The Biology Gap
When your body can’t take you where you want to go.
“Your estrogen is <.5, and I’d like you at 40. Also, your testosterone is deficient. It makes a lot of sense why you don’t FEEL good.”
That’s what the hormone doctor told me last fall after I had extensive blood work done.
My biological levels were jacked up. It wasn’t good, and I felt it. I haven’t felt as bad as that my whole life.
Necessary chemicals in my body that contribute to positive feelings and emotions, mental clarity, and confidence were at a deficit.
I could fill all the other gaps, but having biology at a deficit is like swimming upriver. Hard.
I pushed my body to the point of breaking. When I left the business in June 2022, it was so bad I could barely tolerate a 45-minute meeting on Zoom.
Emotions have a massive effect on our bodies. Consider when you carry anxiety, stress, fear, worry, or depression. It taxes the body.
Getting awareness of these things and confronting them head-on is one of the best things we can do for our biology.
Take it from me, but I’m a pro at this by no stretch of the imagination. I’m figuring a lot out, mostly from crashing and burning. 😁
I know many people are hurting, and they’re not sure what to do with it, so hopefully, this will be a nudge for us to take better care of ourselves. Holistically.
I will give you some things to consider in helping with biology. I’ve implemented something that is helping me to get better and better.
- Therapy
- Routines
- Rhythm of rest
#1 Therapy or some form of emotional processing is one of the best things someone can do for themselves, their family, and their business.
Over the last year, I’ve learned how much emotional weight I’ve carried around (for years). I’m talking about emotions with biology because of the toll emotions take on the body.
Growing up processing and stirring around your emotions with a therapist meant you had significant issues. It was taboo. What is the best thing to do? Sweep it under the rug and hope it goes away.
I found out that it doesn’t work.
We are processing the negative or positive things going on with a paid professional benefits our biology. Emotions require energy.
I think everybody needs therapy. It’s a good practice, especially for an entrepreneur.
Think about it.
#2 Routine that is consistent is a big piece of healthy biology, and I’m just going to throw a blanket here with this one.
As I’ve been repairing my levels, I’ve been on several supplements prescribed by my doctor. The last time we got blood work done a couple of months ago, he was pleased with the improvements.
My daily routine:
Coffee
Prayer/Meditation/Scripture
Silence/Journaling
Workout
Sauna/Cold plunge/Red light therapy
Read
Work
Family time
In this season, I’ve focused a lot on sleep. I probably sleep anywhere from 8 to 9 hours a night.
I work out almost every day. 2 days a week, with an in-house trainer and the rest by myself with a mix of lifting + cardio.
I sauna about six days a week, and my cold plunge + red light therapy is several times a week (I think this has significantly contributed to my not being sick for a long time).
I also read scripture, pray, and journal every single day… pretty much without fail. Our spiritual and emotional being significantly impact our biology, so it must be a priority. IT WASN’T when I was running and gunning, and I felt the cost of it.
Part of my routine is to lean into my emotions and practice awareness of my feelings.
Every week, my doctor has me on a pretty solid supplement routine. If you want to know what I’m taking, please reply, and I’m happy to share.
Focusing on getting my levels back to a good place, a lot of sleep, and my emotional + mental well-being has helped my physical well-being.
Another thing I’ve reduced a lot of is my alcohol intake. I only have two cocktails a night instead of 3. jk jk. I’ve drastically reduced my alcohol consumption. I might drink once a month on average.
We all have routines. They’re either intentional or they’re not.
Questions to consider to audit your daily routines:
- Did I have intentional time in the morning for margin?
- Did I journal?
- Did I meditate or pray?
- Did I fill myself up with wisdom? (I read and contemplate the Psalms and Proverbs almost every day.)
- Did I get the sleep I needed?
- Did I drink enough water?
- Did I eat well?
- Did I take supplements?
- Did I work out?
- Did I limit my social media intake?
- Did I do something to stress the body physically? (sauna, cold shower, etc.)
- Did I track my routines?
My goal is not to add things to your plate but to give you ideas on what may help you experiment with.
#3 Rhythms of rest is an undervalued asset for entrepreneurs.
Recently, when I was at a mastermind, I talked about the greatest things I’ve done in the last year, rested, and focused on my family.
The. place. Went. Nuts.
REST?! What? How? When? Why? 🤣 🙃
It’s sad how much we, as entrepreneurs, feel we can’t rest. The eruption of that room is a great case study of what I’m talking about. It seemed so foreign… the idea of taking time to rest, that people lost their minds.
One of the greatest things you can do for your biology, soul, mind, and everything else is to take 24 hours a day off.
Rhythms of rest must be a practice and discipline.
Having rhythms of rest allows for margin. We live in a margin-less world.
Turn off your phone or, at the very least, get off social media (but try and get off your phone) for 24 hours. Read a book, go on a walk. Eat great food, have sex with your spouse, and drink a nice espresso.
Giving your body space to disconnect, express gratitude, and be with your family is one of our greatest and unopened gifts.
If the thought of it makes you worry or gives you anxiety, then that’s a sign you need it.
There are plenty of people telling you to hustle and push. I’m telling you to take a day a week where you pause, exhale, and let the world run by you.
It will be good for your soul and GREAT for your biology.
“Slow” isn’t in my nature, but my soul has been tired for a long time. It’s an adjustment to value the whole person rather than “Chris that makes money and goes fast.” I’d bet I’m not the only one.
Are you tired, weary, or worn out?
Rest, my friend. Not just your body but also your soul. You don’t have to run other people’s races. You don’t have to “keep up.” You’re not behind.
This is all I want to say about this today.
To the Overflow,
Chris
p.s. If you have any topics you want me to write about, reply and let me know your biggest challenge, and I’ll see if I can help you (and everybody else) via the newsletter.