Boost Your Concentration by Including Cannabis in Your Study Habits

2020 has been a year like no other, and arguably no one has felt that difference more acutely than students. The pursuit of an education in the midst of a global pandemic and a hotly contested political landscape is extremely complex. At the best of times, it can be difficult to stay focused when you need to get studying done. In 2020, it’s that much harder.

The stigma surrounding cannabis tells of users who lack mental acuity, but in fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Actually, there are many instances in which cannabis can be used to help with focus. It’s all about making deliberate choices when it comes to the strain you use and the way you incorporate it into your routine. If you’ve considered utilizing cannabis to help you study more effectively, read on.

Is Cannabis a Good Study Tool?

It’s easy to write off the idea of cannabis as a study tool. After all, thousands of students are out there making the grade without any herb to help them, right? The answer is that every student is different, neurologically, and many do genuinely have trouble focusing on their studies. Modern education requires students to ingest, process, and retain great quantities of information, and it’s important that they comprehend that information so that they will be able to provide it again when it is needed to pass a quiz or a test. But not everyone is equally equipped to do that. 

For example, research has shown that cannabis may be useful in helping to manage the symptoms that accompany ADHD and even reduce the amount of medication needed. ADHD is not only common but also a big barrier to effective studying for many students. Cannabis helps by reducing anxiety and stress, and in some cases, even creating a tunnel-vision effect that allows students to drill down on what they are trying to accomplish while eliminating peripheral distractions.

Diagnosed anxiety can also be a barrier to studying. Preparing for important exams comes with stress, of course, and managing that stress is crucial to being able to study effectively. For those with anxiety disorders, stress management may prove to be challenging. Cannabis has been shown to mitigate the effects of anxiety, which then allows those whose stress is a distraction from their ability to process information to slow down and get back to work.

What Type of Strains Should You Use?

Okay, so you’ve decided to try studying with cannabis—but what’s the right cannabis strain to produce the effects you want? Not all cannabis is created equal, and you don’t want to accidentally consume a product that’s going to leave you zoned out the night before your big test. The answer is not quite simple and will vary just as much as people’s brains vary from one another. Many people prefer sativa strains for study because they have a myriad of cannabis compounds that grant alertness, which is a great ingredient for focus and productivity. “I frequently use sativa strains to help calm anxiety and focus enough to work,” says Sam, who finds cannabis a useful tool to quiet the stress about what needs to be done and simply get down to business.

But not everyone feels that way. “I find I am best when calm, and indica gives me the zen chill,” says Alanah, who prefers the indica strains Granddaddy Purple and Sour Diesel for focus. She adds, “Cannabis helps me move past the panic into actual work.” Before studying with cannabis, we suggest using a new cannabis strain in a low-stakes way to learn how it will affect your ability to focus and work. Try using a cannabis journal to keep track of the strains and experiences that work best for you. By doing so, you may just uncover your new best study buddy!