{"id":3865,"date":"2023-08-24T09:28:44","date_gmt":"2023-08-24T13:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/optimized-for-what-impossible\/"},"modified":"2023-08-24T09:28:44","modified_gmt":"2023-08-24T13:28:44","slug":"optimized-for-what-impossible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parmaks.com\/Resources\/optimized-for-what-impossible\/","title":{"rendered":"Optimized for What? | IMPOSSIBLE \u00ae"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Profit<\/a>
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In defense of suboptimal execution.<\/em><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot of talk in the biohacking space about optimizing. People like Bryan Johnson have come out with the blueprint \u2013 spending $2 million to optimize his entire body worshipping at the altar of data. His stated goal: \u201cdon\u2019t die.\u201d<\/p>\n

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This isn\u2019t new \u2013 Dave Asprey did the first crack at this in the 2010s with Bulletproof and there\u2019s been entire trends around \u201cquantified self\u201d<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s na interesting science experiment and a terrible \u201cblueprint\u201d for life.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s why:<\/em><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re always performing \u201coptimally\u201d \u2013 you\u2019re probably not.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re operating at a peak, you\u2019re probably not actually operating at your peak.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve seen people post 30 days straight of 100% sleep scores. Sleep scores are great. We sell a product that helps you improve yours (get it here \u2013 it\u2019s awesome<\/a>).<\/p>\n

But if you\u2019re focused on hitting a 100% every day \u2013 you might not actually be optimizing for anything.<\/p>\n

Optimizing requires you to be building towards a specific goal. A race, an event, a physical goal. Something.<\/p>\n

Once you hav the goal in mind, you can work backwards to build out an optimal training schedule.<\/p>\n

Then, through training, you optimize for your end goal.<\/p>\n

However, if you\u2019r just optimizing to optimize to optimize \u2013 you\u2019re being \u201coptimal\u201d according to your watch but you might feel like crap in real life.<\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re optimal. It jus means you\u2019re a slave to your whoop, oura, eight sleep.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re all great tools, but they should be tools. Not master.<\/p>\n

In fact, if you\u2019re just being optimal all the time \u2013 you might not even be optimal at all. You\u2019re just achieving your local maximum (and never exce3eding it).<\/p>\n

Training involves progressive overload, peaks, and deloads. It is not designed to be optimal every day and you should not be \u201c100% every day\u201d<\/p>\n

You have a game plan and you adjust based on the game plan.<\/p>\n

You may feel great one day and sluggish the other, but that\u2019s part of the game \u2013 you break down to get stronger.<\/p>\n

This is how your entire body works.<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are no exceptions. You\u2019re not a robot. You don\u2019t achieve an algorithmic optimum and then repeat that ad-infitum.<\/p>\n

In some ways, this actually makes you weaker \u2013 because you rely on protocols and optimizations instead of building mental resilience and the power of your will (but I\u2019ll touch on that another day).<\/p>\n

The bigger question is: what are you optimizing for precisely?<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s longevity (\u201cdon\u2019t die\u201d) \u2013 that sounds like a good all-around wellness goal, but scientifically \u2013 the best way to improve longevity is to reduce caloric consumption and expenditure. If you just want to live a long life \u2013 all you have to do is\u2026nothing \u2013 just hide away in a cave and move as little as possible. Bears have this down \u2013 it\u2019s called hibernation.<\/p>\n

And if that\u2019s your goal \u2013 fine \u2013 but fast forward to your goal \u2013 100, 150, 200 years later or whatever.<\/p>\n

Congrats \u2013 you made it to 150 and managed to be the most boring 150 year old of all time (because you\u2019ve spent most of the time moderating your caloric expenditures and consumption) \u2013 and all your friends are dead.<\/p>\n

Cool story bro.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t want to be laying on my death bad looking at my streak of sleep optimization scores and wishing that 85% was a 100% because I missed out on a birthday party.<\/p>\n

Personally, I\u2019d rather pack things full of adventures that required superhuman will and required me to dig deep when I thought I was finished, than be obsessed with a wearable streak at all costs that will likely update their algorithm in 12 months.<\/p>\n

\u201cLive long and drop dead\u201d<\/a> sounds like a much better blueprint to me.<\/p>\n

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