As Chief Technology Officer at the helm of a company driving innovation in health and human performance, Steven Sarafian finds myself standing at a unique intersection—where cutting-edge technology meets human biology. Sarafian understands that our lives are increasingly mediated by screens, yet as stewards of both progress and wellness, we must pause to ask: What is the cost of our digital immersion?
Biohackers, developers, and digital professionals alike often aim to operate at peak performance. But true optimization, says Sarafian, doesn’t come from faster code or brighter screens—it comes from understanding the biology beneath the behavior. And one of the most urgent, yet underexamined threats to our cognitive and emotional resilience, he says, is prolonged screen exposure.
Digital Immersion, Mental Degradation
The data is mounting, says Sarafian. Overexposure to screens—smartphones, tablets, laptops—is no longer just a lifestyle concern. It’s a biological disruptor. At the root of this is dopamine dysregulation—a neurochemical imbalance triggered by our modern feedback loops. From push notifications to infinite scrolling, each micro-interaction delivers a dopamine hit. But the more often that signal fires, the more desensitized the brain becomes. Over time, says Sarafian, our baseline mood can flatline, giving way to anxiety, irritability, and depressive symptoms.
What the Brain Wasn’t Built For
Below, Sarafian takes a closer look at what’s happening neurologically, because this is where tech and biohacking intersect with consequence:
- Blue Light Disruption
High-spectrum blue light suppresses melatonin production, says Sarafian, throwing off circadian rhythm and diminishing sleep quality. And poor sleep doesn’t just mean fatigue—it means impaired memory, volatile mood, and hindered executive function. - Eroded Attention
The addictive, quick-hit nature of digital content, he says, shortens our attention span. Developers and digital workers often find themselves battling focus fatigue—not because of weak willpower, but because their neural circuitry is being rewired for distraction. - Neurochemical Overload
According to Sarafian, constant alerts, multitasking, and digital noise chronically activate our sympathetic nervous system. The cortisol response, meant for fight-or-flight scenarios, becomes constant. Long-term? This, he says, compromises memory, decision-making, and emotional regulation. - Mitochondrial Drain
A topic close to Steve Sarafian’s heart and essential to peak mental performance: mitochondrial health. Digital stress increases oxidative load, impacting energy production and cellular resilience. When our mitochondria are depleted, he says, so is our cognitive edge.
CTO-Approved Biohacking Strategies for Mental Resilience
As someone leading a tech-forward company while deeply invested in longevity and human optimization, Steven Sarafian has integrated the following practices for himself and his teams:
- Digital Detox Windows (aka “Neural Cache Clear”)
Schedule periods of non-digital time—daily and weekly. Think of it as clearing your RAM. Unplugging restores baseline dopamine levels and gives the nervous system space to reset. - System-Level Blue Light Mitigation
Configure every workstation and mobile device with night filters. Use hardware and software-level blue light blockers. Encourage wearable tech that supports circadian rhythm regulation. - Mitochondrial Reinforcement Stack
Supplement with CoQ10, NAD+ precursors, and PQQ. These support neuroplasticity, ATP output, and recovery from oxidative stress, especially relevant for high-output professionals. - Morning Ritual Without Screens
Build a screen-free startup routine. Whether it’s hydration, mobility work, or exposure to natural sunlight, let your biology take the lead before your inbox does. - Micro-Recovery Through Nature and Temperature
Incorporate walking meetings or green-time breaks. Cold compresses on the eyes post-screentime can recalibrate overstimulated visual centers, supporting parasympathetic recovery.
Engineering a Human-First Tech Culture
According to Steve Sarafian, the mission as technologists is not just to build scalable solutions, but to ensure those solutions scale with human resilience. A future-focused CTO, he says, must prioritize systems that don’t just deliver faster load times but foster better mental load management.
Let’s not just ask what we can build, says Sarafian. Instead, he implores CTos to ask: Are we building environments that empower the human brain to thrive?
The Takeaway for Biohackers, Builders, and Visionaries
If you’re optimizing for clarity, focus, and performance, says Sarafian, screen hygiene is no longer optional—it’s foundational. As he knows, the next wave of human enhancement isn’t just genetic or nootropic. It’s environmental. It’s behavioral. And it’s strategic.
Whether you’re coding your next breakthrough, leading a team, or building a better version of yourself, says Sarafian, it’s important to start by reclaiming your biology from your technology.
Ready to optimize? Sarafian’s team offers a line of mitochondrial support solutions, as well as the opportunity to connect with biohacking specialists to develop a resilience plan tailored to your goals.
Sarafian and his team aim to build a future where tech enables performance, without sacrificing the mind.