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Flow State Access Stack - Level 1

  • Writer: Paul Rooney
    Paul Rooney
  • Oct 30
  • 6 min read

Updated: Oct 31

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Generate Alpha by Training Flow State Access



Financial alpha is what happens when insight compounds faster than risk.


Neural alpha is what happens when clarity compounds faster than noise.


Train one - and you improve the other.


⚠️ Disclaimer

Everyone’s neurochemistry and physiology are different. This stack is for educational purposes only and not medical advice. Please consult your doctor or a licensed health professional before starting any new supplement regimen - especially if you’re on medication, pregnant, or have a health condition.


There’s growing recognition that Flow State is pure Alpha - a rhythm of calm, focused energy that strengthens the more often you enter it. In simple terms, flow is the cheat code for your brain. When you learn to access it at will, you finally get to take that Ferrari brain out for a spin.


A few caveats: this is the Level 1 Stack, designed to accompany our Level 1 Flow State Class. It’s optimized for short- to medium-term neural effects - think foundation, not finish line. Levels 2 and 3 deepen and stabilize these pathways over time, but this is where the work begins.


While this evidence-based stack can help prime the brain for flow, its full potential emerges only when paired with the Level 1 techniques and exercises taught in our Flow State Access classes.

Now - let’s jump in.


🧠 Level 1 Flow State Access Stack: A Precision Protocol


What Is Flow State?


Flow is a neurobiological state of total cognitive absorption, where default-mode rumination shuts off and task-relevant neural networks light up in synchronized, high-efficiency patterns. It’s the sweet spot between challenge and skill, enabled by neurotransmitter precision and network switching fidelity, not just “focus.”


What to Take — Level 1 Flow State Access Stack

Supplement

Dose

Alpha-GPC

300 mg

N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine (NALT)

300 mg

L-Theanine

100 mg

Rhodiola Rosea (3% rosavins) + PQQ

100 mg Rhodiola + 10–20 mg PQQ

Omega-3 Fish Oil (EPA:DHA 2:1)

2.000 – 3,000 mg total

Magnesium Glycinate

300 - 400 mg elemental Mg


⏱ Timeline of Felt Effects – What to Expect

Timeframe

Felt Effect

30–60 min

• Calm alertness from L-Theanine + Alpha-GPC • Improved task-switching and reduced internal chatter (DMN quieting) • Subtle elevation in mood and clarity from Rhodiola



2–3 hours

• Sustained focus with less mental fatigue (Rhodiola + NALT) • Less mind-wandering, easier immersion into cognitively demanding work



Day 2–3

• Reduced performance drop-off during stress or sleep deficit • Faster mental “boot-up” in the morning



Day 4–5

• Sleep quality improves subtly (Magnesium) • More consistent morning focus and lower reactivity to distraction



Day 7

• Enhanced flow readiness, especially during deep work sessions • Emotional friction lowers → task immersion becomes more natural

 

 

Why Each Supplement Is Here (Mechanisms + Pathway Anchoring)

Supplement

Role in Stack

Pathways Engaged

Alpha-GPC

Primary acetylcholine donor → sharpens salience network, enables SN→TPN switching

Monoaminergic-GABAergic, Spinal/Brainstem

N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine

Dopamine + norepinephrine precursor under stress → maintains executive function + working memory

Monoaminergic-GABAergic, Neuroimmune

L-Theanine

Reduces overactivation of DMN, increases alpha rhythms → calm clarity

Vagal Afferent, Monoaminergic-GABAergic

Rhodiola + PQQ

Increases mitochondrial resilience + catecholamine tone, reduces stress-induced network noise

Neuroimmune, Monoaminergic-GABAergic, Spinal/Brainstem

Omega-3s (EPA/DHA)

Increases network fluidity and plasticity, reduces neuroinflammation → enhances prefrontal signaling

Neuroimmune, Spinal/Brainstem

Magnesium Glycinate

Supports GABA tone, sleep quality, and reduces excitotoxicity → resets default mode inhibition overnight

Vagal Afferent, Monoaminergic-GABAergic

Synergy:


Alpha-GPC + NALT sharpen ACh/DA tone→ Rhodiola + PQQ extend endurance + reduce network noise→ Omega-3s support long-range network communication→ Magnesium + Theanine enable nightly DMN “clearing” and vagal reset→ The result: a resilient, fluid SN–TPN switch with lower DMN interference


🕑 How to Take the Stack – Daily Dosing Instructions


🌞 Morning

Take 30–60 minutes before cognitive work or physical training:

  • Alpha-GPC – 300 mg

  • NALT – 300 mg

  • Rhodiola (w/ PQQ) – 100 mg + 10 - 20 mg PQQ

  • L-Theanine – 100 mg

Take with a full glass of water. If GI sensitivity occurs, take with a light breakfast.


🍳 With Breakfast or Mid-Morning Snack

  • Omega-3 Fish Oil – 2,000 - 3,000 mg total EPA/DHA

    (Ideally a 2:1 EPA:DHA ratio for prefrontal cortex function)


🌙 Evening (1–2 hours before bed)

  • Magnesium Glycinate – 300 - 400 mg elemental Mg

    (Supports inhibitory tone and sleep onset)


Flow isn’t luck or mysticism - it’s a reproducible neurophysiological state. The supplements and techniques in this Level 1 protocol are designed to strengthen the circuits that make it accessible: vagal tone, dopaminergic stability, and alpha-wave coherence.


If you’ve ever touched flow before, you know how powerful it feels. The goal isn’t to chase it - it’s to train your nervous system to find that state more easily, more often, and under real-world pressure.


If you’re ready to build that skill, start with the Level 1 Flow State Stack and pair it with the practices from our Flow State Access Class. Together they create the foundation for deeper focus, steadier energy, and the kind of effortless performance that feels as good as it is productive.


Train your brain for flow!


The Research Backing Up This Stack:


Flow state – neural definition, DMN quieting, SN→TPN switching

Alpha-GPC (300 mg) – cholinergic support for attention/executive demands

N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine / Tyrosine (300 mg) – stress-buffered catecholamine support

L-Theanine (100 mg) – alpha activity, calmer attention, stress modulation

Rhodiola rosea (≈100 mg standardized, 3% rosavins) – fatigue, stress resilience

PQQ (10–20 mg) – mitochondrial and fatigue outcomes

Omega-3s (EPA:DHA) – network fluidity, inflammation, mood

Magnesium glycinate (300–400 mg elemental) – sleep quality, GABAergic tone


 
 
 

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