12 min read User Guide

FOCUS: The Catalyst for Creation

The flow state, deep work, and creative output you keep trying to reach with caffeine. Without the jitters, the crash, or the cognitive cost.

Based on research by Shawn Wells, MPH, RD

FOCUS is what happens when you stop confusing stimulation with focus. Most people, when they want to get into deep work, reach for caffeine. They feel wired. They feel busy. They feel productive. But the research is clear: stimulation isn't focus. Real focus is a flow state, where you're simultaneously alert and relaxed, where time bends and the work flows out of you.

FOCUS is a five-ingredient neurostack designed to put you in that flow state on demand. It uses paraxanthine, the clean metabolite of caffeine, alongside the precise nutrients your brain needs to manufacture focus, dopamine, and acetylcholine, the do-deep-work neurotransmitters. The result isn't more energy. It's better thinking. The kind of thinking that produces work you're proud of.

Caffeine helps you get more busy work done. Paraxanthine helps you get better creative work done. That is not a small difference. That is everything.
Shawn Wells, MPH, RD, Formulator, FOCUS

Shawn Wells has formulated over 1,000 supplements, filed 40+ patents, and consulted for elite athletes, special forces operators, and Olympic teams. He's been called the World's Greatest Formulator. So when he set out to build a focus stack, he didn't ask, what's marketable. He asked, what is the actual neurochemistry of flow, and what would I take if money and supply chains were no object.

The answer was a formula no commercial pre-workout had ever attempted: the metabolite of caffeine instead of caffeine itself, paired with the building blocks of dopamine and acetylcholine, plus the precise amino acid that pulls the whole thing into a calm, focused state. He tested it on himself. He tested it on athletes. He saw e-gamers who used to fade after an hour stay sharp through hour two. And he realized this wasn't a coffee replacement. It was a category replacement.

Formulated By Shawn Wells

Co-Created By Vishen Lakhiani

These are the formulas I personally use every day. The unleashed versions of what I've always wanted to make. With FOCUS, you finally get my actual stack, not a watered-down commercial compromise.
Shawn Wells, MPH, RD

Caffeine has a Goldilocks problem
60% of the population are slow caffeine metabolizers. Most people get more side effects than benefits. Paraxanthine works the same way for everyone.
Stimulation isn't focus
Caffeine creates stimulation. Real focus is flow, where parasympathetic and sympathetic systems are balanced. That's a different formulation problem entirely.
Built from the research up
Every ingredient has multiple human trials. Every dose matches the clinically validated range. Every form is the specific patented version that was actually studied.

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Caffeine

More errors under stress
In a 10K race study, runners on caffeine made significantly more errors on cognitive tests after exertion than those on paraxanthine. Caffeine accuracy declines precisely when you need it most.
Cortisol and stress response
Caffeine raises stress hormones and can disrupt heart rate variability, especially in slow metabolizers (about 60% of the population).
Impacts sleep and recovery
Caffeine has a 5-hour half-life. That afternoon cup is still in your system at midnight, eroding sleep quality even when you fall asleep on time.
Diminishing returns over time
Habituation is real. The same dose gives you less effect over weeks and months, so you end up reaching for more to feel anything at all.

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FOCUS

Better accuracy under pressure
In the same exercise study, paraxanthine reduced errors by 23%. You think more clearly when fatigued, not less.
No cortisol spike
Paraxanthine doesn't activate the stress response. You get the alertness without the fight-or-flight surge that drains you.
Better sleep, not worse
Studies show paraxanthine users actually have improved HRV and sleep quality with continued use. The opposite of caffeine.
Positive adaptation
Where caffeine produces tolerance, paraxanthine produces adaptation. It works the same the 100th time as the first, and your brain gets healthier in the process.

Real focus, real flow, real creative output. The kind of work you're proud of, without the trade-offs caffeine quietly extracts.

FOCUS targets three primary cognitive systems: dopamine (the get-stuff-done neurotransmitter), acetylcholine (the do-deep-work neurotransmitter), and cellular ATP (the literal energy currency of your brain cells). Each ingredient was selected to support a specific node in this stack, and paraxanthine ties them together by gently lifting alertness without hijacking your stress response.

What you experience is a state nutritional biochemists call calm focus, the alpha-brainwave state where creativity and execution stop trading off against each other. You're alert. You're relaxed. The work flows.

