Overview
A 12-week stack engineered for executives: protect prefrontal cortex bandwidth, blunt cortisol spikes, defend sleep architecture under travel load, and keep glucose stable through long days.
Who this is for
- ·Founders and senior operators logging 50+ hour weeks
- ·Frequent travellers crossing 3+ time zones monthly
- ·Anyone whose income is tied to clarity, judgement and stamina
The four pillars
Fixed wake time, 0.4 lux evening light, 19°C bedroom, no caffeine after 12:00.
Two 90-min deep-work blocks, then a hard stop. Walk between meetings.
Daily ashwagandha + rhodiola cycle; L-theanine with morning caffeine.
Protein-forward breakfast, no refined carbs solo, walk 10 min after meals.
Phased timeline
Foundation
Sleep + light + caffeine discipline
- Lock wake time
- Cut alcohol
- Install blue-light blockers post-sunset
Load
Add cognitive + adaptogenic stack
- Introduce Lion's Mane + Rhodiola
- Begin HRV tracking
- Two deep-work blocks/day
Compound
Optimise & retest
- Reassess HRV, RHR, glucose
- Adjust dosing
- Add peptide layer if warranted
Daily schedule
Biomarkers to track
Cautions & contraindications
- · Pregnancy or lactation
- · Active thyroid disease (ashwagandha caution)
- · On SSRIs without physician oversight (rhodiola interaction)
Educational content only — consult a qualified physician before starting any protocol.
Selected references
- Chronic stress, telomere shortening and cellular ageingPNAS · 2020
- Ashwagandha and cortisol modulation: RCTMedicine (Baltimore) · 2019