Hey friend,

Not long ago, I was bedridden with relentless, never-ending fatigue.

Before that, my wife, Abigail, and I were living our dream—traveling the West Coast in a self-converted camper van, embracing every day as an adventure.

Then everything fell apart…

A mystery illness (later diagnosed as mold toxicity or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) left me chronically ill. Lyme disease was also suspected, and a doctor confirmed it clinically.

But the treatment—endless antibiotics, homeopathic injections, and mountains of supplements—only made me worse.

I became so fatigued that I could barely climb a flight of stairs.

Most days, I managed only a few hours on my feet before collapsing back into bed, longing for the life I once had—skateboarding, hiking, yoga, and the freedom of the open road.

I never realized how much I took my energy for granted—until it was gone.

Maybe I was an extreme case, but the truth is, most people are running on empty—teetering on the edge of burnout, propped up by stimulants and cheap dopamine just to get through the day.

They struggle to sleep, wake up exhausted, and repeat the cycle all over again…

Zombified.

We didn’t come this far—didn’t create this incredible era—only to be so drained that we can’t even enjoy it.

Too depleted to be productive.

Too exhausted to play.

Too unmotivated to chase dreams and make them real.

I get it—because I’ve been there. Even with a driven mind, my lack of energy held me back from everything.

But you can break the cycle. You can recharge your battery and create lasting, sustainable energy—day after day.

It starts with cutting out what drains you and doubling down on what fuels you.

Here are 10 ways to 10x your energy:

1) Touch some f*cking grass

We wear rubber soles, walk on pavement, drive cars, and live disconnected from the Earth.

Earthing—or grounding—is about reconnecting your body to the Earth’s electrons and absorbing its healing energy.

Research shows it reduces inflammation and boosts immunity [1], lifts mood, improves sleep [2], and yes, gives you more energy. [3]

So, for the love of nature, take off your shoes, get your feet in the dirt, and touch some damn grass!

2) Quit caffeine

Stimulants like caffeine don’t give you energy—they borrow it.

As my dad would say, you're "robbing Peter to pay Paul."

Stimulants push your body into overdrive, blocking the signal that tells you you're wiped.

Eventually, you crash.

3) Take adaptogens

Swap caffeine for adaptogens—herbs that boost strength, stamina, and stress resilience.

They enhance energy by improving cellular function, regulating the nervous system, and speeding up recovery after physical or mental exertion. [4]

Top adaptogens:

• Rhodiola [5]
• Ginseng [6]
• Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng) [7]

4) Stop scrolling before bed

Blue light from your phone blocks melatonin, the hormone that signals your body that it’s time to sleep. [8]

It tricks your brain into thinking it’s daytime, throwing off your sleep cycle.

If you can’t resist late-night scrolling, invest in high-quality blue light-blocking glasses to protect your melatonin and your sleep. [9]

5) Move your body

It might seem counterintuitive, but exercise gives you energy.

When you move, your adrenals release adrenaline, triggering pathways that release norepinephrine in the brain—fueling both body and mind.

So, even if you're tired, get up and move—you’ll feel better afterward.

6) Eliminate energy vampires

Some people drain your emotional energy—sometimes intentionally.

They could be anyone: your best friend, spouse, parent, co-worker, or boss.

While distancing yourself helps, it’s not always possible. Setting boundaries is key to protecting your mental, emotional, and physical energy.

Take 30 minutes of silence. Grab pen and paper, and answer:

• Who’s draining my energy every day?
• What boundaries can I set to protect my energy?
• What people or activities give me energy, and how can I prioritize them more?

7) Craft your purpose

If you don’t define your purpose, someone else will.

When you're stuck in an unfulfilling life, working on things that don’t matter to you, it’s no surprise you feel drained.

One of the most powerful ways to uncover your true purpose is through Ikigai—a Japanese concept meaning "a reason to live."

Map out:

• What you love
• What you're good at
• What the world needs
• What you can be paid for

After feeling lost, the Ikigai exercise changed everything.

It’s the reason I’m writing this newsletter—because I finally found my purpose.

8) Take energy-boosting supplements

Your mitochondria—your body's power plants—generate ATP, the fuel that keeps you going.

These science-backed supplements protect and enhance mitochondrial function, giving you the cellular energy to thrive:

• CoQ10 [10]
• PQQ [11]
• NMN [12]
• Methylene Blue [13]
• Acetyl-L-Carnitine [14]

9) Breathe

My herbalist mentor, Christopher Smaka, always said:

“Before anything, breathe.”

When you breathe shallowly, you limit oxygen to your brain and organs—a guaranteed way to drain your energy.

Try this:

• Take the deepest breath you can… hold it… now exhale slowly, all the way out.
• How do you feel?

10) Center your thoughts

Your brain makes up only a small percentage of your body weight but burns 20% of your energy.

They say comparison is the thief of joy, but I’d say overthinking is the thief of energy.

When you learn to center your thoughts—using your breath as your tool—you stop the endless drain of rumination.

Free your mind, reclaim your energy.

The good life requires energy.

Your goals require energy.

Your ability to play, connect, and love requires energy.

As we move deeper into the tech age—where our energy fuels machines—how can you set boundaries and replenish your own energy?

How can you prioritize recharging your battery instead of everyone else’s?

You deserve to feel vibrant and alive.

I read every reply personally, so tell me:

If you had to pick your top 3 to focus on for boosting your energy, what would they be?

Let’s power up together,

Onjae