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Enkidu
"No-Such-Person"


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Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness 1
#27067580 - 12/02/20 05:32 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Just something i felt like sharing
I have smoked weed most of mt life
From age 13 till almost 30 with a few breaks thrown in
Recently quit
Like ive noticed before when i quit, im happier, more productive, and i get more shit done while prioritizing my goals
Now dont get me wrong, i still like weed and i dont doubt ill smoke again one day
But if you are unhappy, not productive, not accomplishing your goals and getting shit done, you may want to give it a shot
I say this because i know theres a lot of that shit going on
And again, dont get me wrong
At timea ive smoked weed and it gave me the encouragement to do all the housework or stretch and meditate and do positive things
Chill me the fuck out so i dont go ape shit on somebody
But even a small cutback can make a dramatic difference
Even a few days off
Just something ive noticed
Anyone got an experience with this they would like to add?
Idk what it is though about not smoking that overall sends me down a road where each day i feel better and smoking can put me back into that burn out sort of mode
Maybe im getting older or something
-------------------- Within You , Without You
      
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JonBa
Hawaiian shirt weirdo

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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Enkidu]
#27067628 - 12/02/20 06:41 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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I had the opposite experience after crashing hard with my career this year then getting into weed after the summer. Of course a big thing to consider is if whatever you are doing right now isn't working, then changing things up is a really good way to get into a different path that works better.
-------------------- Life saved by DMT
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Enkidu
"No-Such-Person"


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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: JonBa]
#27067671 - 12/02/20 07:40 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Yeah totally
For me i cant tell the effect its been having until i stop and see how things change
-------------------- Within You , Without You
      
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Socrateshroom
сталкер


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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Enkidu] 1
#27067716 - 12/02/20 08:16 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Felt exactly the same, that's why I quit about a year ago.
However, I still partake with a buddy every now and then. I find that smoking rarely (and with others) works to not get me back in the negative cycle that smoking more often, and alone, had me in.
You mentioned age, that could be it. But I just think it's all about subjectivity and frequency.
Some people have no issues smoking all day, every day. They remain productive and happy. Others need to take longer breaks or smoke very rarely. And there's nothing wrong with either approach, we just need to find what works for us personally.
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Universe
Friend


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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Enkidu]
#27067724 - 12/02/20 08:26 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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I'm 57 and I've been using cannabis on and off (mostly on) since I was 13. I was doing it constantly and larger amounts in my teens, 20's and into my 30's. At 32 my wife got pregnant and we both stopped all substances completely. After the baby was born we had to get life insurance. We stayed clean for the blood tests so we could get the best rates.
For a while it was like being on speed. I was getting shit done left and right, I could talk a mile a minute. Stopping pot after all those years was like letting go of a ball and chain. So I came up with my Ball and Chain theory, it went like this: Weed was pulling me down since 13, so I had to work harder to be functional and achieve. That strengthened me so when I stopped, it was like me on steroids. I became a neat-freak. No more slobishness. No more procrastinating. No more staying up late and sleeping late. I started to regard pot smokers as lazy, weak people with no motivation.
It was a phase. I started to really miss my pot. After about a year I eased back into it. First couple times It was too much. I got paranoid and regretted getting high. But my love affair with cannabis was/is real. During my time off, I lost all my tolerance. And the new guy I could get it from had much stronger stuff. So I decided to get back into pot, but in much lower doses. Instead of packing a bowl, I do one little hit with my one-hitter. I'll do that 4 times in a day and I'm fine. In the old days I would do 10 -20 times that amount and spend the day stoned and nearly useless. These days it's one little puff every few hours and I stay motivated and focused.
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CrazyDragon
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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Socrateshroom] 1
#27067728 - 12/02/20 08:28 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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I believe 'state changes' are SUPER important.
When you notice mental lags, lethargy, etc, its important to have shifts. I believe taking a break from drugs (and also doing certain ones if you haven't before) offers a state change after a few days that's truly rewarding.
Recently I was a bit over addicted to caffeine and with the pandemic and everything going on, I was feeling blah. I went easy on the weed, quit the coffee (after physical withdrawals for a week, caffeine is heavy)and it was rewarding.
It sounds like when you eventually do go back to weed you need to reevaluate your lifestyle with it. Instead of being in the weed fog, perhaps you can use it more as a tool. But I recommend staying on this break for a bit before reassessing that relationship.
Awesome dude!
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Socrateshroom
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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: CrazyDragon] 1
#27067775 - 12/02/20 08:56 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
CrazyDragon said: I believe 'state changes' are SUPER important.
When you notice mental lags, lethargy, etc, its important to have shifts. I believe taking a break from drugs (and also doing certain ones if you haven't before) offers a state change after a few days that's truly rewarding.
Recently I was a bit over addicted to caffeine and with the pandemic and everything going on, I was feeling blah. I went easy on the weed, quit the coffee (after physical withdrawals for a week, caffeine is heavy)and it was rewarding.
It sounds like when you eventually do go back to weed you need to reevaluate your lifestyle with it. Instead of being in the weed fog, perhaps you can use it more as a tool. But I recommend staying on this break for a bit before reassessing that relationship.
Awesome dude!
I like the idea you laid out regarding "state changes".
Most people are habituated to be completely unaware of the subtle shifts in their being (I'm no exception, being a product of this society).
Because of this, we don't notice when our minds and bodies want change, especially if it regards something that we are pulled by strongly (or addicted to or formed a habit with).
Yet we need change more often than we think. Novelty is what drives us. We need to be constantly exploring new modes of being. And to do so, we need, like you mentioned, to drop things and/or pick other habits up until we find something that makes us "click". And that doesn't last forever so we repeat this process, creating the never ending cycle of exploration and self-discovery.
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Enkidu
"No-Such-Person"


