Entrepreneurial Edge: Dmytro Makarov on Biohacking Sleep for Peak Performance
In the competitive world of startups and business leadership, many professionals overlook one of the simplest yet most powerful performance tools: quality sleep. For Dmytro Makarov, a Kyiv-born entrepreneur now based in London, mastering rest has been just as vital as refining marketing strategies or growing businesses.
“The hardest part of building healthy sleep habits is consistency,” the entrepreneur said. “We live at a very dynamic pace, constantly switching time zones, dealing with heavy workloads, and being bombarded with information, all of which directly impacts sleep quality.”
His experience reflects the challenge faced by many leaders whose workdays are unpredictable, yet he emphasises that sleep should be seen as a strategic advantage. “Sleep is not just ‘rest.’ It is a long-term performance technology. And in today’s world, it is definitely worth mastering,” he added.
Creating a Sleep Routine
Dmytro Makarov stresses that biohacking sleep begins with simple, structured practices. The first is establishing a routine. Even with frequent travel and demanding deadlines, he ensures he goes to bed and wakes up at the same time every day, including weekends.
Preparation is another key element. “Sleep prep: minimizing blue light, mentally ‘winding down,’ keeping things quiet, sometimes using a mask or earplugs. These simple things really do work,” he said. By adopting these practices, he maximises the quality of each night’s rest.
Monitoring sleep phases is also essential. Tools such as Whoop allow Makarov to analyse how stress, late-night meals, or workouts influence REM and deep sleep. He studies circadian rhythms and the body’s regenerative processes, understanding how different sleep stages boost memory, immunity, and focus.
Beyond Sleep: The Importance of Recovery
For Dmytro Makarov, maintaining peak performance involves more than just sleep. “In an ideal world, I would love to spend at least one day a week completely gadget-free, devoting that time to myself, my loved ones, nature, and silence,” he said. “Even 30 minutes of silence without screens can make a big difference.”
While extended digital detoxes aren’t always practical, intentional pauses can prevent burnout. “My strategy is not perfection, it is awareness,” he explained. “I do not ‘switch off’ by force, but I regularly check in with myself and give myself space to recover.”
GMG: Grind. Mastery. Growth.
Central to Dmytro Makarov’s philosophy is GMG: Grind. Mastery. Growth. This approach combines relentless effort with skill mastery and long-term growth. “If you do not manage sleep, it is impossible to stay effective in the long run,” he said. By embedding rest into his GMG framework, Makarov demonstrates that sustainable success depends on aligning ambition with healthy habits.
From Kyiv to London: A Self-Taught Entrepreneur
Dmytro Makarov’s entrepreneurial journey is unconventional. Born in Kyiv in 2001, he started getting work experience before graduation, teaching himself marketing while working with IT startups, esports organisations, and local brands between 2015 and 2017. Without a traditional degree, he built his career through curiosity, experimentation, and self-directed learning. Today, he continues to apply that same drive to biohacking and personal performance, showing that mastering habits can be as important as mastering business.
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