I got into nootropics to help me sleep and try to learn how to lucid dream.
I got out of nootropics because anything that can make you lucid dream must have some kind of impact on your brain, and the ENTIRE culture of nootropics is based on being more productive at work (at least the forums I was on).
It was kind of gross, to be honest. Put these chemicals in your body so you can focus x% more at your job. No thank you.
Not the "entire" community, the places I spent time on years ago were focused exclusively on improved sleep efficiency, if there is such a thing.
I used piracetam for a few months and functioned well on six hours of sleep per day (the norm is 1.5x that). Remembered dreams pretty well too (I very rarely remember them before or after that period).
It also greatly reduced the effects of alcohol intoxication, but that was more of a downside (strip ethanol of its effects on the mind and you get pure poison).
The were no other noticeable effects, and I stopped taking it because dosages were measured in hundreds of milligrams and I was worried about load on the kidneys.
To me your perspective comes from a narrow view of what a job is. Hours go in money comes out.
But it can be more than that. It can be a calling. A passion. A way to gain immortal glory by being named the discoverer of something. A way to create value and happiness for others.
I got out of nootropics because anything that can make you lucid dream must have some kind of impact on your brain, and the ENTIRE culture of nootropics is based on being more productive at work (at least the forums I was on).
It was kind of gross, to be honest. Put these chemicals in your body so you can focus x% more at your job. No thank you.