Trust your gut (not some guru)
If one more podcaster tells me to take cold showers, stop eating three hours before bed, or blow myself a kiss in the mirror, I'm going to DoorDash them a late-night pizza and maybe a crucifix. (Kidding. I would never weaponize my faith.)
But the guru fatigue is real. Maybe you've experienced this yourself. In our relentless pursuit of optimization – of sleep, longevity, relationships, and let's not forget protein – we've all but forgotten how to enjoy this gift called life.
Yes, sleep matters. So do longevity and all the rest. But the rules surrounding these things don't always apply. Ever woken up at 2 am, starving, because you tried not to eat too close to bedtime? Me too.
Listen to the podcasters, but discern for yourself. And if we're all going to optimize anything, let's start by optimizing joy. No tracking device needed.
"If you meditate, eat vegetables, and jog, so that you won't die, you'll be very upset some day that you didn't sleep late, and have a steak, and an ice cream cone."
—Bernie S. Siegel, MD, age 93 as of this writing