BIOHACKING V BIOHARMONISING

Bioharmonising, unlike the performance-driven intensity often associated with biohacking, invites us to soften. It shifts the focus from optimisation to one of attunement, from pushing the body to listening to it, from treating ourselves as machines to recognising ourselves as interconnected ecosystems. While biohacking can feel like forcing an upgrade, Bioharmonising feels like remembering an ancient wisdom already alive within us.

At its core, Bioharmonising acknowledges that we are not separate from the environment we move through, we are in continuous dialouge with it. Our bodies respond to seasons, cycles, light, sound, emotion etc. Rather than overriding these natural rhythms, Bioharmonising invites us to flow with them, to honour the innate wisdom of our bodies and the world around us.

How does Biohacking compare to Bioharmonising in the long term and which approach truly supports longevity?

Biohacking v Bioharmonising

Biohacking is also known as human enhancement which focuses on ways to improve brain function, weight loss, anti-aging and longevity.

Much of the Biohacking approach relies on tracking data on smartwatches which can monitor heart rate, sleep, stress levels, calories burned, activity, oxygen levels and more.

At a flick of wrist, we can pull off valuable information to help us improve our health and wellbeing, however, these well-intentioned wearable technologies can also lead to a healthy obsession, increasing anxiety and keeps us fixated on minute-by-minute tracking.  [i]

Modern technology can help in many ways, but it can also be an unwanted hindrance as research has found that continuous self-monitoring can lead to the unwanted psychological and physiological impact on health and well-being.

Other Bio hacks include the use of herbs and supplements that provide nootropic compounds that may are aimed at enhancing cognitive function.

The term ‘nootropic’ comes from two ancient Greek ‘noos’ meaning mind or thought and ‘trope’ meaning a turning, to bend or to guide.[ii] The first documented use of the word ‘nootropic’ was introduced or documented in 1972 by Cornelius E.Giurgea, a Romanian psychologist and chemist who in 1964 synthesised the drug piracetam which he described as a nootropic.

Nootropics relates to a heterogeneous group of compounds that are also called ‘smart drugs’, which means they are diverse in their chemical structures, mechanisms of action and their effects. They are used to positively affect cognitive function and who’s action helps to improve human thinking, learning and memory.

Popular under the umbrella of ‘biohacking’ there are a wide variety of herbs and nutrients that are used to ‘bend’ or ‘guide’ cognition for instance –

·         Caffeine – to improve alertness and focus.

·         L-Theanine – found in green tea and in some popular supplements to promote relaxed alertness, focus, attention and stress reduction.

·         Creatine – used for muscle performance and cognition by increasing the production of ATP the body’s energy currency.

·         Lion’s mane – supports Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), needed for the growth of neurons and brain plasticity to support memory and focus.

·         Phosphatidyl serine – contains phospholipids (fat like molecules) that form structural and functional components of cell membranes especially concentrated in the brain. Phosphatidyl serine has shown to support brain function by helping to maintain healthy nerve cell membrane and myelin. It crosses the blood-brain barrier and has shown to slow down biochemical alterations and structural deterioration in nerve cells, therefore can help to improve memory, learning and more.[iii]

·         Ashwagandha – An adaptogenic herb known to support cortisol levels helping to promote sleep, reduce anxiety, boosts mood and wellbeing.

There are many other supplements that are considered biohacking, nootropic focused such as Omega 3 fatty acids, magnesium,CoQ10 and more.

Other popular bio-hacks include –

·         Fasting.

·         Data driven exercise to maximise performance.

·         Cold water plunging.

·         Extensive functional and genetic testing to determine strengths and weaknesses, inflammation, nutrient levels etc.

Biohacking carries a distinctly ‘masculine energy’, focused, intense, structured that can feel relentless. There’s tracking, the optimising, the stacking of habits and supplements, the feeling that we need to do more to be healthier. For many, this becomes overwhelming due to time, the cost and the pressure to stay on top of every metric.

Instead of feeling empowered, individuals can end up feeling drained or even disconnected from themselves as overexercising, over obsession, undereating etc can all lead to burnout, hormonal disruptions and more.

This raises an important question, is health something we should force? In a world where our nervous systems are already overstimulated, pushing harder can unintentionally keep us in a hyper-vigilant state. We may be trying to support our wellbeing, but the approach itself becomes a stressor as many push themselves harder to reach those longevity goals.

Should health feel like pressure or are we better suited to a softer, more harmonious path in our search for health and longevity?

Bioharmonising  is a softer, more intuitive path that can shift us from the intensity of Biohacking to one that has a feminine energy, one that honours balance, receptivity and our natural rhythms.

Whilst both approaches prioritise sleep, hydration, balanced diet and lifestyle tweaks, Bioharmonising takes a kinder approach, listening instead of pushing or constantly tracking data.

