In our current economic landscape, using any avenue you can to get ahead is necessary. Whether you’re a busy Wall Street trader, a stressed out college student or a tired work-from-home parent, your success depends on you being able to stay focused, energized, alert and motivated. Drinking several cups of coffee or slamming down energy drinks is simply part of the cost of doing business. However, many busy people are finding that cognitive supplements are a better solution to keep them alert and attentive. Cognitive supplements are herbal health supplements, like you see in vitamin stores, that contain a variety of ingredients designed to improve certain aspects of mental function, including focus, concentration, memory or attention. They also often contain ingredients to increase energy, as being tired is the quickest way to decrease your cognitive abilities. Here are five reasons why cognitive supplements are extremely beneficial to busy people: More EnergyBrain supplements can give you much more energy than a cup of coffee or an energy drink, which both contain caffeine that will stimulate your mind for a few hours before wearing off to leave you more tired than before! Cognitive Supplements that use Vitamin B12 and Taurine for energy provide a natural boost that will keep you going for up to six hours with no crashes when they wear off. More FocusCognitive Supplements are specifically designed to help your focus and attention. They contain ingredients that activate certain enzymes and invigorate certain natural occurrences in your brain, allowing you to be more attentive and alert. Studies have shown that increasing enzyme production in the prefrontal cortex of your brain is most effective for improving focus short and long-term. No CaloriesUnlike creamy coffees and sugary energy drinks, cognitive supplements have no calories. While this may not benefit your brain directly, it is a definite positive to your waist line! Plus, studies have shown that having leaner body mass is conducive to being less tired and fatigued. Cutting extra calories anywhere in your diet is always a bonus, especially since the average small coffee with cream and sugar has 120 calories, and the average can of energy drink has 150-240 calories!Budget-FriendlyAnother reason why cognitive supplements are a great coffee substitute is because they are much more budget friendly! While a cheap cup of coffee may only cost $0.50 – $1.00, you might be indulging once, twice, or more per day. Your monthly coffee budget could easily be $60+ per month. Energy drinks cost even more; drink one every day, and you’ll be around the same cost. Cognitive supplements are much less expensive, usually only costing around $25-$40 for a one month supply. Plus, since you won’t be having caffeine withdrawals, you won’t feel the need to take a supplement on your day off or on weekends!Longer-Lasting ResultsStudies have shown that caffeine from a beverage takes about 45 minutes to reach peak levels in your bloodstream, which lasts in your body for about two or three hours. If you’re a regular coffee drinker, the peak effects will be lessened by your body’s tolerance, and the effects will wear off even sooner. Mental enhancing supplements are designed to provide longer-lasting effects by providing ingredients with longer half-lives, so they stay concentrated in your blood stream for a longer period of time. Caffeine is only a stimulant; once the effects wear off and it leaves your body, there are no more benefits. Cognitive supplements work on increasing and enhancing naturally occurring processes in your brain, so even after the supplement has left your system, you are left with better mental function than you had before.