At SaneBox we’re all about maximizing productivity. There’s a slightly controversial new productivity trend we’d like to cover today.

 

 

Life’s everyday tasks can exhaust you.

 

You’re scrambling between a last-minute work assignment, picking up the kids from soccer practice, and reminding your mom about her upcoming doctor’s appointment.

 

It’s a challenge. All you want is to be more productive so you can relax at the end of the day.

 

Well, there’s a solution on the way, kind of. Researchers are conducting rigorous scientific studies on the effectiveness of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) microdosing. Early reports show several possible benefits to your health.

 

Before you go rushing out to get your hands on LSD, it’s important that you get all the facts. Let’s take a quick trip beyond the surface.

Taking LSD in Microdoses

When most people think about LSD, it reminds them of the 1960s when this psychedelic drug gained popularity for its psychological effects. It was the drug of choice if you sought visual hallucinations and a reduced appetite. It’s even reported that tech giants Steve Jobs and Bill Gates experimented with LSD to foster their creativity.

 

Most people took full doses of LSD to find euphoria. They wanted an “out of body” experience. Now, researchers are experimenting with microdoses to increase people’s productivity and improve their state of mind.

 

These microdoses include 10 micrograms of the drug taken once every three to four days. It won’t cause a full-blown trip, like the standard recreational dose. Rather, it’s supposed to enhance one’s thinking and imagination. The intention is to help people feel a little better than normal—happier and less worried.

 

LSD is a synthetic drug. So it’s easier to accurately measure the dosage, unlike the plant-based drug cannabis, and a LSD prescription would be less difficult to replicate. That’s why scientists are interested in gathering more data.

 

Curious users also are releasing the stigma behind the drug and looking beyond the recreational benefits. People aren’t seeking delusions and rapid mood swings; they desire mental stability, relief from depression, and physical energy.

 

From Silicon Valley to college campuses, microdosing is a growing trend in mainstream culture. Subscribers in the online community Reddit are discussing their personal experiences with self-microdosing. And there’s an informational infographic to give potential users a crash course on the subject.

 

As LSD micodosing becomes more ingrained into society, it will alter our perception. The drug that once gave individuals a poor sense of judgment could eventually help people solve their mental issues.

Benefiting from LSD

With all the excitement around LSD, people are eager to see the benefits of the drug. The key selling point of microdosing is the ability to carry out normal daily activities. With a higher dosage, you wouldn’t be able to drive, function at work, or watch your kids.

 

Ayelet Waldman, author of A Really Good Day and former federal public defender, did her own 30-day personal experiment with LSD microdosing. Throughout her life, she suffered from mood swings and anxiety, and now, as Ayelet enters menopause, she worried about her emotional health.

 

Did the LSD cure all her problems? Not entirely.

 

Ayelet’s positive effects included less chronic shoulder pain and more joyous interactions with her husband and children. Her productivity did boost, and she completed tasks more efficiently. Ayelet recalls her experience:

 

“Found myself so effortlessly in the flow that I didn’t even notice time passing. I see why people microdose as an alternative to Adderall.”

 

Scientists are examining the benefits as well. Jim Fadiman, a pioneer of psychedelic studies, administered his own independent microdosing study. His results found participants gained feelings of determination, alertness, and energy after taking the LSD microdoses. While most people wanted to alleviate their depression, microdosing also led to an increase in anxiety.

 

These early studies give people hope that LSD could possibly help their illnesses. As more researchers analyze microdosing, it’s only a matter of time that society may witness its first LSD prescription.

 

Furthermore, LSD microdosing has the potential to initiate an economic boom for innovative businesses. Paul Austin, the founder of The Third Wave, an advocacy group dedicated to psychedelics, predicts that microdosing will be a lucrative business opportunity within the next 10 years.

Risking It All

LSD microdosing comes with major risks. For starters, it’s still illegal to purchase the drug. You can go straight to prison if you possess this psychedelic substance.

 

The United States government and others around the world aren’t taking any chances with LSD microdosing. They are requiring scientists to conduct repeatable, controlled studies to monitor the side effects of a viable prescription.

 

The actual effects of microdosing is difficult to verify. Most of the current research is anecdotal, and researchers don’t want to rely on users’ distorted memories and self-experimentation. Therefore, scientists are continuing to study the drug to ensure the public’s safety.

 

“I do think society would be greatly served by us as a group getting to know more about psychedelics and hopefully working out a regulatory system so people can make use of them in the safest possible way,” says Amanda Feilding, the founder and director of the UK-based nonprofit Beckley Foundation.

 

Another apparent danger is the uncertainty of the drug’s supply. Because LSD only resides on the black market, there’s no regulation by the Federal Drug Administration. People may get a “bad batch” from their dealers. As a result, you could incorrectly take too much of the drug, causing unwanted trips or even death.

 

Then, there’s the ongoing stigma about drug. LSD has caused serious problems in communities, from breaking up marriages to elevating crimes. Rightfully so, the public and lawmakers are scared of the hazards associated with LSD. They don’t want another epidemic of substance abuse.

 

LSD is extremely damaging to users and their families, if not used properly. It’s definitely not worth the risk.

Let’s Wait and See

In the future, LSD microdosing may prove to offer tremendous benefits to individuals struggling with productivity. However, it’s an illegal, unregulated drug, and we don’t recommend you commit a crime to see if it works. Instead, try Sanebox to unclutter your inbox and gain productivity bliss.