đ§ The 24 HOUR Fast That Reset My Brain – Elon Musk
Two years ago, my brain felt like an overheated computer – slow, foggy, overwhelmed. I’d tried everything: better sleep, nutrition, meditation, expensive nootropics. Nothing worked. Then I did something counterintuitive: I stopped eating for 24 hours.
What Happened Hour by Hour:
â° Hours 1-6: The Resistance – Realized how much eating was just habit, not hunger
đ§ Hours 7-12: Mental clarity begins – Brain chatter quieted, laser focus emerged
đ„ Hours 13-18: Deep work state – Extended attention span, problems became puzzles
đĄ Hours 19-24: The breakthrough – Solved engineering problem that stumped me for months
The Science Behind It:
đŹ Brain switches from glucose to ketones (cleaner fuel)
⥠Triggers autophagy (cellular brain cleanup)
đŻ Increases norepinephrine (focus hormone)
𧏠Boosts growth hormone (brain protection)
Why It Works:
Our ancestors needed peak mental clarity during food scarcity to survive. Modern constant eating keeps our brains comfortable but suboptimal.
The Spiritual Surprise:
Time normally spent thinking about food became available for prayer and reflection. Now I understand why every major religion includes fasting.
My Current Practice:
24-hour fast 1-2x monthly before major decisions
Best business insights and creative solutions happen during fasts
It’s not about diet – it’s about accessing peak cognitive states
đ Have you experienced the mental clarity that comes from fasting? What’s your experience?
