🫠 Ask a Guide Anything

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One of the most exciting things about microdosing is its potential to increase neuroplasticity (i.e., your brain's ability to form new connections). Some see it as a cheat code for replacing bad habits or stubborn thought patterns that no longer serve.

But we can’t stress this part enough. Psychedelics alone don't do the heavy lifting; they simply create the optimal conditions for change.

So for this week's "Ask a Guide Anything," we posed a pragmatic question to our network of experienced practitioners: What are some small practices that can support the creation of new neural pathways while microdosing?

We share their pro tips below.

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Pair it with mindful movement

Many practitioners shared that physical movement can extend or enhance the neuroplasticity induced by microdosing. Wallace Murray explains that "on dose days, you can pair the capsule with at least twenty minutes of brisk movement, because aerobic exercise boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and works synergistically with serotonergic psychedelics."

The type of movement matters, too. Eliza Collins recommends activities that engage both hemispheres: "Movement like Tai Chi, Qigong, and dance all stimulate brain development, with the added bonus of simultaneously regulating the nervous system." For a simple brain-balancing exercise, she suggests "using a crayon in each hand and moving them across a piece of construction paper without trying to create any specific pattern."

Amie Brooke adds that "exercise or physical movement is helpful during microdosing, particularly when you choose activities that require coordination or learning new skills—for example, dance or yoga. Not only does intentional movement stimulate brain plasticity; it activates vital energy flow in the body to help move and clear emotional blocks."

Disrupt your routine

Breaking out of autopilot is essential for forming new neural pathways, and our guides offered creative ways to introduce novelty into daily life. Kari Roe-LaFramboise suggests a couple simple challenges: "If you usually brush with your right hand try doing it with your left. Stand on one foot while washing dishes."

Monica Lebsock encourages stretching your mind: "During your process of reprogramming, you can support your mental flexibility by trying new things. These can be simple such as taking a new route to your location. Explore learning a new language or an instrument."

Louis Belleau frames it perfectly: "It's all about remixing or updating your everyday routine. For example, even something as small as taking a different route to work, stretching each morning, or starting your day with some gratitude or breathwork can help reinforce new patterns. Psychedelics don't do the rewiring for you, they just soften the ground so new seeds can take root!"

Practice embodying the desired change

At the end of the day, what is all this cognitive flexibility for? Integration happens when you harness your boosted neuroplasticity to effect specific changes. Oxana Kirsanova emphasizes that "it's not enough to just think differently. Embodying the change is key. This means aligning your actions, posture, and nervous system with the new beliefs you're cultivating."

Renee Piazza warns about the neutral nature of neuroplasticity: "There's a saying that we are what we practice, and we're always practicing something. But this can also be maladaptive because neuroplasticity is neutral. So, if you doom scroll while microdosing, it can exacerbate that habit."

Sara Call offers a practice for tuning into what you need: "I love heart-centered breathwork or even placing a hand on my heart and asking, 'What am I ready to rewire today?' Microdosing helps soften the grip of old patterns, but it's your loving attention that lays the new track."

Our take

Microdosing is a paradox. In some ways (for some people), it makes life easier. On the other hand, microdosing requires making a commitment to yourself. If you’re serious about holding yourself accountable, then “on” days might actually feel harder than "off” days.

Why? Because when you’re in that heightened neuroplastic window, what you do really matters. On microdosing days, you have to be extra vigilant about doing the thing/being the person (you claim) you want to do/be. Otherwise you’re just reinforcing the same ol’ patterns.

But don’t let our warning scare you off. As they say, “if you do what’s easy, your life will be hard. If you do what’s hard, your life will be easy.” So think of it this way. Microdosing is like training wheels for thought and behavior change. You get extra support while you practice new ways of being, but you still gotta do the pedaling. (Wait, you can put training wheels on a tricycle, right?)

Thanks to Kami G. from Salt Lake City, UT for submitting this week’s question. 🫠

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UNTIL NEXT TIME

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DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. The use, possession, and distribution of psychedelic drugs are illegal in most countries and may result in criminal prosecution.