I have spent a lot of time researching nootropics too. Modafinil provides alertness/wakefulness and that is already a lot to some people. You can then add a racetam, anxiolytic or whatever else is needed. Even l-theanine is known to smooth out some negative effects of modafinil. You can use all the cognitive enhancers under the sun, but they're not gonna do squat if you're yawning your head off.

And just for the record - I work out every day, take cold showers, medidate, my diet is impeccable (macro nutrient balanced) and all that combined still doesn't give me the same level as nootropics do.