Have you ever watched a movie where a mad scientist concocts an experimental serum, injects himself, and becomes superhuman? As a kid, I was fascinated by this idea. As an adult, I realized I could achieve something similar without the needles, steroids, or insanity. Self-experimentation is not just possible; it's a highly effective way to improve your habits and quality of life.

Unlike traditional scientific experiments with multiple research subjects, self-experiments have just one participant: you. This means they may not be great for determining what works for everyone, but they're incredibly valuable for discovering what works for you specifically.

I've conducted over a dozen self-experiments, each lasting one or two weeks, and many of them have led to significant improvements in my life and health. If you're interested in learning how to do this for yourself or want to try some of my most successful experiments, keep reading.

How to Design Your Own Self-Experiments

Choose What to Test:

Decide what aspect of your life you want to test. For example, you could test how different breakfasts affect your energy levels or which workouts help you sleep better.

Create Experimental Conditions:

Define the different conditions you'll test. For breakfast, this might include high-carb, low-carb, paleo, vegan, etc. For workouts, it could be heavy weights, light weights, jogging, yoga, etc.

Select Evaluation Criteria:

Determine how you'll measure the results. If testing breakfasts, you might rate your energy levels on a scale from one to five at regular intervals. For sleep, you could use a smartphone app to track when you fall asleep.

Control for Variables:

Identify and control other factors that could impact your results. For example, keep your caffeine intake consistent if testing breakfasts or work out at the same time each day for sleep experiments. Change only one variable at a time.

Three Self-Experiments to Try

Here are three self-experiments that have had significant impacts on my life, as well as my readers and clients. Each can be completed in one or two weeks, allowing you to cycle through all three in a month.

Experiment 1: The Breakfast Test

What to Test: Effects of different breakfasts on energy levels.

Experimental Conditions: High-carb, low-carb, paleo, vegan, etc.

Evaluation Criteria: Energy levels rated on a scale from one to five.

Control for: Hydration, sleep quality, and other morning food/beverage consumption.

Experiment 2: Morning Routines

What to Test: Activities upon waking and their impact on the day.

Experimental Conditions: Various morning routines (e.g., walk, exercise, meditation).

Evaluation Criteria: Morning mood/focus on a scale from one to five.

Control for: Sleep quality, breakfast type (recommended after the breakfast test), external distractions.

Experiment 3: Evening Routines

What to Test: Activities before bed and their effect on falling asleep.

Experimental Conditions: Workout timing, screen use, reading, snacking, etc.

Evaluation Criteria: Time to fall asleep measured with sleep apps.

Control for: Daytime stimulant consumption, anxiety-inducing factors, sleeping alone vs. with a partner.

Living the Experimental Life

Starting with these experiments often yields significant improvements. Beyond these, get creative with your experiments:

Does eating solid vs. blended fruits and vegetables affect your energy levels?

Does adding cinnamon to your meals affect how full you feel?

How does playing with pets or children before work impact your happiness?

Do bodyweight exercises or jogging in the morning affect your mood and energy?

By being creative, you can dramatically upgrade your health and lifestyle. Conducting one to two-week experiments can lead to substantial improvements in a short time. Start with obvious changes like breakfast and daily routines, then explore other areas for potential enhancement.

Do you have a self-experiment idea? Share it with fellow readers in the comments!