Many people look to nootropic supplements to boost mental energy, and there’s no doubt about it: Nootropics can be very effective in stimulating specific neuron pathways to enhance brain function, increase alertness and boost mental energy.

But for the best results, the most honest way to view the subject is to look at the big picture. Life can sort of feel like a long marathon where we move through all types of terrain. I’m not talking about a city marathon on flat pavement, but the kind that move through fields, across rivers, down through valleys and up mountains. The challenges at all the stages are different as we move through them while pursuing our goals.

A life journey worth living requires energy – both physical and mental. While using nootropics for mental energy will give you a boost, the real key is maintaining balance on all levels. That requires optimal nutrition, supplementation and rest. This article is going to give you guidance on how to prime yourself on a mental, spiritual and physical level so you have energy to burn for all life’s endeavours.

Let me start by asking you a question: if you had a super-long and difficult marathon ahead of you, would you take off at the start with all your energy sprinting at full speed?

That would probably knock you out after a few minutes, right?

The most trained athletes know that keeping a steady pace is the key to long-term success. So on that note, let’s start with the first important tip:

1. Balance Your Stimulants

Drinking too much caffeine at once will make you crash within a few hours. It’s like taking off at the start of the race with all your energy, only to burn out early.

Some people switch up caffeine with L-theanine, or take the two together.

The Benefits of Stacking L-theanine and Caffeine

Consumed for thousands of years in Asia, L-theanine is the key neurochemical ingredient in tea that works by producing GABA and glutamate, key chemical messengers that send information throughout your brain across pathways called synapses.

L-theanine has been shown in scientific studies to help with learning, improve memory, manage stress, and combat symptoms of depression.

While it may seem that mental energy is highest with high caffeine consumption, please keep in mind that it’s short-lived. The most efficient way to use nootropics to improve mental energy is to maintain balanced neurochemistry.

2. Balance Your Blood Sugar

While we’re on this theme of balance, here’s another factor to keep in check: blood sugar.

Just like with caffeine, consumption of carbohydrates with a high-glycemic load will create cascades of insulin in your system. That might feel great for a while, but then you get a crash.

Some people do well with small meals a day, others do intermittent fasting. While we aren’t nutritionists, what we do know is that different things work for different people.

Ashwagandha May Help Balance Blood Sugar

Some scientific studies have shown that Ashwagandha can lower blood sugar levels. One study using muscle cells found that it increased insulin secretion and improved insulin sensitivity.

Several studies on humans have suggested using Ashwagandha can reduce blood sugar levels in both healthy people and those with diabetes.

Since physical and mental energy are linked, balancing your blood sugar will balance physical energy and that will benefit your brain as well.

3. Reduce Fatigue and Exhaustion

While we’re always getting asked about the best nootropics to boost mental energy, the most ethical advice we can give is to encourage people to get some rest!

Constantly taking stimulants when you’re tired is like whipping a horse. It’s just not going to work long-term. Even the best nootropics will stop working in exhausted people, so not only is it antithetical to promote them in all cases, but it’s also bad for business!

Having said that, it’s up to you to determine the best amount of sleep. Getting your nutrition and stimulants on point will help you dial in on the right amount of hours.

Once that’s taken care of, we advise you to start nourishing your body and brain to get some vitality back.

Rhodiola Rosea Extract Can Help Reduce Fatigue

Less fatigue means more mental energy, and recovering from chronic fatigue takes time.

Rhodiola Rosea is an herb in the Rhodiola genera that has been used traditionally to reduce exhaustion.

The active ingredients in Rhodiola are tyrosol and salidroside, in addition to procyanidins – molecules that are similar to those found in green tea.

Benefits include improvement in fatigue symptoms, stress relief, anti-depressive effects, and improved exercise performance.

Boosting Mental Energy Needs More Than Just Nootropics!

Nootropics are supplements, and taking them on their own is like supplementing with a pre-workout shake and then sitting to play video games! The best protein and workout supplements won’t do a thing if all you do is lift those pink 1kg dumbbells. But when combined with an effective workout, supplements can make a huge difference.

The same goes for nootropics. We suggest you dial in the right amount of sleep, optimize your nutrition and reduce stress. Once all that is under control, then you can supplement with our customized selection of nootropics for truly great results.

For information on all the supplements we mentioned here and more, please visit our Energy page for more details.