I’ve found this about myself after extensive trial and even more extensive error:
My body seems to use up potassium fast when I’m stressed. No idea why. But taking potassium seems to help me recover when I’m feeling burnt out (I have an HPA axis problem so my stress response isn’t normal)
Low carb diet (under ~125 grams per day) makes me functional in a way antidepressants, adderall, modafinil, tony robbins, ayahuasca, zen training, therapy, etc never could. I’ve never done keto but low carb is incredible for me
I have no sense of thirst so keeping a nalgene bottle nearby helps me a lot (the 1-liter capacity is important for tracking my water intake, and this is why the new 828-ml standard for sports drinks pisses me off)
Wheat gives me systematic inflammation, resulting in miserable outlook on life for about three days. It’s dose-dependent. I can have a piece of toast and be fine but if I eat half a loaf of bread, then I hate everyone and everything the next couple days
Discuss and debate your ideas, and seek membership in community where this is encouraged
Work on complex projects to continuously learn about how ideas manifest in reality
Take care of your brain
Write your ideas down. Write them with different words and approach them from different angles. Explore all the details
Have respect for grammar and vocabulary. Utilize words’ specific individual meanings, and expand your vocabulary so that you aren’t misleading listeners and readers by using words that sorta kinda fit what you’re trying to say
Practice meditation to stop the intellect from gaining too much prominence in your mind (this is also a function of the work thing from above)
Read lots and lots of books, including fiction. Not only do you get ideas, but you also get exposure to complex sentence structure and ways of conveying things
Ditto poetry. Ditto news. Ditto rap. Listen till your brain’s exhausted, then take a little nap
Eat well and sleep plenty
Develop your body’s skill. Shoot arrows, play pool, make love, surf, play the violin, juggle, rock climb, etc. Do things that require skill, not just knowledge or creativity.