
Evening Exercise, Poor Sleep, and Resting Heart Rate | Bryan Johnson Podcast #5
Bryan Johnson
May 8, 2025
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Avoid excessive caloric restriction to maintain credibility
An unexpected social consequence of caloric restriction is that a very skinny face is often perceived as unhealthy, making it harder to convince others of your vitality.
Use resting heart rate to curb late-night snacking
You can treat your resting heart rate as an accountability partner to prevent late-night snacking by remembering that even one bite will raise it and disrupt your sleep.
Complete strenuous exercise 4-6 hours before bedtime
To avoid negatively impacting your sleep, strenuous exercise should be completed at least four, and preferably six, hours before your bedtime.
Sacrifice sleep for high-intensity exercise benefits
If the only time you can possibly work out is right before bed, it is occasionally worth sacrificing sleep quality for the significant longevity benefits of high-intensity exercise.
Prioritize sleep as essential fuel for life
One speaker's philosophy is that sleep should be prioritized above everything else in life, including family and work, because it is the fundamental fuel source for existence.
Monitor resting heart rate before bed as key health biomarker
Resting heart rate before bed is arguably the single most important biomarker, as it reflects a combination of your diet, stress, vices, and cardiovascular fitness.
Eat last meal by noon to lower resting heart rate
An extreme but effective protocol to lower resting heart rate involves eating your final meal of the day around noon, approximately eight and a half hours before sleep.
Limit alcohol intake to protect sleep quality and lower resting heart rate
Even a single alcoholic beverage can increase an individual's resting heart rate by four to five beats per minute, which directly harms sleep quality.
Name your inner demons to manage bad habits
A unique psychological technique to manage bad habits is to personify and name the version of yourself that wants to indulge (e.g., "Evening Brian") and then set strict rules for that persona.
Aim for resting heart rate below 65 for optimal longevity
For the best longevity outcomes, the data suggests you should target a resting heart rate of less than 65 beats per minute.
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