The Paraxanthine Discovery

Paraxanthine is the active metabolite your liver creates when it breaks down caffeine. It's the part of caffeine that does the cognitive work, separated from the parts that cause anxiety, jitters, sleep disruption, and the cortisol spike. In a landmark e-gaming study, athletes on paraxanthine improved over a two-hour session. Athletes on caffeine declined. Same task, opposite trajectory.

32% Fewer Mental Errors

In a 10K race study Shawn co-authored, runners on paraxanthine made 32% fewer errors on cognitive tests post-exercise compared to caffeine. Caffeine degrades focus under stress. Paraxanthine sharpens it.

We saw e-gamers get better and better through hour two on paraxanthine. On caffeine, they fell off hour to hour. We were watching positive adaptation in real time. That's never been seen in a stimulant before.
— Shawn Wells, MPH, RD

100+ Calories Burned Per Use

A single 200mg dose of paraxanthine increases thermogenesis by over 100 calories across 3 hours. Clean energy in, fat oxidation out, no stimulant cost.

Why Alpha-GPC Doubles Focus

Alpha-GPC is the most bioavailable form of choline, the building block of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter behind memory retrieval, deep concentration, and the ability to hold complex information in your head while you work with it. In a single-dose study, GeniusPure Alpha-GPC at the same level used in FOCUS doubled performance on the Stroop test, the gold-standard measure of focused attention.

Stack it with L-tyrosine (which builds dopamine, the drive neurotransmitter) and paraxanthine (which gently lifts both), and you have all three of the chemicals your brain actually needs to enter and sustain a flow state.

108% Greater Focus Performance

GeniusPure Alpha-GPC at the dose used in FOCUS produced a 108% greater Stroop test score than placebo, in a single-use clinical study.

2.4x Faster Processing Speed

The same study showed processing speed increased 2.4x more than placebo with one dose. Your brain literally runs faster on the right precursors.

enfinity® Paraxanthine

Clean Cognitive Energy

300mg

Feels like

Alert without jittery. Calm without dull. The mental fog lifts and stays lifted for 3-4 hours. No spike, no crash, no anxious edge.

The active metabolite of caffeine, with all the focus and energy benefits, none of the cortisol, jitters, or sleep disruption. Increases BDNF, blood flow, and neuroplasticity. Used in major celebrity-backed beverage brands.

0 cortisol spike. Unlike caffeine, paraxanthine doesn't raise stress hormones

L-Tyrosine (TyroPure)

Dopamine Drive

500mg

Feels like

The drive to start, the drive to keep going. The block lifts. You sit down to do the work, and you actually want to do the work.

The direct amino acid precursor to dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, the catecholamines that govern motivation and execution. The fermented vegan TyroPure form is ultra-clean, with no isomer drift.

3 core neurotransmitters built from this single amino acid

GeniusPure® Alpha-GPC

Deep Work Neurotransmitter

300mg

Feels like

Memory feels closer. Complex problems hold together in your head. The deep-work mode where hours pass and you get up surprised at how much you've done.

The most bioavailable form of choline. Crosses the blood-brain barrier and synthesizes acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter behind memory, learning, and sustained concentration. Also supports mind-muscle connection for athletes.

108% greater focus performance vs placebo in single-use Stroop testing

Peak ATP®

Cellular Energy Currency

400mg

Feels like

The body wakes up alongside the mind. Endurance for long sessions. The kind of stamina that lets you push through the hour where most people quit.

Stabilized adenosine triphosphate, the literal energy molecule of every cell in your body. Increases blood flow, oxygen delivery, and muscle excitability. The first oral ATP that meaningfully boosts performance with a single dose.

147% more total strength gain vs training alone in clinical research

L-Theanine

The Calm in Calm Focus

100mg

Feels like

The edges of stimulation soften. You're alert without being wired. Conversations land. The work feels easy instead of effortful.

Amino acid that increases alpha brain waves, the same waves seen in flow states and meditation. Balances sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, which is the actual definition of calm focus.

7.7% faster Stroop reaction time, a clinically significant single-dose effect

Paraxanthine + Alpha-GPC

Doubled Acetylcholine Activation

Paraxanthine increases acetylcholine signaling on its own. Alpha-GPC increases the raw choline supply your brain has to make acetylcholine. Together they push the deep-work neurotransmitter from two directions at once.

Paraxanthine + L-Tyrosine

Sustained Drive Without Crash

Paraxanthine boosts dopamine release. L-Tyrosine builds the dopamine inventory in the first place. The result is steady, sustained motivation rather than a spike-and-crash dopamine pattern.

