WHY FASTING WILL UPLEVEL YOUR BUSINESS

in this edition, i'm sharing:
- how fasting can take your business to the next level
- a conversation about ramadan
- the dunning-kruger effect and what it means for you

it was already 15 years ago when i first talked to someone about biohacking, and one of the major tools was implementing fasting and an eating routine that’s nourishing but doesn’t take any thinking effort. i mean, my whole day basically goes like this: “i’m fine. i’ll be hungry soon. what will i eat later? i’m hungry now. let’s get some food!” and then repeat. someone once said that growing up is just constantly thinking about what to eat next. but this takes up so much headspace and pulls you away from being productive. over the past years, i’ve fasted many times - not necessarily for religious reasons, but mostly for health benefits. from fasting with just water, juices, or soups to cutting out gluten, sugar, caffeine, or alcohol, or practicing intermittent fasting - some of these worked for me, some didn’t at all. but one thing is certain: the less i had to think about food, the more time i had to be creative. let’s dive into this topic.

HOW TO DO “FASTING FOR YOUR BUSINESS”

if you ask chatgpt about fasting, this is the one-liner answer: “fasting can improve your business by enhancing cognitive function, increasing productivity, and fostering resilience, leading to better decision-making and overall efficiency.”

let’s dig deeper. even if i’m not the most “religious” person, i do believe that faith helps humanity and people in general. and second, that most practices have a valid foundation. fasting, for example, is a universal concept - found in all religions and practiced all over the world. even the start-up bros have jumped on the fasting train, whether it’s intermittent fasting for food or the new wave of dopamine fasting. the idea is simple: anything that gives you an instant rush needs to be cut down to regain control.

personally, as a tech person, i’m a huge fan of fasting from tech devices & screen time on a daily basis. no phone at the dining table, no phone after a certain hour, and a period of pure silence - no music, no podcasts, nothing. especially now, with a newborn in the house. downside? my friends hear from me even less than before.

studies show that fasting boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which enhances memory and cognitive function. research from harvard and the nih suggests that intermittent fasting improves mental clarity, focus, and emotional resilience, reducing workplace stress and burnout. plus, fasting supports better metabolic health, leading to fewer sick days and increased long-term performance.

we all know those moments of getting lost in the infinite scroll, chasing the next dopamine hit. lately, i’ve found myself caught up in reels because the algorithm feeds me endless newborn know-how. i keep watching because, even if the next 15 reels are junk, the 16th one might actually be useful - and bam, there go 30 minutes for maybe 2-3 smart insights.

for me, it’s not just tech addiction; it’s dopamine addiction. so when i’m in my intermittent fasting mode, i focus on good dopamine sources: sun, ice baths, sauna, lifting weights, running, walking, deep work, breathwork, meditation, visualization, design, serving, connecting, and creating. understanding the difference between real and fake dopamine is crucial - otherwise, you end up distracted instead of making real progress toward your goals.

YOUR FASTING GUIDE POWERED BY CHATGPT

chatGPT can serve as a personalized guide, helping you tailor your fasting routine to your work schedules, optimize nutrition, and stay productive while fasting. here’s how:

DUNNING KRUGER, WHO?

how fast did “let me google it” turn into “let me ask chatGPT”? basically, no day goes by where i’m not using AI, and i hear it everywhere. in all conversations, both private and business-related. there’s a reason why i prefer asking AI instead of google. first of all, i can tailor the output: “describe it as simply as possible,” “write it in bullet points,” “make it a one-liner or 350 words,” … but there are a few important things to consider to avoid getting trapped in misinformation.

i already told you about the phenomenon of AI on drugs when it comes to hallucinating. but another major issue is the dunning-kruger effect. you’ll quickly notice when chatgpt is talking nonsense if it’s answering questions in a field you’re an expert in. but if it’s something you know nothing about, the way AI phrases things can sound incredibly authoritative. you see this effect all the time in social media comment sections - people confidently explaining things they barely understand. so, what can you do?

• fact check:

  • when writing your prompt, ask the chatbot to include links and sources.

  • always verify results through google. reliable sources include official news websites (not personal blogs), academic papers, and government websites.

• critical thinking:

  • be skeptical of bold or extreme claims.

  • if something sounds too shocking, too good to be true, or heavily biased, it probably needs verification.

• awareness of AI limitations:

  • AI is trained on historical data and may not be updated in real time. it can misinterpret context or generate biased responses based on its training data.

recent research showed that chatbot responses to “russia-ukraine war” contained around 30% misinformation, according to multiple blog posts spread via propaganda websites. just because something is widely written about doesn’t mean it’s true.

NOTE2SELF

fasting comes in many shades. right now, i’m fasting something i used to really enjoy - going out and having drinks. now, while breastfeeding my baby boy, i’m still sticking to no alcohol at all. but with that comes a certain feeling of isolation. and it’s the same when you choose to fast in your own way. a lot of people won’t understand why you’re setting these restrictions - if it’s for the baby, it makes sense to them, but why not for your physical and mental health too? i thought the first thing i’d do after giving birth would be to have an amazing drink. but the truth is, it’s not the drink i am craving it is to break the isolation. and that’s probably what i’ll write about next.

HOW TO WORK W/ ME

i'm planning my comeback for MAY 2025. if you're in need of a creative lead w/ a focus on emerging tech. i offer workshops, speeches, and consulting. you can also reach out for support in personal branding and entrepreneurship. and i will take some bookings for stages too. see my references via dajanaeder.xyz 

BITS & NUGGETS to make u SMARTER

• fasting from an IKAGAI perspective by Dr. Miriam von Felbert

• i gave a podcast interview about personal branding and AI for leadher by Merlene Vrielmann

• founders Meriem & Selma Lebdiri turned Ramadan Iftar into a women support event - here is why.

you made a powerful decision for yourself by reading RE:FRAME to the end. let’s turn that power into action - add five more in: five forwards to friends, five shares, or simply your five mins of reflections. your next step matters.