Anyone who works in a profession where creativity is a cornerstone of their job description knows that sometimes that devious writer's block, burnout, or brain fog can pop up at the most inconvenient of times. That psychological wall that can leave even the most successful of creators in panic and disarray is a frightful experience with some PTSD associated.

History speaks of the use/abuse of nicotine, stimulants, sleep deprivation, and even bouts of mania fuelling some of the greatest works, but realistically many of those stories do not end well. So, a little preemptive thought and planning could be the best attack on the dreaded stalemate of “brain fog” that casually hangs over all creative artists and writers' heads eventually. Plus, not everyone is trying to write 1000 page novels or paint stoic pieces of art, many of us just love to create and make a living doing so in many formats. Consistency may be more important than magnanimous contributions to society.

One of the measures one can take when considering sustainable drive and motivation is to manage stress on the body and mind. There are a host of lifestyle choices that can be made or modified, but also there is now an array of holistic options like supplements and food based protocols found all over social media, nutrition store shelves, and brand websites to stay on top of one’s game.

One of the top choices in this category of adaptogens is Ashwagandha, an adaptogenic herb from India now revered for its ability to help manage stress via modulating cortisol, the body’s stress hormone. In small doses cortisol does amazing things like assist healing, break down fat, and can even help you wake up beaming instead of sleepy eye’d and brain fogged.

Another great herb for the mental and mood side of the coin is Bacopa Monnieri, which has been shown to improve memory and bolster mood/reduce anxiety. These are essential for maintaining that consistency in drive and motivation that things like overwork or stimulants could potentially overdraw on and create the writer's block or brain fog that can stall even the most important of projects. Focus is one thing but the marathon of sustaining it for hours or days is another event. That's why combining adaptogens could be the key. Stacking with the likes of Rhodiola Rosea, another adaptogen, perhaps could offer the fatigue fighting, endurance, and drive needed for any task at hand.

Another wonderful adaptogenic compound, Lion’s Mane mushroom offers another excellent cognitive boost which can enhance the brain and memory, while also having positive benefits on the body and gut health by reducing inflammation. By some considered one of the best brain boosters in the game, it can be stacked with the above mentioned adaptogens to harness a synergistic effect. Attacking the drive and motivation game from multiple avenues and really creating resilience against burn out and overwork.