Bioharmonising approaches health and wellbeing at a slower more mindful pace such as -

·         Exercise becomes more natural movement focused instead of heavy gym workouts that can lead to burn out. Instead focus on natural primal movements outside in nature instead of the gym machines.

·         Responds to the body’s needs instead of a schedule – what does your body need right now? Instead of what you have diarised!

·         Enjoying a longer sleep rather than hitting the gym in the early hours.

·         Ensuring natural light exposure, enjoying a walk for 20-30 mins to absorb natural light that can regulate our hormones naturally.

This gentler, more intuitive approach supports a calm inner state, especially for those who feel stressed, pressured, or overwhelmed by a high intensity hacking mindset.

Instead of pushing the body, Bioharmonising encourages softening, slowing and tuning in, which can help create conditions where the body naturally feels more settled and balanced.

Bioharmonising also naturally echoes many of the key principes highlighted in The Blue Zones book by Dan Buettner. In his research on the world’s longest-lived individuals. Centenarians not just living, but thriving well into their 100’s, he identified nine common lifestyle patterns shared across these regions. These weren’t extreme routines or intense optimisation strategies, but simple, grounded, deeply human ways of living that appear to support longevity -

1.      Move naturally - the longest-lived people don’t chase fitness goals, they simply live in ways that keep the body in flow with natural, gentle movements such as walking, gardening, housework. Movement is part of their lives not a task on the list.

Bioharmonising insight – let your body move in ways that feel intuitive and woven into your day, rather than forced or tracked.

1.      Purpose – they have a clear sense of meaning, The Okinawans call it Ikigai and the Nicoyans call it plan de vida, both translate to ‘why I wake up in the morning’. Knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to 7 years of extra life expectancy.

 Bioharmonising insight – Purpose anchors the nervous system, it creates a quiet            inner steadiness that fuels longevity, instead of finding your tracking data, find your purpose.

2.      The 80% rule – eating until your satisfied, not stuffed, the gap between not being hungry and feeling full could be the difference between losing weight or gaining it. This mindful approach naturally regulates energy and digestion.

Bioharmonising insight – Eat with more awareness, let your body tell you when enough is enough.             

3.      A plant slant – Beans and whole plant foods form the base of their diet with meat as an occasional companion in small amounts.

Bioharmonising insight - Choose foods that feel ground, colourful and alive, foods that your body recongises and thrives on.

4.      Wine at 5 – in most Blue Zones, moderate wine is enjoyed (except Adventists) slowly, socially and pleasurably, they enjoy wine such as the Sardinian Cannonau wine which is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids (potent antioxidants).

Bioharmonising insight – its not the wine, it’s the ritual of unwinding, connecting and savouring life, alcohol free is also encouraged.

5.      Downshift – everyone experiences stress, even in the blue zone areas, the difference is they have rituals to release it, from prayer, ancestor reflection, naps and joyful gatherings.

Bioharmonising insight – Build small, soothing pauses into your day, let your system unwind in simple, nourishing ways.

6.      Belong – A sense of spiritual or community grounding adds years to life, being part of something larger has shown to increase life expectancy.

Bioharmonising insight – Connection is regulating. Belonging softens the nervous system and strengthens resilience.

7.      Loved ones first – Successful centenarians in the Blue Zones put families first. Family is central and the elders are honoured; they keep aging parents and grandparents nearby or in the home. Relationships are tended to, and love is expressed in time and presence.

Bioharmonising insight – love is longevity, nurturing bonds supports emotional and biological harmony.

8.      Right Tribe – Healthy behaviours become effortless when your social circle shares them, supportive friendships shape supportive lives.

Bioharmonising insights – Choose relationships that bring ease, laughter, steadiness and alignment.

Due to their outdoor lifestyles, they will also receive more exposure to the full spectrum of natural light. By spending more time outdoors, walking, gardening and socialising, they support healthy circadian rhythms without even trying!!

Life isn’t about chasing shortcuts, true wellbeing comes from sustainable rhythms, not form intense protocols or constant optimisation. By looking at the Blue Zones, where people naturally live long, healthy lives, we can see that longevity is rooted in simplicity, connection, natural movement, purpose and alignment with the rhythms of nature.

Bioharmonising take these timeless principles and blends them into a softer, more intuitive approach for modern living. Instead of forcing routines or striving for perfection, we bring the essence of the Blue zones into our daily lives in ways that feel nourishing and achievable. This creates long-term, sustainable change, change that supports our nervous system, our circadian rhythm and overall sense of balance.

It’s not about doing more, it’s about living in harmony.

[i] https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/am-i-dying/202409/how-wearable-technology-can-worsen-health-anxiety

[ii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nootropic

[iii] Glade MJ, Smith K. Phosphatidylserine and the human brain. Nutrition. 2015 Jun;31(6):781-6.