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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Socrateshroom]
#27067785 - 12/02/20 09:01 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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I like what you guys are putting down
-------------------- Within You , Without You
      
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T4z3ee4nT
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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Enkidu]
#27067851 - 12/02/20 09:29 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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I have heaps of trouble being productive and it’s so easy to just keep smoking weed :/
-------------------- I can hear my hair growing
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Enkidu
"No-Such-Person"


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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: T4z3ee4nT]
#27067873 - 12/02/20 09:37 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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That it is
Gotta have the deep desire and exercise the discipline
I think its good for us to do so
Not good to let something have control over you whatever that may be.
Whether weed or sex or whatever
-------------------- Within You , Without You
      
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Socrateshroom
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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Enkidu]
#27067949 - 12/02/20 10:24 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Enkidu said: That it is
Gotta have the deep desire and exercise the discipline
I think its good for us to do so
Not good to let something have control over you whatever that may be.
Whether weed or sex or whatever
All of this

Oftentimes it's difficult to convince one's ego that such things are good for it. And it's hard to stay on track. I've been almost 8 months sober of alcohol and it took me years to reach a point where I could effectively abstain for more than just a few days.
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Loaded Shaman
Psychophysiologist



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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Socrateshroom]
#27067985 - 12/02/20 10:51 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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I'm definitely in that "daily yet productive AF" category. It doesn't even phase me when I don't smoke or get caught up doing something with work or clients. It's always there when I want it, but I'm never fiending and it's not a requirement, but a preference. I know that's not a rationalization because some weekends I'll just intentionally stop to clear out a bit, and I'm not fiending, and other things and goals are always at the forefront of my consciousness. Cannabis is just an awesome co-pilot!
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  "Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance." — Confucius
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Socrateshroom
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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Loaded Shaman] 1
#27068004 - 12/02/20 11:12 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Loaded Shaman said: I'm definitely in that "daily yet productive AF" category. It doesn't even phase me when I don't smoke or get caught up doing something with work or clients. It's always there when I want it, but I'm never fiending and it's not a requirement, but a preference. I know that's not a rationalization because some weekends I'll just intentionally stop to clear out a bit, and I'm not fiending, and other things and goals are always at the forefront of my consciousness. Cannabis is just an awesome co-pilot!
Nothing wrong with that! More power to you. I've seen all sides of this spectrum. People exactly like you who really are equally productive with or without it.
And I've seen people who became complete sloths because of habitual use.
I think the substance itself, like mushrooms in some ways, manifests the subject's subconscious.
I have a troubled subconscious that I'm working through. So, weed use manifests extreme paranoia and/or discomfort in me. Yet, sometimes, when I'm more together, weed is incredibly spiritual. So that has me convinced that weed isn't to blame, the individual is.
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Enkidu
"No-Such-Person"


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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Socrateshroom]
#27068329 - 12/02/20 02:19 PM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Good fucking shit on the alcohol Socrates
Part of the issue for me is the longer term residual effect.
Like i wake up earlier and feel ready to go if i dont smoke. Not sure why. But its there.
Shit that lies outside the moment to moment of actually smoking and being high
-------------------- Within You , Without You
      
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Ezuma
Gontish Wizard



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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Enkidu]
#27069011 - 12/02/20 09:22 PM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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I feel similarly, haven't taken a break (more than a week or so) in a long while, and lately I have been very unproductive. I can't put the blame squarely on cannabis of course, but I'm sure it helps one feel satisfied with less than they might otherwise pursue. Also I notice I am less rational and have a quicker temper when I smoke, which isn't ideal. I should take a break and see, it's pretty easy to put it down anyways so whats the harm after all?
I know many are just fine smoking day in and day out, but at the same time I wonder how many claim to be that way, when in reality they could be more without it? At the end of the day its about knowing yourself and being honest with yourself, which isn't the easiest thing for everyone. If you've no problem there, likely you won't have a problem with weed I figure
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Loaded Shaman
Psychophysiologist



