Using Cannabis To Be More Productive
No, cannabis isn’t just there to get you high.
For a lot of people, the idea of cannabis boosting productivity is akin to using alcohol to make good decisions — but you just might be surprised. Great minds have used cannabis for years, and they didn’t just use it to chill out after being a little too productive. In fact, some cannabis users (like yours truly) actually use cannabis to be more productive. In this article, we’re going to explore how people are using marijuana and hemp to boost their productivity every single day.
Cannabis Doesn’t Always Make You Lazy
When people see a pot leaf, they often call to mind the image of someone saying something fake profound while giggling on a couch (all while surrounded in a haze of smoke, no doubt!). And, while there is certainly a time and place to get stoned on your couch, getting baked and vegging is not the only option for cannabis users.
Certain kinds of cannabis, most commonly indicas and indica-dominant hybrids, are known for their relaxing and giggly effects. Yes, if you smoke one of these strains or use a product derived from one at ten a.m. on a Monday morning, you might just find yourself napping by noon — but those kinds of cannabis aren’t even recommended for day-time use!
There are plenty of strains and use techniques that can be used to wake you up and make you more productive than you otherwise would be. Strap in, reader. I’m here to teach you how I functionally use cannabis to run my own business and manage three revenue streams.
Sativas: The Powerhouse of the Stoner
I’m always surprised when I meet people who don’t know the difference between cannabis strains and just how significantly they can impact a user. If you are new to cannabis use or have never used it, you should know that sativas are the cannabis equivalent of a good cup of coffee and your teacher giving you a gold star.
A sativa is a kind of cannabis strain known for its distinctive wakeful properties. Sativas are often associated with a boost in energy, a decrease in bad feelings, and an increase in good feelings.
And you know what? You can harness this power for good!
Using Sativas For Productivity
Since sativas are known for their energy boosts, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they can help you to be more productive. In the same way that you might enjoy a nice breakfast tea or slam your favorite frappuccino, using a sativa can give you that pick-me-up that you need to take on your day.
Most recently, I discovered a sativa vape pen that didn’t just wake me up for work. It literally felt like it was stealing away my exhaustion. If you have ever taken B12 for energy, you probably know the difference I’m talking about. Instead of giving me the go fast mentality of caffeine, it just made me feel like I wasn’t tired anymore — and that lasted all day long.
Beyond a simple energy boost, a good sativa can really help you to focus. If you are prone to becoming overstimulated or you get anxious under a heavy workload, you might just need something to calm you down so you can stop focusing on those approaching deadlines instead of working. A sativa can offer that, which I why I wrote an entire article on using cannabis to manage anxiety too!
It is important to remember that the way that you use cannabis for productivity might be different than the way that I do, and that is completely okay. My body isn’t your body. Only you know what is right for your body, so listen to it and adjust accordingly.
For me, the answer is in microdosing. While I know some people can smoke a bowl and then get right to work, I need less than that. The key to my productivity is somewhere between sober and high, which is why I like to use small amounts to just get the benefits that I’m looking for.
If you are curious about microdosing, you can read my article on it here:
When I use microdosing as a part of my working process, I will generally use very small amounts every few hours as needed. Sometimes using cannabis once is enough to keep me going all day. Sometimes I don’t get enough sleep or my work is really hard and I end up using a little more. The body is different every single day, so I let my body tell me what it needs as I go.
What I Use
I will be upfront in saying that I’m one of those pesky new-age cannabis users. You won’t find any flower in my home, and I really only ever smoke in a social setting. I’m just not a fan of smoking, so I kicked it to the curb as soon as Colorado got better about regulating the contents of edibles.
I have two preferred methods for microdosing: vaping and edibles.
Vape Pens
Yes, I am a vape pen user. I know, I know. We’ve all seen the memes. But, it’s not like that, I swear. Personally, I rely on a very specific brand of vape pen that I have had great results with. A single hit can put me in the perfect mindset to get right to work. I use pens most of the time because I can get a more controlled release and I trust how much I’m getting.
Low-Dose Edibles
Before I started vaping, my cannabis experience was almost entirely focused on edibles. For me, smoking always felt fleeting and a little too potent. I was drawn to edibles because of how easy it was to control my intake with them. And hey, I like body highs, so sue me.
For work, I would often use 5-milligram sativa edibles. Now, even 5-milligrams is a bit much for me, so I’m more interested in either cutting them down to a smaller size or relying on premade low-dose options that offer 2 to 3 milligrams instead.
CBD
Some of you might be curious about cannabis but aren’t big on the whole high thing. I’ve got really great news for you! CBD goodies can often bring you the benefits of some of these products without getting you high. If you’re more interested in those effects, head to a local store or visit a dispensary and specifically ask for CBD products that are derived from hemp instead of marijuana. While I haven’t found them to be quite as helpful for energy, they absolutely help with focus in my experience.
The Gist
Cannabis is an incredibly powerful tool that can work wonders if you treat it with the right degree of respect. That line is different for everyone, which is why you will have to find it for yourself. When I used cannabis more, even a full 10-milligram edible barely touched me. Now, I use 5 milligrams if I want to watch something silly at night before bed. With a little experimentation, you might just find that your most productive self is only a couple of milligrams away.
My advice is just to listen to your body. Sometimes I use cannabis, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I take a hit every thirty minutes, sometimes one keeps me going strong all day.
Listen to your body’s feedback, and more importantly, get to work!
