Microdosing is best for gradual improvements over time. It will have immediate benefits, but you may not notice all of the effects until much later, in retrospect. This is best done when you’re looking to keep a stable daily routine.
Regular doses of psychedelics are best taken during vacation, sabbatical, or other transitional periods, because the insights gained will help sort out your highest priorities and values, and will often cause major shifts in perspective. This is better when you don’t have a routine holding you back, or are ready for a major personal transformation that will impact all parts of your life.
DIFFERENT MICRODOSING PROTOCOLS?
Dr. Fadiman’s Approach (1 microdose every 3 days)
Dr. Fadiman recommends taking one microdose every 3 days so as to prevent changes in tolerance over time. He says,“the first day you feel great. The second day you would feel half of that. And the third day you won’t feel anything.”
DOSING DAYS
Week 1: Mon/Thu/Sun
Week 2: Wed/Sat
Week 3: Tue/Fri
Week 4: Mon/Thu/Sun
Workaholic’s Approach (weekdays on, weekends off)
This plan is geared towards individuals looking to test microdosing for potential improvements at work. The weekends are left open for recovery to baseline, in case of changes in effect over time.
DOSING DAYS
Week 1: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri
Week 2: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri
Week 3: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri
Week 4: Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri
Balanced Microdose Approach (every other day)
This dosing schedule is most similar to the dosing schedule in my own microdosing experiment. Microdoses are taken 3–4 times per week (I microdosed 3–6 times per week, depending on how I felt at the time).
DOSING DAYS
Week 1: Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun
Week 2: Tue/Thu/Sat
Week 3: Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun
Week 4: Tue/Thu/Sat
TRACK EFFECT WITH THE “CHECK YOURSELF” CHECK LIST
The following is a checklist of areas to scan when microdosing. Most likely, you won’t be affected in all areas, but it’s important to take a comprehensive review of the effects. There are 7 areas to track:
1. MENTAL: Notice the thoughts running through your mind. Are they the same as usual, or different in nature? Are you having more or fewer thoughts than usual? In general, is your mind more clear or more cluttered?
2. CREATIVE: Are you finding new qualities in things, like stories in objects? Do you find your mind wandering in directions it doesn’t usually? Are you getting more ideas than usual? Do solutions to problems come more easily?
3. EMOTIONAL: Do your feelings take on any different qualities than before? Are there more or fewer feelings experienced than usual? How quickly do you process them before reaching a resolution and moving on? Is sex better, or a different quality?
4. SOCIAL: How are you expressing your thoughts and feelings? Are there any changes in the pacing, tone, or nature of your speech? What about your facial expressions? Do you smile more or less? What frequency do you agree or disagree with someone in conversation? Do you talk differently with your coworkers, spouse, friends and family? The barista at the local coffee shop?
5. BODY: Take a look at how aware (or not aware) you are of your body. Now zoom in on the body by closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Slow your mind and place your full attention on any sensations in your body. Do you notice anything?
6. CAPABILITIES: Notice if you’re more able to complete certain tasks than usual. This might manifest as changes in attention span, physical/visual acuity, verbal fluidity, problem solving ability, empathy, different areas of awareness, and so on.
7. OUTLOOK: Are you more positive or negative? More optimistic or pessimistic? More or less skeptical? More fearful and guarded, or open to possibilities Feelings of oneness, universality, truth, connectedness, love, or peace are also in this area.