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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Socrateshroom]
#27069141 - 12/02/20 11:38 PM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Quote:
Socrateshroom said:
Quote:
Loaded Shaman said: I'm definitely in that "daily yet productive AF" category. It doesn't even phase me when I don't smoke or get caught up doing something with work or clients. It's always there when I want it, but I'm never fiending and it's not a requirement, but a preference. I know that's not a rationalization because some weekends I'll just intentionally stop to clear out a bit, and I'm not fiending, and other things and goals are always at the forefront of my consciousness. Cannabis is just an awesome co-pilot!
Nothing wrong with that! More power to you. I've seen all sides of this spectrum. People exactly like you who really are equally productive with or without it.
And I've seen people who became complete sloths because of habitual use.
I think the substance itself, like mushrooms in some ways, manifests the subject's subconscious.
I have a troubled subconscious that I'm working through. So, weed use manifests extreme paranoia and/or discomfort in me. Yet, sometimes, when I'm more together, weed is incredibly spiritual. So that has me convinced that weed isn't to blame, the individual is.
Thank you my friend. I'd like to say it's because I have a career that's partially self-employed, but that also doesn't feel like a task or chore, it's all flow at this point. I'll be 33 in January and I have friends that have houses and families yet you can tell they're unhappy with what they have to trade in order to maintain that.
The insights of a stoner psychologist fitness trainer LOL  !
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  "Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance." — Confucius
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Rise against
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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Enkidu] 1
#27069181 - 12/03/20 12:18 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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I haven't smoked pot in nearly 4 years. Oddly enough I made the decision to quit during a mushroom trip. While I was tripping I realized how big a habit my Marijuana use had become. I took a knife and cut the cord to my very expensive volcano vaporizer and threw it in a dumpster along with all my glass pieces and pot. I was an all day smoker for 10 years. I was smoking large quantities of hash, extracts, and grew a lot of pot too. I realized how much marijuana affected my mental health. Ive always had a fair amount of social anxiety and marijuana made it worse and made me somewhat paranoid as well. While I absolutely believe I was addicted to thc, it wasn't as hard to give it up as I expected. I had a little insomnia for a few nights and that was it. I don't have anything against pot, just my personal experience.
Edited by Rise against (12/03/20 12:19 AM)
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Eclipse3130
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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Rise against]
#27069231 - 12/03/20 02:10 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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TLDR: Weed is a vibration, medicine, spirit. When we use cannabis, or any psychedelic for that matter we are actually developing a relationship with that specific configuration or frequency. All plant medicines(psychoactive) are teachers in their highest respect, when we have graduated the class you kind of realize it's time to move on, when you fully understand her true purpose
My relationship with cannabis has been on and off, like all plant medicines they are tools, and carry their own vibration/spirit. Sometimes we need to use them, at certain times in our life, may even be purely curiosity and recreational - but relying or being dependent, addicted to anything isn't good. Even if you just enjoy smoking weed, yet you still do it every day, you have developed a habit. Some people it increases their base frequency and motivates them, allows them to tap into themselves by bringing them up, and sometimes it effects people the opposite way in my case, it brings me down, slows me down, relaxing, sleepy etc. Over time, feeling this way for long durations throughout the day your production levels eventually will fall.
I just quit last night after about a month of heavy dabbing, eventually because I'm self employed and am able to smoke as much as I'd like, I kind of let that get the better of me and turned into a unproductive zombie. It's the way I like it when I smoke weed though, I just don't include that in my daily life unless it's going to be for a prolonged duration of time (rather I have time to waste by not doing something much more productive) for me my highest operating status is sober. When I want to be high on cannabis, you best let me be, give me a month, a good supply and I'll have had my fix. Sleeping or at least relaxing for 14 hours a day. By the time it's day 30 I'll be bored.
-------------------- "In The Material World One seeks retirement and grows Old In The Magical World One seeks Enlightenment and grows Wiser In The Miraculous World One seeks nothing and grows Lighter As we all tread the Homeward Path we will explore many Realms And one day... we will all Realize that all experiences are Simply Different ways in which The All-That Is Perceives Itself"
Edited by Eclipse3130 (12/03/20 02:28 AM)
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redgreenvines
irregular verb


