A Guide to Boosting Your Productivity With CBD
Right now, things can feel a bit overwhelming. With so much going on that may feel out of your control, it is important to remember that your worth goes far beyond what you are able to produce.
If you find it challenging to be productive right now, just know that it is okay. Times can be hard, and times can be scary. It is natural for your brain to have a harder time focusing and staying productive when your body is navigating heightened stress levels or overstimulation.
But, if you find that distractions or a lack of motivation interfere with your quality of life, causing more stress, or keep you from committing time to activities that boost your mood, you may benefit from some shifts in your routine. And CBD can help.
Read on to learn how you can incorporate CBD into a daily practice that can help boost your focus and productivity.
What Is CBD?
CBD is a plant-based cannabinoid naturally found within the leaves and flowers of cannabis and hemp plants. CBD can impact our physical and mental wellbeing by working with the body’s endocannabinoid system (or ECS).
The ECS is a communication network within the body that uses chemical messages to trigger biological responses to help maintain homeostasis. The ECS uses naturally produced endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors (CB receptors) to stimulate the nervous system's activity to help regulate sleep, mood, pain signals, and more.
CBD Versus THC
Many people wouldn’t think to use CBD for motivation or focus, as there is a clear association between CBD and THC.
THC can produce a high, which isn’t quite the vibe you want when trying to get into the zone for a big project at work. But, while THC and CBD are chemically similar, they work differently within the endocannabinoid system.
A small variation in the molecular arrangements of CBD and THC mean the two cannabinoids affect the body in different ways. THC is capable of binding directly with cannabinoid receptors in the brain, which can lead to psychoactive effects that may make it difficult to focus.
CBD, on the other hand, does not bind directly to CB1 receptors in the brain, and won’t cause any psychoactive effects. Instead, CBD works by helping prolong the benefits of endocannabinoids as they bind with CB receptors throughout the body, while also engaging with neurotransmitters in the brain.
How To Best Boost Productivity With CBD
CBD is well-known for promoting relaxation, so it may feel counterintuitive to use for productivity. But, research suggests that CBD can play a role in activating the 5-HT1A receptor, a serotonin receptor that can help boost motivation.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is a vital time for our body’s to reset and recharge. When we rest, production of the stress hormone cortisol drops, and enzymes get to work repairing and regenerating neurotransmitters in the brain. This means that lack of quality sleep can diminish cognitive function.
Even after tossing and turning through just one night of poor sleep, you’re likely to feel the effects the next day. Most of us know that even with an extra strong cup of coffee, the brain fog, reduced memory function, and fatigue following a sleepless night can stand between you and a productive day.
Taking CBD at bedtime, however, can help relax the body and calm the mind, which has been found to improve sleep quality. By helping quiet the nervous thoughts that can plague us at night, CBD can help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep through the night, making you more likely to wake up rejuvenated and ready to take on your tasks for the day.
Building a consistent routine can also help increase productivity. By taking CBD at the same time each night and then engaging in a calming nighttime activity such as reading and deep breathing, you can start building a consistent daily practice. You can take this even further by choosing a feel-good activity for your morning to help start your day, such as stretching, meditation, or even journaling.
With CBD to help you wake up feeling refreshed, starting the morning with a feel-good routine can help you adhere to structure and get into the headspace to start crossing items off of your to-do list.
Reduce Stress and Tension
When we are stressed, our body releases cortisol, which is known as the fight-or-flight hormone. This hormone essentially pushes all other biological functions to the wayside, while the body shifts to focus at the immediate danger at hand.
While cortisol is important at helping your body react quickly to an immediate threat, ongoing release of cortisol due to chronic stress can impact cognitive health by reducing memory function and limiting our ability to focus on anything outside of the stress.
The good news is that CBD can help counteract stress. CBD can prolong the soothing effects of the endocannabinoid anandamide in the brain, which can help lower cortisol production.
CBD may also lower stress by affecting the way serotonin receptors interact with serotonin–the neurotransmitter responsible for producing feelings of pleasure. And the antioxidant properties in CBD can help protect brain cells from oxidative stress.
