There is a lot of confusion around how CBD products can both help you get a good night’s sleep and also help get your day started. If CBD helps you sleep, wouldn’t taking it in the morning make you sleepy?
To get to the bottom of this, we first have to discuss where something called brain fog stems from.
What’s brain fog?
Brain fog is a natural condition that many healthy individuals experience. It can be characterized by lack of focus and mental clarity or just a feeling of sluggishness or feeling “fuzzy”.
There are many causes of brain fog including lack of sleep, stress, or too much time on the computer. Brain fog is not uncommon and happens to the best of us. So how can we combat it?
Well, finding the source of why concentrating is difficult can be a great start. For example, stress is a common factor that makes it difficult to focus. Furthermore, this inability to focus from outside stressors can alter our typical sleep cycles.
The issue then is that these two factors begin to bounce off of each other. If you don’t get a good night’s sleep, you can’t focus on your work the next day. Similarly, if you can’t focus on your work, it may hinder your ability to get a good night’s sleep. And the pattern continues.
If this pattern sounds familiar, and has perhaps launched you into a perpetual brain fog, CBD may be able to help.
What can cause brain fog?
Brain fog is a cognitive dysfunction that involves memory issues, lack of clarity and concentration, and inability to focus. Some causes of brain fog:
Why do I struggle to stay focused?
From losing sleep to an underlying medical condition, numerous factors lead to loss of focus. Loss of focus could be attributed to the following health conditions:
- ADHD - people suffering from this mental health condition suffer from bouts of impulsiveness and mood swings. They have trouble focusing and are poor at time management.
- Anxiety - stress and worry deplete the brain’s power of focusing. Such people are constantly anxious, and indecisive and suffer from a fear of the unknown.
- Thyroid problems - if your thyroid gland is malfunctioning, you may have trouble concentrating.
- Depression - This mood disorder impacts decision making and reduces attention span.
- Medication - certain drugs can impact the chemicals in the brain. They deteriorate memory and focus. Drugs for disorders of sleep, allergies, incontinence, depression, and muscle spasms.
How can CBD help you focus?
Cannabidiol is believed to interact with the endocannabinoid system, which influences mood, appetite, immune function, and sleep cycles.
How? CBD binds with receptors that produce serotonin which are known to regulate basic fear and anxiety related behaviors. In this way, CBD can support normal mood fluctuations and promote an overall sense of calm.
Plus, if you are feeling more relaxed and less stressed, of course you are going to be able to focus better!
CBD also interacts with GABA receptors responsible for calming the nervous system. Normally when we discuss GABA levels, we are talking about sleep, as GABA does enable the body and mind to relax, fall asleep, and stay asleep. Low GABA activity is linked to insomnia and difficulty sleeping.
So won’t CBD make you sleepy then? Because CBD interacts with GABA receptors, it can be confusing to think that it can help you stay focused.
Think of it like this: CBD supports calm for the mind and body. When our bodies shift into this sense of calm, it promotes a great atmosphere to be able to doze off. Because cannabidiol supports overall calm, it can promote the right environment to fall asleep, but it doesn’t necessarily make you tired.
However, if you are worried about getting too comfortable and cozy from your CBD, it can be helpful to understand proper dosing for you.
CBD dosage for focus
Proper dosing of CBD is essential to achieving desired results.
Because each person metabolizes differently, there is no easy answer about how much CBD to take. With this said, a “normal starting dose” tends to be 10-20mg per sitting.
If after a week you notice no difference, we recommend gradually increasing the dose by 5-10mg until you achieve desired results. Many regular CBD users consume 20-50mg per day.
But, once again, the amount of CBD you should take depends on several individual factors, and it is best practice to start at a lower dose and work your way up until you achieve the best results for your body.
In general, if your intended use is for focus, a lower dose is generally recommended.
Best CBD for focus
While CBD topicals are a great choice for sore muscles and joints, they are not the best option for focus or concentration as the CBD does not directly enter the bloodstream.
If you are looking to use CBD solely for focus, CBD oil or gummies are the best way to get that sustained concentration. Simply take a gummy or two or put a dropper of oil under your tongue and experience CBD focus for yourself!
You might also try combining CBD with other adaptogens and nootropics believed to support sustained focus. Some of our favorites include Lion’s Mane, Rhodiola Rosea, L-theanine, and Bacopa Monnieri.
CBD gummies for focus and concentration
As per a research from 2014, CBD might promote alertness in some people, although research is still limited in this respect. Ongoing research suggests that CBD can improve energy levels and the ability to focus.
FOCL offers broad-spectrum organic CBD gummies that help you relax and concentrate on important issues. These are available as 25mg of Premium CBD Gummies in three delicious flavors: Sour Watermelon, Tropical Punch, and Mandarin Orange.
Best CBD oil for memory and focus
When you feel tired or lack energy, it could be owing to a poor sleep schedule. Anxiety disorders and pain also contribute to difficulty in concentration. CBD oil shows promising results in supporting anxiety relief. However, more research is needed.
CBD might be able to help with certain sleep disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as per a 2019 study. Other research indicates it may also help with social anxiety disorders.
FOCL offers a premium range of CBD Drops that calm the senses and have a soothing impact. This doctor-formulated and third party tested. They come in handy when you need to ease from the daily stress, to get back to focus on your work. They are available in three flavors mint, natural and orange cream.