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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Eclipse3130]
#27069350 - 12/03/20 06:14 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Agree with all here, and that the state change is of huge value.
my problem with negotiating a sustainable baseline is that I have to get to a baseline, and with weed (or bubblehash which is my version of weed that you barely toke and get high) it is easy to hide the baseline by toking and then toking more.
I am being religious about 4:20PM, so in the morning I have fair baseline for productivity. I dont find my kit until after that time if I am not busy. COVID is not too busy for me and this is working out. some fog but not too much.
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ch0ppie


Registered: 11/18/20
Posts: 593
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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: redgreenvines]
#27069474 - 12/03/20 07:57 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Much respect. Not proud to announce my status to be within the same boat
I don't have a problem with cannabis, and enjoyed it without an issue in the initial years, with infrequent use. If I puffed, it was at the-end of a day for the most part, a little something before supper, and maybe another before bed.
The problem is that those habits changed and led to abuse, having the freedom to, I inhaled the combustion fumes whenever I could, because why not? I can act properly, and do anything I need to whilst high, or can I...? I thought I could, but even if I could, did I even feel like I wanted to? Cannabis makes me content with what would otherwise make me bored, I 'think' I'm doing something, but am really just passing the time and entertaining myself, whilst procrastination sets in and ambition fades away.
Whilst high I can make all the plans I want in regards to the things I should do/work on, have many ideas and so on.. but getting up and actually accomplishing anything has become a rare event.
Time slowly sneaks by and years pass, after doing the maths I realize I've spent what amounts to years, in a high/stoned state, years.. and being <35, that undoubtedly seems excessive, considering I did not need cannabis for any medical purpose.
The simple lesson of moderation was forgotten.. anyway, let's change pace.
Earlier this year, got clean, as others described, its generally just a couple days worth of discomfort at most, and you're pretty much golden. Good to have the right mind set and incorporate new elements into your new lifestyle, after all there's gonna be quite a bit of time free'd up, as a bonus you should even have more cash free'd up now, to put to other things like projects and hobbies etc. Exercise is helpful in expending some energy and assisting with insomnia I've found, and plus there may be some beneficial natural endorphin release/s whilst exercising, marathon runner's often refer to what's noted as a 'runners high' for eg.
At the same time, go easy on yourself and just try to be patient and consistent. They say willpower is like a muscle, and no matter how strong yours may be, it's possible to fatigue it. I'd like to say I remained sober, but I was using alcohol at a stage (as my indulgence before dinner) and got in an argument unfortunately (which under the influence I did not handle well), which I took personally and sorta threw in the towel in my mind, and drove to a friends.. and there well ya, I didn't feel like saying no in that state. Afterwards of course I regret breaking my cannabis-sober streak of a couple months.. and I for the first time became depressed. While still having that "I give up" mentality I was smoking again, but knew I needed to stop it ASAP. But before I could.. I experienced the loss of a pet, and that hit me harder than anything before in terms of loss, because I was spending my time smoking whilst I could have, and would have, been spending that time with them, instead I was nowhere around, besides alone with mary-jane. That is something that I have to live with for the rest of my life, yet with all the guilt and shame as the days turn into weeks then months, I still have not yet stopped and don't want to blame being lulled into the content cannabis high, as I by this point should definitely know better.
Anyway, time to call it quits for realsies.. and move on with the much delayed, next stage in life. Sorry long post.
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Ferdinando


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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: ch0ppie]
#27069663 - 12/03/20 09:42 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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good points
good point ch0ppie good luck with that
my idea is that there are much better qualities about it now bigger yield bigger potency bigger effect but definitely good to not be on drugs much
barely less or less
-------------------- with our love with our love we could save the world
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jdawg333
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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: Ferdinando]
#27069698 - 12/03/20 10:07 AM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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IMO drugs are pretty much always a lose lose, I think it's just a way that the brain works. What I mean is: you use it occasionally, you get really high but that profoundly stupefying experience leaves me hungry for more, and almost always a little confused and feeling a little 'cheated' that I wasn't more present the whole time. You use it habitually, however, and you get some more clarity and generally get to do more typical fun stuff while you're high without being totally stupid. But then you're going to start to crave the profoundly stupefying experience, but that's going to leave you feeling a little too cheated and stupefied, so then you sink back into regular use. That is my take on it. I think the only way to win is to just not smoke, but if you are one of the ones that really enjoys and can benefit from it then I say both ways of smoking are pretty much even. Unless you have a ton of responsibility and getting high gets in the way, in which case you're better off smoking occasionally. But the high tolerance stone is very manageable imo
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Enkidu
"No-Such-Person"


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Re: Smoking weed, productivity, and happiness [Re: jdawg333] 2
#27070504 - 12/03/20 06:21 PM (3 years, 1 month ago) |
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Damn i did not expect it but this thread has yielded some great insights and advice and experiences
You guys rock
Thanks to everyone who has added to this
You guys are seriously awesome
Mush love
-------------------- Within You , Without You
      
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