This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Jacques Rossouw
The Problem: Afternoon Code Fog
If you’ve ever hit that 2 PM wall in the middle of a sprint, you know how brutal it can be.
For me, it used to go like this:
Morning: Coffee-fueled productivity.
Afternoon: Staring at the same function for 20 minutes, wondering what I was even doing.
At first, I blamed it on bad sleep or too many Slack interruptions. But over time, I realized something else was going on — my body just wasn’t getting the right fuel to sustain long hours of deep work.
Why This Matters for Developers
We tend to think productivity tools are things like IDEs, frameworks, or project management boards. But your body is the real hardware, and without proper “maintenance,” your performance takes a hit.
Missing even small amounts of certain nutrients can lead to:
Slower mental processing
Lower energy output
Poorer recovery after intense work days
More “brain fog” moments
The Habit I Added
I started taking a men’s multivitamin each morning — not as some miracle fix, but as part of my system to make coding sessions smoother.
The process is simple:
Eat breakfast
Drink water
Take the multivitamin
It takes less than 10 seconds but sets me up for a more focused day.
Why I Chose This One
The one I personally use is called LiveGood Bio-Active Complete Multivitamin for Men.
Here’s why it works for me:
Men-focused formula: More zinc, selenium, lycopene; no unnecessary iron
Bioavailable nutrient forms: Designed for better absorption
Balanced dosages: Enough to be effective without overload
Nutrient Highlights:
Energy metabolism: B-complex vitamins, magnesium
Immune support: Vitamin C, D3, zinc
Heart health: Vitamin E, selenium
Bone & muscle health: Calcium, magnesium, K2
Prostate support: Lycopene, saw palmetto
What Changed
After 2–3 weeks:
Longer focus windows — fewer “drift” moments in the middle of coding
More stable energy — I didn’t feel like I was running on fumes by mid-afternoon
Better recovery — I had more in the tank after work to handle personal projects
It’s not magic — you still need good sleep, real meals, and hydration — but it helps cover the nutritional basics so you can focus on shipping code instead of fighting brain fog.
How to Fit It Into Your Routine
If you want to try something similar, here’s what worked for me:
Anchor it to breakfast — easiest way to stay consistent
Keep the bottle where you’ll see it — visual reminders help
Pair it with hydration — vitamins work better in a hydrated body
Track for a month — consistency matters more than intensity
Why I’m Sharing This Here
Most developer productivity posts focus on tools, languages, or frameworks. But if your body isn’t operating at its best, none of those will matter.
Think of this as part of your developer health stack — right alongside ergonomic chairs, regular breaks, and a solid sleep schedule.
My Full Review
If you want the ingredient list, why I picked this one over others, and how it fits in my workflow, I put the full breakdown here:
Read My Full Multivitamin Review & Routine
Final Thought
We all know the saying: “Garbage in, garbage out.” That applies to your code — and to your body.
For me, adding a high-quality men’s multivitamin to my morning isn’t about chasing hacks. It’s about removing friction from my day so I can spend more time in flow and less time fighting fatigue.
Small, consistent habits stack — and this one’s earned a permanent spot in mine.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Jacques Rossouw