CBD or THC…or both!?
“CBD is the ‘good’ cannabinoid, and THC the ‘bad.’” Have you heard this before? Of course! I used to believe it as well, but not anymore. There’s room at the work-party for both, and probably good reason for both as well :)
I will either depending on what is going on physically, the general mood I’m in related to where I need to go. A few blogs back I wrote about my morning routine and how cannabis plays a part there as well for productivity.
To be productive, you have to feel good, or rather, you certainly can’t feel bad. This is the first step of being productive typically. Do you have a headache? Body-aches? Upset stomach? Wonky-mood? Lack of sleep? All of these and more can decrease your overall productivity. In the past I may take some asprin or that chalky pink stuff that you can drink (I sometimes hated pepto, sometimes loved it depending on the time I guess…weird!). Now if I have aches and pains, I don’t even think about the cabinet anymore, but the stash-box instead. And why not? It’s more natural and WAAAAAAY more fun as well! So in order for us to be productive, we NEED to feel good.
With this, given that making you feel good is exactly what cannabis does in a natural state, it can be a perfect a perfect solution for whether you have or acute or chronic issues with focus and productivity.
THC for me nowadays is always fun…but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it; always offers the most relief depending on the situation.
In the mornings, I’m typically slightly stiff, a bit sore, a tad groggy, basically in that general “waking up” state. Often in the morning is when I will have stomach issues if I do, but vaping a bowl of good high-CBD flower always puts me at ease first thing. I use my Crafty+ vaporizer and fill each capsule with hemp flower mixed with some THC flower (both Sativas, and I typically try to find the same strains as well). After this session, my body feels good, and this is when I will typically take an extra hit from a high-THC sativa vape pen (whether it’s delta-8 or delta-9, and usually the Jack Herer strain if possible).
Without the CBD, and only using the THC, I still find myself with a bit of that body-discomfort…adding both to my morning regimen increases the synergistic effects and amplifies the good vibes, and I’m ready for my first real productive activity…my workout! From here, I press all the way down on the gas and am working with only a high-THC sativa strain at this point. These terpenes put me in an optimal state of focused-awareness and motivation. I don’t tend to get tired as easily and am not bothered by hard workouts. Sometimes people may think that this makes the workout “artificial” with enhancing effects, but all I really believe is happening at this time is that we are consciously tapping into a better part of ourself that is new and allows us to drive forward and work harder than we normally could. I can do my HIIT workouts without my high-THC energizing sativas, but they always feel more productive with them, so that’s what I prefer and go with!
After I beat my body down a bit, stretching and yoga is a great way to smooth things out afterwards. Additionally, I will vape a bit more CBD/THC Hybrid (a 1:1 hybrid is great here!). This starts directing my body more quickly and efficiently to come down to a resting state. My meditations take place in this space as well. Here, instead of struggling to hold a pose or stretch, I enjoy and relish in that moment instead all the way through to the end of my session.
Breakfast/socializing- I don’t want to be a focused work-a-holic here, but I want to be focused on having a productively-relaxing breakfast with my family. The CBD from before has calmed me down, cheered me up a bit, and the hybrid has put me in a less “type-A” state than the Jack Herer does (usually anything with more of the terpene “limonene”), so I am happier and more social during this period. Here I have a productive morning bonding-time with my family where I am present and happy…everything I want for that moment!
Workday- Productivity for the workday while using THC has really become an art…so many people do it wrong and can mess up their careers…don’t be that person! To not be that person, that will take some CBD 😂
That will also take a focusing/calming sativa-leaning blend. Sometimes Indicas work as well due to the terpene make-up, and some people are just more productive on Indicas…who knows! For the majority and rest of us who can’t drink coffee before bed but only in the morning/work-day, sativas tend to be great options for these folks as well during that time. By making sure you aren’t burning out by using too-much THC, adding CBD throughout your day in vape form, or taking a tablet in the morning can be helpful for this. If I am only utilizing THC for focus and productivity, I will eventually feel burned out and fuzzy…which is the opposite of what I’m looking for! You need a bit of both here, and this is that part that is totally up to your preference and what your body likes/dislikes.
After work, I want to play with the kids and have fun. This requires me coming off my sativas that turn me into the Incredible hulk during the workday (which is a real strain as well, btw!), and turn to something that will soften me up a bit. Here, I’m also a bit stiff from working all day in my chair, a little tense (even though I do occasional stretch breaks), so CBD is great to smooth a lot of this out. However, CBD sometimes can blunt the effects of the THC and “dull” you a bit. This is fine in some scenarios (very intense work situations), but not so much if I’m trying to have a dance party and turn up with my kids before bath time. Here, having a sativa-leaning hybrid, high THC, is perfect. I am awake but not too serious, and a lot of fun. Later for early evening I can shift to something more relaxing like an indica-leaning hybrid, high-THC….something to keep my mind going but starts to relax the body and get ready for evening. And at night, I love either an indica-dominant 1:1 blend, or a high-THC sativa. Both make for great, productive nighttime activities and A VERY productive and sound sleep!
THC is your gas, while CBD is the oil in your car…and terpenes/flavinoids/other cannabinoids are your roadmap and GPS. Based on how you feel, they can ALL be a part of your life. I don’t always follow the above as a daily script, but really just depending on how I feel and where I want to direct my body, feelings, actions, etc, if at all for that moment. This is the beauty that I love about cannabis…it can (if you want), help you be as conscious and productive in your life as you want, at any moment of your day and at any part of your life.