“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes."
Carl Jung
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When is the best time to microdose mushrooms?
Let your intuition guide you
Of course, this is a personal and unique choice for everyone.
"When is the best time to microdose mushrooms?"
Think of it less like a strict prescription and more like learning a new dance with you own body and mind.
I microdose in the morning with my coffee, as this is when the upper chakras (the energy centers around the brain) are most active.
When I first wake up, I read, journal, and practice some form of mindfulness, whether it's a combo of:
- awareness meditation
- Qi Gong
- yoga, or
- playing my crystal bowls and praying
I love combining the proven neuroplasticity benefits of psilocybin with positive thinking, affirmations, and intention setting.
This sets me up for a wonderful day, full of gratitude and creativity, and the ever-so-powerful presence of the now moment.
For most people, the morning is ideal
You want to ride that gentle wave of enhanced awareness throughout your day, not while you're trying to sleep.
Aligning your microdose with the start of your day can enhance focus and energy when you need it most, whether for work projects or simply being more present with your family.
That said...
The mushrooms give you what you need, and they are often a wild card.
So, if you need more sleep, you might find microdosing makes you feel tired, when most times you may find it energizes you.
A 2021 study published in "Scientific Reports" involving over 8,000 participants found that microdosers most commonly took their dose in the morning.
This group reported lower levels of depression and anxiety and improved mood compared to non-microdosers, supporting the idea that a morning dose can set a positive tone for the day.
Safety first
Remember, although psilocybin decriminalization is popping up all over the world at a pace I cannot keep up with (just like the shroomies do!) please make sure you live in a decriminalized area and abide by the law!
If it's your first time, the most important thing is to create a safe and comfortable space.
Choose a relaxed day with no major obligations.
This gives you the gift of a calm day to tune in and notice the subtle shifts without any surprises pressure.
Just for the first time...
This doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't microdose on days with major obligations.
A lot of people notice their microdose "gives them an edge" with laser focus and presence on days requiring energy and focus.
It's not always "sub-perceptual"
While the goal is not to feel "high," many users report very subtle but noticeable sensory enhancements.
A common one is noticing more vibrancy in colors or a slightly sharper edge to objects
This is sometimes referred to as "HD vision" and shows that even at low doses, the brain's visual processing can be gently affected.
You may also feel:
- more present
- more connected
- more emotional
My personal practice
When is the best time to microdose mushrooms for me?
A huge part of my practice is stream-of-consciousness journaling, which is the psychedelic professional's number one choice for integrating these experiences.
It’s literally a “mind dump” — writing down everything that comes to mind for a set amount of time, ignoring spelling or grammar.
If you're familiar with me, you know I, like Einstein, believe everything is energy.
At Yale University School of Medicine, a 2021 study published in the journal "Neuron" found that a single dose of psilocybin in mice prompted an immediate and long-lasting increase in the number and size of synaptic connections between neurons.
Stream-of-consciousness journaling is a transfer of the energy of your thoughts onto paper, like cleaning the slate before you meditate and start your day.
Microdosing is a beautiful practice to do alongside this type of journaling.
It helps you track "threads" — repeating:
- thoughts,
- themes,
- worries, or fears
...in your writing.
These threads are little invitations to areas of your life that need healing attention.
Just being aware of them is healing itself.
So, the practices of microdosing, journaling, and meditation all play very nicely together in the neurology sandbox.
But what if the morning doesn't feel right?
Maybe morning doesn't work for you for whatever reason...it's ok.
It's also a great idea to microdose if an outside nature adventure awaits you, whatever time that may be.
So...what is the best time to microdose mushrooms?
The 'best time' ultimately depends on your goal.
A morning dose is great for professional productivity, while an early afternoon dose might be better for creative exploration, helping you bypass that mid-afternoon slump.
A teacher of mine microdoses before bed, and he swears his distorted thinking from childhood traumas is gone from that practice.
Erin
However, for most, evening doses are not ideal.
Microdosing has been shown to increase brain synapse activity, which is counterintuitive to sleep.
As a potent serotonin 2A receptor agonist, psilocybin increases brain activity and connectivity. Clinical studies using full doses consistently show that it can disrupt sleep architecture, particularly by reducing REM sleep. While data on microdosing is still emerging, the stimulating nature of the substance makes sleep interference a plausible and commonly reported side effect for many individuals.
This microdose study follows the large dose studies conclusions that psilocybin activates the neurons in the brain.If you live with debilitating thoughts or pain
A microdose might be the only way you are comfortable enough to sleep, like my teacher.
Ultimately, the perfect time has less to do with A.M. or P.M. and more to do with your state of mind.
The best time is when you are in a calm, controlled environment, ready to embrace subtle shifts.
With or without food?
Digging further into your question "When is the best time to microdose mushrooms?...
The ancestors believe animal protein and caffeine interfere with the absorption of the psilocybin with large doses.
With a microdose, however, you can just chew the microdose with your front teeth and let your saliva soak with the mushrooms in your mouth, immediately beginning the process of psilocybin to psilocin metabolism.
I would do this before you eat breakfast as you will absorb it faster and easier without food competing with the absorption.
Like I said, I take mine with my morning collagen mushroom coffee, and I often immediately "feel" the microdose working.
So...when is the best time to microdose mushrooms?
Try taking a microdose at different times of the day and note how you feel in your journal
This personal feedback is more valuable than any article.
This might change, too, depending on what you are doing with your day.
You are the expert on you.
Use this information as a starting point, and let your own careful experience be your most trusted guide.
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