The caffeine question is interesting. For me it's less about needing stimulation and more about managing the side effects of what I'm already using (coffee). If I could get the alertness without the jitters/anxiety, that'd be the win. But you're right that fixing the root cause (sleep, focus discipline) is probably more sustainable long-term.
Curious—do you avoid caffeine entirely, or just use it strategically?
My question was mostly if the coffee itself is the cause of the side effects, you could still consider other ways to consume caffeine, assuming it's the caffeine that provides the alertness to being with.