Nootropics for Productivity & Focus.

Simply put, productivity is the state of producing something, as measured by the following formula: output divided by input. The greater the output (product) per input (effort), the greater the productivity. However, truly great productivity isn’t simply measured in terms of “producing something.” The “something” produced must also be of exceptional quality for your productivity to qualify as… well, productive.

Truly great cognitive productivity requires truly great cognition, and nootropics for productivity can help. By optimizing mental concentration and motivation while reducing disruptive stress and anxiety, cognitive enhancers may help create a more effective “get to work” mindset that produces actually worthwhile content. And in this guide, we cover the cognitive factors of productivity as well as the best nootropics for the job.

The Cognitive Factors of Productivity

Focus and Concentration

While seemingly synonymous, focus and concentration are slightly different:

• Focus – like a “focused” photograph, mental focus involves clarity of mind and sharp attention to the subject, or task, of importance.

• Concentration – this helps us “stay focused” by rejecting peripheral distractions and temptations.

Without focus, a person may be productive but not towards any actual “productive” direction. Blurry, or unfocused, thinking impairs the mind’s ability to discern important information from trivial stimuli. There’s a fine balance between stimulation and relaxation to achieve smart focus. Too much stimulation overwhelms cognitive processing, whereas too much relaxation throws the mind into stagnant apathy.

By improving the activity of catecholamine neurotransmitters, which play a key role in cognitive alertness and awareness, nootropics may improve focus and concentration. Under conditions of catecholamine depletion, workers may find it difficult to avoid distractions and stay on task. Ironically, being over-productive may contribute to catecholamine depletion via stress and over-activity. Catecholaminergic nootropics help productive people sustain their productivity.

Energy and Stamina

No energy, no output. Whether due to sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, or low metabolic production, low energy impairs nearly every aspect of mental performance. However, the usual “solutions” too low energy — e.g., caffeine, smart pills — don’t seem to offer much of a healthy, long-term option.

Given that the brain burns nearly 20% of the body’s overall energy, it’s important to keep this energy-demanding organ happy with sufficient energy productivity. Generally, the reasons for the brain’s high energy demands include:

• Management – the brain never ceases to process, regulate, and monitor an incredibly complex network of neurochemical signals and reactions.

• Maintenance – neural tissue requires ongoing care and attention, as the brain expends energy and fuel to grow, develop, and repair brain cells.

Poorly managed and maintained brains not only diminish productivity but may increase the risk and rate of age-relation neurodegeneration. Nootropics that enhance cellular energy production while reducing the negative effects of fatigue may help sustain ongoing productivity.

Which is Better for Productivity: Stimulation or Relaxation?

The answer depends on what’s impeding your productivity: is it apathy or anxiety? Low energy or hyperactivity? Odds are, in our hypercaffeinated, overstimulated world, it’s too much stimulation overwhelming our mental productivity. As such, caffeinated nootropic supplements may actually impair cognition, not help it.

Not to say there isn’t an appropriate way to use caffeine towards improved productivity, as listed below. However, when it comes to improving productivity, the power of relaxation is incredibly underestimated. This is why meditation seems to significantly improve workplace performance, psychological well-being, and productivity, as explored through preliminary research. Calm, relaxed mindfulness seems to correlate with decreased burnout and perceived stress.

On the flipside, stimulation may reliably work as a “clutch performance” brain boost. Under conditions of acute fatigue and stress, stimulants may help keep a mental performance alive and afloat long enough to solve a given task or problem. However, this only describes a temporary approach to addressing temporary problems.

For ongoing productivity and cognitive health, maintaining healthy energy levels and cognitive calm seems to work best.

Natural vs. Synthetic Energy Boosters

When it comes to stimulation, you can go the easy route with synthetic stimulants or the healthy route with natural nootropics. Whereas synthetic stimulants unnaturally amplify cognitive energy, nootropics naturally enhance the brain’s energy-producing pathways. What’s more, the synthetic rise in cognitive energy often leads to an inevitable cognitive crash, ultimately resulting in decreased cognitive performance and, eventually, impaired cognitive health.

Nootropic energy boosters, on the other hand, may improve metabolism and cognitive longevity by enhancing:

• Mitochondrial ATP energy output.

• Mitochondrial antioxidant capacity.

• Nutritional fuel conversion to cellular energy.

And more. The best part of natural nootropics is that they’re generally safe and free of side effects, even when used under daily, long-term conditions.

How Nootropics Can Boost Productivity?

By focusing on the cognitive pathways listed above, natural nootropics can boost productivity through the following bio-mechanisms:

• Improving catecholaminergic activity.

• Enhancing cellular energy levels.

• Reducing brain fatigue and fog.

• Regulating dopaminergic and serotonergic activities.

• Decreasing over-active cognitive pathways.

• Optimizing stress hormone cortisol release.

Essentially, nootropics for productivity work by promoting relaxed, yet energized, thinking that’s resilient against destructive distractions and emotional disturbances. However, not all nootropics are fit for the task of improving productivity, and so listed below are a few of the best cognitive enhancers that may help you get back to work and stay on task.