In this modern, digital world, you’re continually bombarded with distractions. Your phone is always within arm’s reach, with notifications constantly pinging your attention away from the job at hand. Then there’s the growing list of things on your to-do list vying for your time, and co-workers, friends, and family who place demands on your time. As a result, it can be difficult to channel your efforts and maintain focus on a single task when countless things are pulling you in different directions.
If you’ve ever found yourself zoning out in the middle of a conversation or getting lost in a second project when you should be focusing on the first, you’re not alone. In fact, a recent survey revealed that workplace distractions cause around 50% of people to feel significantly less productive. It can be downright impossible to focus sometimes, and it’s frustrating when you know you should be able to do better.
But what can you do when focus is all too elusive? How do you stay on task? The answer might be CBD, a natural hemp compound. A growing number of people are using CBD for focus, Concentration, and productivity. So, if you’re looking for a way to increase focus and attention, continue reading.
The wellness benefits of CBD
CBD or cannabidiol is a compound found in hemp plants. Unlike THC, the other well-known cannabinoid, CBD is non-intoxicating and won’t cause a ‘high.’
THC is found in high concentrations in the marijuana variety of cannabis plants, while there are only traces in the hemp variety. Although CBD and THC are both cannabinoids, they have distinct effects.
CBD is becoming increasingly popular as a natural wellness aid, and for good reason.
Studies have found that CBD may provide relief from conditions like anxiety, chronic pain, inflammation, and insomnia. CBD may also improve cognitive function and mental clarity.
CBD interacts seamlessly with your body’s endocannabinoid system or ECS. This complex, critical signalling network consists of receptors, enzymes, and endocannabinoids, or self-made cannabinoids.
Everyone has an ECS, regardless of cannabis use. It’s responsible for maintaining homeostasis or balance in your body by regulating factors like mood, pain perception, memory, inflammation, appetite, and sleep. When you use CBD, it supports the ECS in carrying out its functions. CBD interacts with receptors in the ECS to promote balance and healing, which is why it’s so effective.
Because CBD may enhance the balance of body and mind and support memory and cognitive function, it’s a potentially valuable focus aid. It may help you manage some underlying factors that impede attention and concentration.
Let’s explore some factors that negatively impact focus and how CBD could help.
Why can’t I focus?
Sometimes no matter what you do, your mind wanders, and you can’t concentrate. A common reason is not feeling engaged and enthusiastic about what you’re doing. It can be difficult to find focus when you’re bored or don’t see the value in a project.
However, a lack of focus often isn’t about motivation but other factors, like stress and anxiety, that impede your attention span and cause mental fog. Perhaps your mind is racing, or you’re worried about things beyond your control, meaning it’s tough to stay in the moment and concentrate on the task at hand.
The pressure of work or family commitments can also lead to difficulties concentrating and distress. It can be hard to focus when juggling a myriad of responsibilities and feeling pulled in different directions.
It’s a knock-on effect. The stress of your responsibilities can affect sleep. Irregular sleeping patterns and inadequate sleep leave you exhausted and drained and are detrimental to focus and memory. Remember, you need 6 to 8 hours of quality sleep each night to support clear thinking, avoid confusion, and enhance memory recall.
Without enough quality sleep, cognitive function drops, leading to brain fog and falling productivity. You may find it challenging to complete work that requires deep thought and have trouble retaining information. Your concentration and reactions can also be impaired if you’re sleep-deprived. As a result, tasks that require memory, recall, or logical reasoning are more difficult or even impossible. And the result? More stress and anxiety. It’s a vicious circle that’s hard to break.
Does CBD for focus work?
Yes, anecdotal evidence suggests that many people benefit from using CBD for focus.
Every day, research into the incredible benefits of CBD expands. Of course, there’s so much left to explore, but scientists have already made significant discoveries about how cannabinoids like CBD interact with and support the body.
Some of these findings relate to how CBD impacts the primary underlying factors affecting focus. Here are some of the ways CBD could help you channel your attention and focus.
Aids sleep
Sleep is critical for focus, concentration, productivity, and overall health. Without enough sleep, it isn’t easy to function either mentally or physically.
Studies show that even partial levels of sleep deprivation induce negative changes in cognitive performance. It impairs attention, vigilance, and working memory in the short term and impacts long-term memory and decision-making. Overall, lack of sleep equates to a lack of focus.
While you sleep, your body recharges and regenerates neurotransmitters in the brain. Without these critical processes, daytime focus suffers. Unfortunately, getting at least 6 hours of restorative sleep is something many people struggle with.
But a regular dose of CBD may help you drift off and stay asleep. It has a double-pronged effect of enhancing sleep quality and reducing the time it takes to fall asleep. So you’ll enjoy revitalizing sleep more quickly.
Here are just some of the studies that support CBD as a sleep aid:
- In a study of 72 volunteers, researchers found that CBD lessened anxiety and improved sleep.
- A 2020 review noted that endocannabinoids impact the sleep-wake cycle. Therefore, supporting your body with CBD could reduce insomnia and sleep issues.
- A 2016 case study highlighted how CBD improved sleep in a child with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It contributed to normal sleep patterns and decreased anxiety.
