Buzz
It seems like every few weeks, there's a fresh interview uncovering how a tech mogul organizes their mornings. We totally understand the desire to learn from the routines of successful individuals—it’s the very essence of How I Work. But just how effective are these biohacks? Here’s a candid take:
Getting up at the crack of dawn
Verdict: nonsense
Why: You need your sleep, seriously! If you’re burning the midnight oil, whether for work or play, waking up at 3, 4, or 5 a.m. won’t do you any favors. Without proper rest, you’re just setting yourself up for failure. Waking up early and working excessively isn’t productive—it’s just foolish.
There’s one exception to this rule: if you’re a natural morning person who also gets a full night’s rest, then feel free to rise whenever you please. Jeff Bezos says he wakes up 'early,' but he also makes sure to get eight hours of sleep a night. That’s the real hack.
Intermittent Fasting
Verdict: Can be effective, but it depends on the individual.
Why: Not eating when you’re hungry in hopes of achieving a bodily effect already has a name—it’s called dieting. Intermittent fasting can be a method to limit the amount of calories you consume, and in that way, it’s a hack.
But fasting can quickly spiral out of control, turning into a form of disordered eating. It’s also been overblown when it comes to its supposed mental benefits. As any dieter knows, not eating for a while can create a focused, slightly euphoric feeling that falls somewhere between 'hungry' and 'hangry.'
Jack Dorsey also mentions he only eats one meal a day, which isn’t as wild as it sounds. Skipping breakfast, delaying lunch, and then having a huge late lunch may leave you with no appetite for dinner. This isn’t necessarily a problem—eating three meals a day is convenient, but it's not some kind of universal rule.
Bulletproof Coffee
Verdict: It’s neither a hack nor a flop, it’s just breakfast.
Why: Butter coffee is said to boost energy and focus while helping you get through the day without hunger until lunch. It likely does both of these things, but it’s not some kind of magical biohacking trick.
Depending on how much butter and oil you add, 'Bulletproof' coffee can easily rack up over 400 calories. Being coffee, it’s also packed with caffeine. So, can a 400-calorie, caffeinated drink keep you feeling full and alert? Of course.
Ultra-brief workouts
Verdict: Effective, but only if you don’t have a better alternative
Why: Short workouts still count as exercise. Jack Dorsey prefers seven-minute sessions, and even seven minutes a day is better than skipping it entirely.
Health.gov’s latest recommendations suggest we aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity. Split by seven days, you’d hit the mark with just 11 minutes a day—two seven-minute sessions would add up to an impressive 98 minutes per week.
You’ll see far better results at the gym if you can commit to an hour-long workout a few times each week. While we support short workouts as a hack for those short on time, if you’re a tech CEO with the luxury of resources, you can likely carve out more time away from your desk for a proper session.
