Hey and welcome to The Elevator from David Sherry – A weekly curation of products, services, and opportunities that help entrepreneurs see the bigger picture of creating a unique life and business.
What I’m Paying Attention To
When I started my Tiktok account I wanted to learn how to get proficient in short-form video. My first semi-viral video was of Rick Rubin because I was trying to figure out where he got his Blue Light blocking glasses. That led me to find Ra Optics via Twitter, which led me to find a Podcast episode with Rick Rubin, Dr. Jack Kruse, and Dr. Andrew Huberman. I’ve since paused my Tiktok for the time being but that was a useful rabbit hole.
I am not a Dr. and I don’t play one on TV….
But here’s what I’m currently seeing…
The 4 Pillars of Health
Fitness: Movement, exercise, getting your steps in, mobility or lack thereof, VO2 Max, Resting heart rate, etc.
Diet: What food is consumed, when, in what quantities, in what varieties?
*Environment: Temperature, light, dark, toxin exposure, UV exposure, blue-light exposure.
Mindset: Your mental health’s effect on inflammation. Mental acuity. Brain fog. Sharpness.
Within this list, I’ve (we’ve) underestimated our *environment.
Meaning, if our health and diet are dialed in, but we’re missing some environmental components we may still be creating issues for ourselves. You can think about the environment being almost like via negativa, optimizing everything outside of you rather than within you. The space and container, rather than the object within.
With this new understanding and through some of the resources below…
Why It Matters: Think of the Sun like our Wifi Signal
Fundamentally, we all exist because of the sun. Every day as we rotate the Sun hits our part of the planet, and we’re meant to be synced up with this process, like clockwork.
Due to our modern lifestyles (up early, in offices all day, reading from our phones at night) we’ve put our rhythms out of wack. Getting back into this rhythm sets a foundation for your body and it’s processes to run smoothly.
Here’s the ChatGPT Summary TLDR on Circadian Biology:
Suggests that exposure to natural light, timing of meals, temperature variations, and the management of electromagnetic fields can profoundly affect our circadian rhythms. Misalignment of these rhythms can lead to various health issues, from obesity to chronic diseases. This Dr. advocates for lifestyle changes that align with our evolutionary design, such as getting sunlight early in the day, avoiding artificial light at night, and considering the timing of food intake to support the body's natural circadian cycles.
The key point here is that “Misalignment of these rhythms can lead to various health issues, from obesity to chronic diseases. “
Some additional practices I’m adding:
Getting outside to see the sun first thing in the morning.
Trying to spend part of every day walking outside, preferably on the beach, barefoot.
Wearing light-blocking glasses at night before bed.
Using red lights in my bedroom before sleep.
You can explore more of the why in the resources below.
An In-Depth Podcast on Circadian Biology
Jack Kruse, Andrew Huberman on Rick Rubin’s Podcast. Please note that this podcast is extremely dense. Also, Dr. Jack Kruse is extremely… let’s say vocal about these ideas. Andrew Huberman does a nice job of being receptive and listening. If you can get past how Jack Kruse presents himself and past all of the dense science it does have a pretty nice payoff.
Brand I’m Buying From
Ra-Optics sells a variety of different light-blocking glasses. I personally love the Clyde daylight lenses. Matt Maruca also has a course you can take on Circadian Biology and Light for beginners. I also bought some smart lightbulbs for red light in my bedroom at night. For another option, you can check out Vivarays.
Air Quality Check
Here is a simple air quality sensor from Ikea. Or check out Awair Element. Its sensors check the temperature and humidity of the air, report on ambient light and noise, and test for chemicals, fine dust, and CO2.
Air Purifier
Here is the at-home room purifier I use for my bedroom. Luckily here in Santa Monica we can keep our windows open almost all year round so we get a good breeze coming through.
YouTube Channels I’m Watching
Max Gulhane for semi-in-depth coverage on similar topics, with more of a science view. If you’re looking for a bit more high-level and less Dr. speak you can check out Health Babes, especially for women’s hormone optimization related to light.
P.S. Substack seems to be really evolving
The number of high-quality writers continues to grow, and they keep adding new features. I may begin playing more with “notes” and the Substack Chat, especially for keeping a reading list. Comment or reply to let me know how you’re liking it or what you’d like to see more of.
Have an epic weekend,
David
The Elevator: Getting Outside More, Embracing Sunlight, and Wearing Glasses at Bedtime.