A common theme in a substantial body of research is that CBD is well tolerated and has minimal side effects. This is a stark contrast to some sleep over-the-counter or prescription medications that can cause drowsiness, impaired thinking compromised judgment, and in the long term, dependence.
CBD is a natural, plant-derived alternative to harsh pharmaceuticals that can have deleterious effects. A few drops of CBD oil before bed could help you enjoy a restful slumber that leads to improved focus the next day.
Eases pain
Pain, and especially chronic pain, doesn’t just mean aching bones and sore muscles. It can affect the whole body, take a toll on your emotions and moods, and lead to significant mental distress.
Often, pain is a good thing. It’s your body’s way of indicating that something is wrong. But longstanding pain affects your physical and mental health. It can become debilitating, making it hard to complete even the simplest tasks.
Whether it’s chronic or short-term, it’s impossible to focus when you’re in pain. No matter if it’s a throbbing headache, nagging toothache, muscle aches, or menstrual cramps, pain pulls your attention away from whatever task is at hand. If you’re in pain, your focus and concentration suffer.
If you’ve ever been in pain, you’ll know it can be all-consuming. You don’t feel your best so finding relief is paramount.
Doctors may prescribe pain-relieving medications, such as opioids to ease severe or persistent pain. However, many of these drugs are addictive. For example, almost 3 in 10 people taking opioids eventually misuse them.
Promising studies suggest that CBD is a potential alternative to opioids that allows you to side-step harmful side effects and the potential for addiction.
The following research suggests that CBD has pain-relieving effects:
- A 2017 animal model study explored the role of CBD in mice with cancer. The researchers found that it produced anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects necessary for chronic pain management.
- A 2019 animal study noted that CBD alleviated chronic pain in rats with chronic sciatic nerve problems.
- A small 2020 study found that topical applications of CBD oil reduced neuropathy in the lower body. Neuropathy is a painful nerve condition that can affect the whole body leading to numbness, tingling, and weakness.
- A 2020 review highlighted the potential for CBD in pain management. The authors noted its prolonged anti-inflammatory effects, which could provide a long-lasting analgesic effect. They also commented on its great therapeutic potential.
Using CBD frees you from the distraction of pain and allows you to focus on whatever projects or tasks you’re working on.
Boosts mood
Your mood affects all aspects of your life and health. You may have trouble focusing if your mood is low. Feeling anxious, stressed, or down can make it hard to focus on anything else.
Although CBD may not immediately lift your mood, it interacts with the ECS, which has a prominent role in maintaining emotional balance and mediates the effects of rewarding or stressing stimuli. In other words, it’s responsible for how you feel in response to what’s going on around you.
Low serotonin levels appear connected to depression. CBD appears to have a positive effect on serotonin receptors in the brain. Although it doesn’t directly boost serotonin levels, it may affect how receptors in the brain respond to your body’s existing serotonin.
These research studies attest to CBD’s ability to affect mood positively:
- An animal study using CBD in rats exposed them to a variety of stressors over 4 weeks. The scientists evaluated them for depression and inability to experience pleasure. The results suggest that CBD decreased these mood-related symptoms.
- A study of people who use medical cannabis asked them to record their symptoms and doses. The researchers found that it reduced depression, anxiety, and stress. The most significant effects align with high amounts of CBD and low amounts of THC.
- A case study of a person with substance use disorder, depression, and anxiety found that 8 weeks of CBD use reduced their depression and anxiety symptoms. They also remained abstinent from substance use and stopped taking antidepressants.
Although this is an area of ongoing, the findings are extremely promising. It seems that CBD may relieve emotional stressors that are common obstacles to focus.
How do I take CBD for focus?
One of the great things about CBD is there are multiple ways to benefit from its natural properties. You can choose when and how to use it, depending on your preferences.
CBD oil is one of the most popular ways to consume cannabidiol. It’s a concentrated form of CBD that you can place under your tongue, add to food, or apply topically. Purity Hemp Company offers different strengths of broad-spectrum CBD oils from 5% to 40%, so you’re sure to find the perfect potency for your needs.
Broad-spectrum CBD products contain all the natural compounds found in the hemp plant but with only trace levels of THC. This means that you can experience the entourage effect of cannabinoids working together without any of THC’s cerebral effects.
If you’re new to CBD for focus, start with a low potency oil and gradually increase the amount you take until you find the optimal amount.
For those who prefer a pre-measured dose, try our delicious Jelly Domes. They’re easy to slip into a bag and take with you for focus on the go.
When you find morning the most challenging time of day, start it off with our CBD coffee. It’s a great way to get an extra boost of energy and concentration that lasts all morning. Of course, if you prefer tea, we have CBD-infused versions too.
No matter which way you prefer CBD, ensure you buy a quality product from a reputable company. All Purity Hemp Company’s CBD products are all third-party lab tested for potency and safety, so you’re sure you’re investing your money in a product that delivers on its promises.
When you need laser focus, remember that CBD works with your body’s natural systems to provide the support you need to stay sharp all day long.
Why not try CBD for focus and see how it can help you get the most out of your day?
