While microdosing has been around for some time, the motivations behind usage are diversifying, with researchers citing drivers like achieving novel creativity, boosting positive mood, and sharpening mental clarity – helping people to manage high stress in the workplace. “The vast majority of jobs in the US are based on productivity and production and microdosing provides an all-natural way to improve these measures of performance,” says co-founder of Denver-based Psychedelic Passage, Nicholas Levich. But while use is being culturally normalized, US employers aren't keeping up. This signals the potential for a growing chasm between personal and professional lives, at a moment when hybrid working setups mean the physical boundaries between them are increasingly blurred.

With burnout culture rife, people are seeking alternative routes to self-optimization. Given the upwards trajectory for psychedelics, it’s expected that the international market will hit $7.5 million by 2028. This has seen innovations from organizations like Mindbloom, a clinic that provides ketamine-assisted therapy for depression and trauma, and Lumenate, an app providing tech-simulated psychedelic trips. For those who may think mushrooms are an extreme solution, there are less intimidating adaptogens available. For example, Cogniora has developed nootropics that cognitively enhance users without the psychoactive kick.