These days, I start my mornings with a cup of coffee, which helps me handle my tasks well, but after lunch, I feel drowsy and my mind goes blank during meetings.

I thought I was the only one, but my colleagues at the team leader level and my close friends feel the same way.

As I entered my 40s, I noticed my mind feels foggy, and my focus isn't what it used to be.

Coffee sometimes makes my stomach hurt, and I know energy drinks are bad for my health, yet I still consume them.

Then I discovered something. L-Tyrosine and L-Theanine. At first glance, they sound like some biochemical experiment drugs, but simply put, one activates the brain while the other cools it down to prevent overheating. I call this my 'brain cocktail.'

Tyrosine is an amino acid used to produce substances like dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine in the brain. In other words, it's brain fuel. Taking it on an empty stomach to start the day feels like an engine roaring to life. It's true. At first, I thought it was a placebo, but after repeating it a few times, I definitely noticed a difference. Suddenly, my work speed in the morning picks up, and especially during meetings, my speech becomes clearer and more organized. It's like the fog in my mind has lifted.

But the problem is, taking only Tyrosine can make a person a bit sensitive. I sometimes feel a bit jittery, and my heart races. That's why I take Theanine alongside it. This component comes from green tea and has a calming effect on the nerves, unlike coffee. It has a strange effect of relaxing while enhancing focus. At first, I wondered if this combination made sense, but once you try it, you understand. If Tyrosine is the accelerator, Theanine is the brake. Both need to be taken together for harmony. Taking them separately disrupts the balance.

I take a glass of water first thing in the morning and then consume 500mg of Tyrosine and 300mg of Theanine.

Taking them on an empty stomach definitely has a noticeable effect, and I avoid coffee or take it depending on my condition that day. Sometimes I take them again after lunch when I feel sleepy, but that can be excessive, so I adjust based on how I feel. Some days I skip them entirely, only taking them on days when I have important tasks. I use them as a sort of 'focus booster.'

To be honest, taking these doesn't suddenly make you a genius or change how you see the world. But the important thing is this: before, I could focus for 30 minutes and then get distracted for 10 minutes, but after taking these, I can work intensely for over an hour. My mind feels organized, and my thoughts line up. Of course, this is just my experience, but for those who feel their brain's elasticity has decreased with age, this is quite a good alternative.

One thing to be cautious about: this is not a medication. It's purely a health supplement. Taking too much can actually lead to headaches, a racing heart, or insomnia. Also, those taking thyroid medication or undergoing treatment for depression should definitely consult a doctor. I also had a day when I felt overly sensitive after taking them without caution, so since then, I've been adjusting my dosage. Ultimately, finding the rhythm that works for me is important.

When I increasingly feel the decline in focus, the first thing that comes to mind is that I don't feel like I used to.

Physical strength can be somewhat restored through exercise, but mental clarity is a bit more complex.

In such times, the combination of L-Tyrosine and Theanine feels like adding an extra RAM to an old computer, significantly enhancing work efficiency.