You’re not alone. For a long time, magic mushrooms were mostly associated with trippy stories, wild parties, or counterculture icons. But microdosing is a very different experience.

Done intentionally, it’s a subtle, grounded way to tap into the benefits of psilocybin—without losing touch with reality. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to microdose mindfully, so it fits smoothly into your routine and supports your daily life.

What is microdosing?

A microdose of psilocybin is very small, usually 0.1 – 0.3 grams of dried psilocybin mushrooms. The amount is small enough that you don’t feel any of the mind-altering, hallucinogenic effects.

A true microdose will not impact your normal cognitive functions, unlike a glass of wine or beer. Microdosing can be integrated into your daily routine without being disruptive.

Some of the many benefits

Our world experienced a dramatic increase in stress when dealing with COVID-19 and its continued fallout since 2020, and people are looking into new ways to relieve the tension and trauma it’s triggered and left behind.

People who are already intentionally using microdosing to their benefit are incredibly diverse and include healthcare and legal professionals, parents, teachers, people living with PTSD, and those looking for alternatives to help them work through mental health and addiction challenges, among many others.

It’s appealing to so many people because it can be easily included in your daily routine and offers a range of benefits such as:

• Improved mood
• Heightened creativity and divergent thinking
• Increased focus and productivity
• Reduced anxiety and feelings of depression
• Increased openness and empathy
• Reduction in migraines and cluster headaches
• Addiction treatment
• Treating OCD & PTSD
• Existential distress and end-of-life anxiety

Assessing your lifestyle and goals

Holistic wellness is the result of small, impactful choices made every day. Microdosing is an all-natural solution that can seamlessly integrate into your life and community to support you in feeling your best, every day.

Much like planning out your daily schedule, if you microdose with no plan in mind, you might not be sure what it did for you at the end of the day and you might begin to feel even more overwhelmed.

Before that happens, it’s helpful to understand what you want to gain from microdosing and set an intention.

Understand your motivations

Here are some helpful questions you can ask yourself to better explore your motivations:

• Can I authentically lean in to being vulnerable with my emotions and stand in my truth?
• Am I willing to lean into the initial discomfort of curiosity and creativity so I can be braver with my life?
• What area(s) of my life do I want to improve or feel deeper fulfillment?
• What parts of myself am I scared to explore or confront?

This exercise aims to reveal areas in your life that you want to experience more and be present for. Reflect on your current lifestyle, routines, and where you want to focus on deepening your values.

For example, if you want to feel more present in your body, pairing microdosing with a yoga session, a run, or a hike will help you feel more aligned and deepen your presence in your body.

If your intentions are related to healing parts of yourself, be aware that consistently microdosing over time will bring difficult thoughts and emotions to the surface and force you to face them. This will not be like tripping, where you are overwhelmed by emotions.

Having a safe space to process arising emotions and memories is still important, especially as you increase the amount you take.

⭐️ Learn about safe microdosing and find where you can go for more support here.

Set clear goals and intentions

Once you understand your intentions, you can set your goals.

Consider microdosing as a daily vitamin that helps you create small, positive shifts in your life. For example, let’s say your intentions are to feel more creative fulfillment and to overcome social anxiety. Your goals can be:

• Enjoy more moments of play throughout your day.
• Finding moments of joy and noticing glimmers everyday.
• Start a new creative project, do the DIY you have saved on TikTok, or cook a new recipe.
• Find quiet and comfortable spaces where you can stand being around others in an environment. Think museums, book stores or library, go for a hike or hit the gym, weekly community classes, or anything to get you out of the house and doing anything because that is progress.

These goals can fit into your daily life without extensive travelling, obligations, pressure, or other disruptions. Creating easily achievable measurable goals will allow you to easily track what microdosing offers you and how you’re benefitting from it.

Journal your heart out ❤️

Journaling is like having a quiet conversation with yourself. It’s a therapeutic and gentle way to unwind, reflect, and truly listen to your innermost feelings. When you’re on a microdosing journey, this habit can be comforting and grounding.

Every day, take a moment to jot down your thoughtsand feelings. It doesn’t have to be long or detailed, just a simple note on how you felt physically, emotionally, and mentally. Over time, these little notes become the strokes that paint a picture of your journey, helping you see the subtle ways microdosing might be touching your life.

Create a microdosing schedule that works for you

We recommend enjoying your first microdose on a day when you don’t have any obligations.

The rule of thumb is to start low and go slow. Begin with the smallest effective dose possible. The recommended starting dose for mushrooms is typically 0.1-0.3 micrograms. Remember, the goal is to experience subtle effects, not to have a full-blown trip.

Taking your microdose on an empty stomach will allow you to best measure and predict how the dose affects you. I take mine first thing in the morning with a glass of water and wait at least 30 min before drinking coffee (it can give you a mild caffeine rush).

You shouldn’t feel any noticeable effects when taking this amount, so don’t feel the need to take more or write it off as a failure. Continue to be present with yourself and mindfully check in and reflect at the end of your day. If you want more, wait until your next microdosing day to lightly up your dose.

The different schedules and protocols you can follow

Consistency is key for seeing the full benefits and results of microdosing.

The most recommended schedule for beginners is known as Dr. Fadiman’s schedule, often referred to as the “one day on, two days off” approach.

On your off-dose days continue to have awareness of your feelings, thoughts, and experiences throughout this day.

Psilocybin should no longer be present in your body so these “normal” off days are essential for preventing forming a tolerance. Being present and gentle with yourself on these “normal” days is just as important.