L-Theanine + Paraxanthine

Calm Alertness

L-Theanine's alpha-wave promoting effect smooths the alertness lift from paraxanthine. The result is the alpha-state flow zone, alert but not wired, focused but not frazzled.

Peak ATP + Paraxanthine

Cognitive + Physical Output

Paraxanthine fuels the brain. Peak ATP fuels every cell in the body, especially under load. Together, FOCUS works as well before the gym as it does before deep work.

This is the difference between a stack designed by a marketer and a stack designed by a formulator who has spent two decades studying every node in the pathway.

Standard

Daily Flow

4 capsules

One full serving in the morning. Replaces your coffee, replaces your pre-workout, replaces your afternoon dip workaround. Used daily, you'll see positive adaptation, better sleep, healthier HRV, more sustained creative output. The opposite of what caffeine does over time.

Morning, on empty stomach or with food. 30-60 minutes before deep work.

Best for: Coffee replacement, deep work sessions, creative writing, coding, e-gaming, studying, any task that requires sustained concentration

Advanced

Pre-Workout

4 capsules

FOCUS doubles as a complete pre-workout. The Alpha-GPC enhances mind-muscle connection. Peak ATP increases blood flow and muscle excitability. Paraxanthine fuels cognitive output during training. Many users notice strength PRs and longer training capacity.

30-60 minutes before training

Best for: Lifting, athletic training, sports, running, any session where mind-muscle connection and endurance matter

Do not stack FOCUS with additional caffeine. The whole point of paraxanthine is to replace caffeine, not stack with it. If you're pairing with another State, FOCUS + GAZM creates exceptional cognitive output through the additional blood flow boost. FOCUS + BLISS pairs sharpness with social warmth, ideal for high-stakes networking or speaking events.

I quit coffee after a decade and replaced it with FOCUS. My HRV improved within the first month. I sleep better. I get more done before noon than I used to get done in a full day. This is the formula I would have built myself if I knew how.

Vishen Lakhiani Founder, Mindvalley

Why People Love FOCUS

“I could replace coffee with FOCUS”

“I was so productive with FOCUS”

“I notice a significant improvement in my concentration”

“I canceled on dinner with friends because I wanted to continue working”

“It gave me a good solid three or four hours of alertness and clarity”

“I was able to stay out until 2 am, even though I wanted to go to bed at 10pm”

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take FOCUS every day?

Yes. Unlike caffeine, paraxanthine doesn't produce tolerance or dependence. Studies show users actually improve over time, with better sleep, better HRV, and continued cognitive lift. Shawn Wells takes it daily, and most regular users do as well.

Can I take FOCUS with coffee?

We don't recommend it. The whole point of FOCUS is to replace caffeine, not stack with it. Adding caffeine on top of FOCUS will reintroduce the cortisol spike, jitters, and sleep disruption you're paying to avoid. Most users transition off coffee entirely within a week or two.

How quickly will I feel FOCUS?

Most people notice first effects within 20-30 minutes. Full effects peak at 1-2 hours and last 3-4 hours with a clean taper. The first time you take it can feel surprising: clear and energized without the racing edge of caffeine.

Can I use FOCUS as a pre-workout?

Yes. FOCUS is one of the most effective pre-workouts available because Alpha-GPC enhances mind-muscle connection and Peak ATP increases blood flow and muscle excitability. Many users see strength PRs after switching from a caffeine-based pre-workout to FOCUS.

Will FOCUS keep me awake at night?

If taken in the morning, no. Paraxanthine has a much shorter half-life than caffeine and is fully cleared by evening. We don't recommend taking it after about 2pm if you're sensitive.

Can I combine FOCUS with other States?

Yes, all five States are designed to stack. FOCUS + GAZM is excellent for cognitive performance with extra blood flow. FOCUS + BLISS pairs sharpness with social warmth for events. FOCUS + ZEN works for high-stakes presentations where you need to be both alert and grounded.

Are these statements FDA-approved?

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your healthcare provider before use.

Ready to experience it?

Daily Brain Health

FOCUS

Enter the flow state. Peak performance that feels effortless.

Trusted by 5,000+ customers

32% Fewer mental errors

108% Doubled focus

3x Faster cognition

$69.00 $99.00 30% OFF

30-day supply · 30 servings

100% Vegan Non-Habit Forming Third-Party Tested

FOCUS: The Catalyst for Creation

Flow State, Engineered

Why Shawn Created FOCUS