How to Stop Procrastination Fast and Achieve Laser Sharp Focus

You’re sitting down, getting ready to work. It’s 9 but you wish it was 5. You need to focus and do the job, but living at a fast pace can be exhausting. How do you keep up? Reach for another coffee - that'll give you a fix. For a while anyway. Sadly, caffeinated drinks tend to lead to so-called “post-excitement crashes” and low cognitive performance over a long run.

Procrastination nation

These power crashes lead to procrastination. How many times has your inability to focus made you check Instagram? Or start making an ultimate holiday wish list instead of writing that report which is due tomorrow? Procrastination happens to all of us. But what is procrastination? Scientists define it as voluntary avoidance of performing an unpleasant task. How does that relate to our brain? Well, when we aren’t keen on doing something, the limbic system, which is responsible for our emotions and the stress response (the so-called fight or flight), perceives it as risk and takes over. Stress-fighting-nootropics could help ease this feeling, but what is going to make you get that laser-sharp focus? For sustainable brain power over a long haul, we should reach for substances that avoid power crashes, enhance the brain’s metabolic pathways and help you reach your peak mental potential, without dodgy side effects. Luckily, there are multiple natural nootropics that can help you get more stuff done, elevate your cognition, optimise your mood and give you that an energised mindset.

Increasing neurotransmitter production

Multiple natural nootropics have the ability to increase production of body’s chemical messengers, AKA neurotransmitters. L – tyrosine is an amino acid involved in the production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and adrenaline. It basically provides more building blocks for our body to produce these happy hormones. Studies show that L-tyrosine can improve cognitive performance when sleep deprived, without affecting your sleep pattern, like caffeine does. L- tyrosine is an excellent nootropic to take when you’re under high stress but need to focus and get the job done. Why? Because during stressful activities our brain burns through dopamine and adrenaline, leaving us high, dry and well… procrastinating. So next time a big deadline is coming up, it might be worth reaching for an L-tyrosine based nootropic, such as Power Up, rather than another coffee.

Optimising the powerhouses of your cells – mitochondria

You might remember from secondary school that mitochondria, bean-shaped organelles, are the powerhouses of our cells. They convert chemical compounds into unique energy currency- adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Acetyl-L-carnitine is an amino acid that helps transfer fats into the mitochondria where the metabolism occurs. So, Acetyl-L-carnitine helps create energy, boosting cognition, focus and concentration. Since mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cells, their decay links to ageing. Studies show that Acetyl-L-Carnitine, as an antioxidant, can help decrease neurological decline and side effects of ageing. It also has some benefits related to cardiovascular health! Animal studies show that when rats were given Acetyl-L-carnitine before a cardiac Ischemia (heart attack), the heart suffered less damage. What’s good for your brain is good for your heart, right? Nicotinamide riboside, a precursor to vitamin B3, also has some mitochondria-boosting benefits. It promotes mitochondrial biogenesis, which basically means: more mitochondria = more energy. It also shows some anti-ageing properties.

Optimising your mood, cognition and focus

You’ve probably heard of Ginseng. It is one of the most popular herbal medicines out there. Korean Panax Ginseng is a very potent species. It’s an adaptogen and has the ability to reduce stress and adrenal fatigue. On top of that, it also has an effect on our good old neurotransmitters such as serotonin. It inhibits its reuptake, meaning serotonin can pass messages between nerve cells for longer! Interestingly, many pharmaceutical anti-depressants are serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Natural mood booster? Yes, please! If that wasn’t enough, ginseng also has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and focus-boosting properties. All these nootropics can be found in Power Up, which will help you unleash your brain's full potential. Goodbye, procrastination.