Here are some other dosing protocols and schedules you can follow.

This approach involves taking one microdose on the same day three times a week. It provides a balance between the effects of the microdose and regular days, allowing your body to rest and reset between doses.

This schedule is designed to align with a typical work week. You microdose Monday through Friday and then take the weekend off. This can be beneficial for those who are looking to enhance their productivity and creativity during the week.

Feel free to start with one of these approaches and tweak it as you go.

People typically experiment to find what works best for them. Trust yourself and stop if you feel microdosing does not fit into your life. Your personal needs and sensitivities should always be considered.

Your body can build up tolerance to microdosing, just like any other substance.

We recommend taking 1-2 weeks off every 2-3 months to avoid building a long-term tolerance and to give your body and mind time to rest.

Monitoring and adjusting as you go

On a day you feel overstimulated, know that you will not start tripping, and you are safe to relax into the feelings.

These activities can help you calm down:

• Sitting outside or taking a walk in nature
• Drink calming herbal tea or a big glass of water
• Listen to your favourite music or put on a brown noise playlist

Any time you are actively microdosing, staying present and open to your feelings throughout the day as they come and go is important. No feelings are wrong!

If you do feel too stimulated, decrease your future doses.

Achieving a balanced social and work life with microdosing

A frequently asked question is if they can go to work while microdosing.

If your job involves driving, operating heavy machinery, or being responsible for the safety of others, we do not recommend microdosing before a work day. This is especially true when you first start out.

The effects of microdosing are so light that you will likely feel completely capable of going to work. Most people will not notice a difference in you, except possibly that you’re more lively, talkative, or extra focused.

Re-charging your social battery

Are you looking to become more of a social butterfly?

Maybe you’re looking for an extra boost to get you through a busy social calendar. Or are you just looking to have a little extra fun on the weekend with your friends?

Here are some of the common social benefits people experience:

• Feeling more open and patient with others:
  • Many people say they feel more present with those around them and are more willing to listen and engage instead of being in their heads or dismissive.
• Ability to tune out distractions and focus:
  • Being deeply present in the moment. This heightened awareness can lead to more profound and insightful conversations with others. Whether it’s a heartfelt chat with a friend or an intellectually stimulating debate, microdosing can help you delve deeper with others.
• An alternative to alcohol:
  • It’s becoming a popular alcohol alternative for boosting mood and energy without feeling drunk or hungover.

It is normal to be concerned about being around people when you are learning how microdosing feels. Once you know your ideal dose, you can microdose without anxiety and enjoy socializing.

If you are drinking while consuming mushrooms, be aware that mixing alcohol with your microdose may create unexpectedly higher levels of impairment. We do not recommend mixing alcohol with microdosing.

Cultivating your personal growth and expanding your skills

Many people, particularly those who work and identify as creatives, have shared their positive experiences with microdosing.

They found it helps them:

• Spark those “Aha!” moments
• Tap into a focused and fulfilling creative flow
• Overcome mental blocks and hard-to-explain concepts

Microdosing can serve as a gentle nudge, encouraging a deeper appreciation of the world around you. This increased sense of wonder can invigorate your creative spirit. If nurturing your creativity is a goal, embracing this flow might lead you to unexpected and inspiring destinations.

Incorporating microdosing into your current hobbies and activities can amplify the joy you feel when pursuing them. Just don’t forget that your true talent and inspiration come from within, regardless of microdosing or any other external influences.

Using it for personal development and healing

Becoming self-aware is incredibly difficult and does not happen overnight for most people. It can be a slow-burn realization that reveals your true authentic self over time.

Many people use microdosing to help them deepen and accelerate healing work.

Microdosing can push emotions to the surface and force you to face them. These can be joyful, and they can also be quite painful. The beauty of this is that microdosing is a powerful way to accelerate healing work and find inner peace.

Helping to heal trauma

Many people find microdosing to be a powerful way to work through trauma. Processing trauma does require feeling your intense emotions, and these microdose days may feel heavier.

That being said, setting up a safe space for you to feel whatever emotions arise is important. This can be having a private place to walk outside or being in your favourite area in your home as you really feel and think through your emotions.

If you feel comfortable, pairing your microdosing with a professional counsellor or guide can help you process these difficult emotions. Medical and therapeutic professionals are legally obligated to keep what you share about substance use confidential.

Doing the real “inner” work

On a lighter level, a microdose can help you drop deeper into powerful inner work practices, such as healing your inner child and feeling self-love and compassion.

While microdosing will not magically improve your life, it can act as a mirror, reflecting areas of our lives we might want to change. Since it can increase awareness and presence, including mindfulness in your microdosing practice can radically improve your experience and outlook.

Pairing the two together can be a harmonious experience. The two naturally complement each other, amplifying the benefits of both. It’s like pairing a good book with the perfect reading spot; it enriches and becomes more immersive and fulfilling.

Looking out for the signs of imbalanced use

As you start microdosing it’s important to be aware of any negative signs and red flags to watch out for that may be lead to unhealthy behaviours. These can include:

• Feeling reliant on a microdose to accomplish tasks
• Consistently wanting to up your dose
• Feeling like your experience does not align with your intentions
• Feeling like it’s disruptive to your daily life

The first two signs show that it is time for a tolerance break.

The latter two signs show that psilocybin may not agree with you. If you decide that psychedelic medicine is not for you, that’s totally fine.

Always trust yourself and do what feels best.