By working within the brain to lower cortisol production, CBD can help reduce feelings of tension throughout the body, bringing the focus back to parts of the brain that may be ignored during periods of stress.
Clear the Mind
If staring down a big project or long to-do list feels daunting, or you find your mind already distracted by nervous, looming thoughts, CBD can help bring you back to the present.
Studies have found that by engaging with neurotransmitters in the brain, CBD can help reduce nervousness and settle the mind.
So if getting started on your next project or task feels overwhelming and negative thoughts are shutting you down, CBD can help promote calmness and clear the mind, allowing you to better focus on what is at hand by taking it one step at a time.
Remember to take breaks as well! Constant breaks throughout the day can help further reduce feeling overwhelmed.
Ease Discomfort
Whether working on your feet or at a desk, long hours can lead to physical discomfort. Even working on activities you enjoy can cause physical stress in some way.
Whether you are feeling tension from staring at a screen for too long, experiencing sore and tired muscles from a day on your feet, or are feeling the effects of an aging desk chair, physical discomfort can get in the way, making it more difficult to concentrate on your project or task.
CBD’s naturally soothing and anti-swelling properties can help ease discomfort throughout the body, as it works with endocannabinoids and cb receptors at the source of the issue. Spending time on your tasks should feel much easier when you aren’t forcing your way through physical discomfort!
Enjoy Nutrient-Rich Snacks
Your body’s energy comes from food, and if you aren’t getting enough energy, your brain will feel the impacts.
For some people, stress can lead to loss of appetite, but a lack of nutrients can make it even harder to stay alert and focused. By helping reduce stress and supporting the ECS in regulating digestive health, CBD can help stimulate the appetite when needed.
Help boost your brainpower by stocking up on snacks that can support cognitive function, such as leafy greens and berries that are rich in vitamins and antioxidants; proteins such as nuts and lean meats; and foods rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, including sunflower seeds, walnuts, and dark chocolate.
Move Your Body
Like CBD, moving your body can help lower stress and boost mood.
Whether going for a brisk walk, dancing around your room, or getting some friends together for a pickup game, moving in a way that feels good to you can release endorphins and get your blood flowing, which helps increase your energy levels.
Getting back in the zone on your work or projects will likely feel more manageable when you’re in a good mood and feeling energized.
Using CBD before exercising can help you get enough sleep, loosen your muscles, and reduce tension pre-workout, and can also help support the muscle recovery process and ease muscle soreness post-workout.
Set Aside Time For Yourself!
We know it can be easier said than done, but try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Planning breaks throughout the day and giving yourself time to decompress when needed is more than okay.
As you start planning out your routine to help boost productivity, don’t forget to include activities that make you feel good. Stretching, taking a warm bath, or practicing mindfulness can all help improve your mood, making it easier to focus when you settle back for your next task.
Incorporating CBD into these practices can help you lean even deeper into relaxation and better clear the mind of negative or self-judgmental thoughts that may be bringing you down.
How Often Should I Use CBD For Productivity?
Consistency is key when it comes to building new habits and when it comes to getting the most out of your CBD. While short-term effects of CBD, such as tension relief and relaxation, can kick in within an hour of taking, you’ll feel the effects of CBD use on your sleep and day-to-day routine best when you use it daily for at least a month.
Make sure you read the label of any CBD product you use and stick within the daily recommended dosage.
Building A Wellness Routine With Peels
Here at Peels, we source our CBD from the peels of organic citrus fruits. We use a cyclic terpene assembly process to turn the aromatic terpenes found in citrus into molecularly identical CBD, meaning each batch of our CBD oil is consistent. And with absolutely zero THC content in citrus fruits, there is never any risk of THC content.
Our products are third-party tested, so there are no surprises in our freshly squeezed CBD oil. Use Peels to help build your own motivation-boosting wellness routine. We are here to support you. However, you choose!
Sources
The Neuroprotective Aspects of Sleep | Medtube Science
Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series | The Permanente Journal
Cannabinoids as novel anti-inflammatory drugs | Future Med Chem
Foods Linked to Better Brain Power | Harvard Health Publishing