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Most of our decisions whether we like it or
not, most of our actions, most of our behavior,
most of our experiences are constantly being shaped at the instinctual level.
I would argue that about 90 to 95% of our decisions, even important decisions.
You might think that you're being rational, but
keep in mind that if you pit the rational brain against the emotional brain in
general, it is the emotional brain that is going to win out.
In fact, I have this quote of David says, that the irrational brain does not be,
is not good at being rational.
What it is good at is simply rationalize what the emotional brain has
already decided to do.
And therefore,
it behooves us to understand the workings of the instinctual emotional brain.
Neuromodulators, like serotonin, dopamine, cortisol, et cetera,
have a significant impact on who we are.
even, for
example, who we are in the morning compared to who we are in the afternoon.
And that has a huge significance in terms of
the nature of the decisions that we make in the morning versus in the afternoon.
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The answer to this question is that in general,
it is far better off scheduling your decision making in the morning,
because that's when the levels of, the natural levels of serotonin.
The natural levels of dopamine, serotonin is the calming chemical,
dopamine is the excitatory chemical.
Serotonin levels are going to be normal,
because when you wake up in the morning, serotonin levels are going to be high.
As a result of which, you can start taking chances, you're less risk averse.
But as what happens when as the day begins to progress is
that there's a natural decline in the level of serotonin.
As a result of which, when you're making decisions in the afternoon,
you will tend to be more risk averse.
And therefore, there'll be a tendency to gravitate towards what we
call the status quo, the classic status quo bias.
And the status quo bias will manifest in the form of an indecision.
And that's where you'll see that very often when you're making decisions,
important decisions especially, in late in the afternoon.
Very often, you'll end up postponing those decisions, you know,
because you like to stick to the status quo.
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Sleep is extremely critical.
Why? Because there is one phase of sleep called
deep sleep or slow wave sleep and this is where our natural levels of serotonin,
dopamine, et cetera, come back to normal.
And, therefore, if you don't get good quality sleep,
what I mean by that is good quality deep sleep or slow-wave sleep, you'll likely to
end up in waking up in the morning with lower levels of, of serotonin.
As a result of which, you're more likely to be in a type one mindset fearful.
More likely to make decisions out of fear.
More likely to be risk averse, et cetera.
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Previously, people thought that what fitness does is it releases endorphins in
the brain, because we all feel good after, after a workout.
Turns out it is really not it's really not endorphins.
Turns out that it's actually a precursor to
serotonin that is released when you are going through a fitness workout.
And therefore, it is a,
it's natures way to keep our levels of serotonin and dopamine during the day.
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I always advise people to have a high protein breakfast, good quality protein.
It could be a whey protein, it could be egg protein.
Egg white, for example.
Why? Because as the day begins to
progress, right?
You had a breakfast like at seven o'clock in the morning,
as the day begins to progress.
All these other amino acids are getting absorbed past the blood brain barrier.
The one of the last ones to be released and
get absorbed is tryptophan, which is a precursor to serotonin.
So which means that if you had a high-quality protein breakfast in
the morning by the time you're hitting about 11, 11:30 when
you're gonna expect a down is when you're going to get a serotonin boost and
therefore, you're effective, as effective making decisions in the middle of
the day as you are in the morning.
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