. 

When one plans, one looks at the end goal. One creates or follows steps that ultimately achieve those objectives. 

And this is done more effectively by consistent and disciplined practice. When one practices, it takes deliberate intent and action. 

Accountability and Evaluation. 

One must realize that being a biohacker isn’t a solitary game. No doubt that some things a biohacker does involve a level of solitude. But in the end, a biohacker realizes that what he or she does is intertwined with others. 

A biohacker then needs to harness the power of accountability and evaluation. In doing so, every plan and practice is maximized in the long run. In the end, the efficiency of work is manifested in the results. 

When one talks about accountability, this means being responsible not for one’s only sake. It is responsible because another is responsible for you. 

On the other hand, a biohacker needs to be constantly aware of the effects of planning and practice. This is where evaluation comes in. Evaluation makes sure that what you do happens. 

Now realize this, these disciplines would not work when you don’t take action. 

But how does one know…

What to do next? 

Learning to be a biohacker can be demystified. Tim Ferriss (who I think is one of the patron saints of biohackers) has created a process of learning in his book The 4 Hour Chef

This learning process which he calls Meta-learning involves the following steps

Deconstruction. In this learning step, you try your best to understand the processes of the skill or skill set. You break down the steps in manageable pieces so that you can learn everything in place. 

Selection. You have to choose the right materials or mentors that will make things work for you. 

Sequencing. Every part of the learning process involves following a logical progression of learning. One cannot learn step 3 without going to steps 1 and 2 first. 

Stakes. One must make sure that in learning, there is skin in the game. Having stakes motivates a person in making sure that learning is achieved. 

Of course, knowing the superb learning model that Tim Ferris created isn’t enough. You have to make sure to set goals. 

Now, when one sets goals, it is with the realization that it should be holistic. 

Biohackers have been known to focus on the physical. But to make things work, one must look at the person as a whole. 

It is then essential to make goals that touch on the following things: 

  • Physical 
  • Mental 
  • Psychological 
  • Spiritual

Oh, no doubt there could be more. But let’s start with those. 

Now, in setting goals, one must consider OATS. 

What’s this? 

  1. Objectives. What do you want to achieve when you learn a skill or practice? 
  2. Activities. What are the steps or actions that you have to fulfil to achieve your goals? 
  3. Time Frame. How long do you plan to accomplish it? 
  4. Systematic Evaluation. How are you going to check your progress? 

Of course, when push comes to shove, you need to take action. 

This means you have to look at another aspect of what Tim Ferriss created. And this includes…

  1. Compression. How do you compress your practice, so you don’t take up a lot of time? 
  2. Frequency. How often do you commit to practice? 
  3. Encoding. How do you create cues that make you do your practice? 

Now, these are just things that will help you start in biohacking. In the end, you have to continue learning and connecting with people who will help you. 

When that happens, biohacking isn’t just a practice to change your biology and physicality. It becomes a practice that will change you as a person and those around you.

Bo Moldez is a freelance writer and aspiring novelist, not to mention a fast-growing biohacker.