In the era of the hustle and grind, mental endurance is a prized commodity. With many of us juggling multiple roles – be it a full-time job and side hustle, or motherhood and a career – we’re all doing more and pushing harder for “success” than ever before.
The issue is that our brains may not be able to keep up with our never-ending to-do lists, leaving many of us on the brink of a burnout.
Short of hooking ourselves up to a coffee IV drip, we never seem to have enough hours in the day to get everything done. But the fact is, many of us simply don’t get the most out of the time we spend working. We aimlessly switch between tasks, get distracted by the nearest shiny object and struggle to remain creative under pressure.
But what if there were ways you could hack your brain to operate with maximum focus, creativity and productivity all the time? Would you do it? Enter, the biohacking phenomenon of nootropics.
WHAT ARE NOOTROPICS?
Otherwise known as smart drugs, “nootropics” is an umbrella term for any substance that improves your cognitive function – including memory, intelligence, focus and mood. Derived from the Greek words “nous” (mind) and “tropein” (towards), the term was coined by Romanian psychologist and chemist Corneliu E. Giurgea in the ’70s.
Nootropics have exploded into the mainstream in recent years, thanks in part to the 2011 film Limitless. Bradley Cooper stars as a writer who takes a pill that unlocks the infinite potential of his brain, to which we all asked in unison, “Why does this not exist?” Turns out, it does – we just didn’t know about it.
This story is from the November 2019 edition of Marie Claire Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 2019 edition of Marie Claire Australia.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
WHY WOMEN SHOULDN'T BE DISCOUNTED
Four game-changing women share why they want economic empowerment included in the conversation this International Women’s Day
home HAVEN
Sophie Bell, founder of Peppa Hart, invites us into her calming quarters, writes Samantha Stewart
BEHIND THE SCENES with PETER PHILIPS
An intimate backstage moment with the legendary creative and image director for Dior Makeup
MIAH MADDEN
The Australian actor on her biggest fashion crime, party tricks and the women who have shaped her
TAYLOR SWIFT
As she hits our shores in February, music writer Cameron Adams charts the unbelievable career of the world’s biggest music artist, from her Nashville country music roots to her record-smashing Eras tour
The road to NIRVANA
Editor Georgie Abay lands in the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan for the adventure of a lifetime
makes SUN sense
What if we saw a suntan for what it really is: a visible sign that skin has been damaged? Sherine Youssef looks behind the golden facade
RUNWAY to DEBT
Modelling agencies are ecruiting young people who have fled war-torn African countries and are living in extreme poverty. They are flown to Europe to take part n fashion castings, but some return within days or weeks, often laden with debt
CALLUM TURNER
The British actor shares tales from the front line, why you should play your heroes and his love for Free Willy
ALL ABOUT JESS
Chart-topping Australian singer Jessica Mauboy talks love, lonliness and music legend Whitney Houston on the eve of her new release, Yours Forever