Side hustle culture has exploded in recent years. Inflation, house prices, and living costs are rising, yet wage growth is growing at nowhere near the same rate. This has led to many people looking to earn a little extra money by starting their own side hustle.

Research from Hiscox reveals that the standard “side hustler” will spend between six and 15 hours a week working on their business, on top of the roughly 40 hours they spend at their primary job, their main source of income.

However, dedicating all of your time that is usually spent on recovery and rest to growing a business is exhausting, and you can quickly run out of energy, both physically and mentally.

Many people with a side hustle complain of lost weekends and sleep. Keeping an active social life while also growing a successful business is also nigh-on impossible without compromising on something - often late nights catching up on missed work.

Fortunately, there are ways to find the energy, focus and clarity needed to work a full-time job and grow a healthy business on the side, and one of them is with CBD and nootropics.

How do CBD and nootropics help with productivity?

One of the biggest struggles throughout the working day is staying focused on the task at hand. Most people can stay productive and focused on something for around 45 minutes before needing a break of equal duration. This means we’re only really able to work to our maximum potential for approximately half of the working day. For those who are keen to extend that time, CBD can massively help.

Research has found that CBD has a significant impact on both anandamide and serotonin, two of the five major neurotransmitters most active during flow state, or what you’ll commonly know as “being in the zone”. This flow state is often triggered by a multitude of things, such as blocking out external and internal distractions and having a task in front of you that is stimulating enough to engage your mind to its full potential.

Finding your flow state can more than double the length of time you’re able to focus on your work healthily. For those who are working on their side hustle after already completing an eight-hour workday, working efficiently is key to enjoying your downtime and resting your mind. 

Equally, nootropics, which can be naturally occurring cognitive enhancers, can help initiate and heighten brain functions associated with flow state.

Many might know nootropics as “smart drugs”, often taken to improve mental performance. But nootropics are also naturally occurring and are most commonly found in coffee as caffeine or as amino acids in tea.

L-Theanine is one of the most popular nootropics and is an amino acid that increases alpha waves in the brain, linked to creativity.

Maca is another popular nootropic that has been found to boost cognition and memory. It also increases your mental energy and clarity, as well as being able to put you in a good mood, which is key for working effectively for long periods.

Does CBD really help with sleep?

It’s widely recognised that one darker side of the side hustle can be a lack of sleep and anxiety. Human beings aren’t built to work so hard for so long, and at some point, there will be burnout. Many people will try to push through burnout by working even longer hours in an attempt to keep up, but something has to give, and that’s often sleeping.

Research from 2019 found a link between the use of CBD and a decrease in anxiety, which is a major cause of insomnia and other sleep-related conditions. The research is based on a clinical trial that found that more than two-thirds of participants experienced better sleep after just 25mg of CBD. 

This is because CBD can help calm the nervous system and focus your mind. There’s nothing worse than having your mind racing when you’re trying to fall asleep, and CBD will help take that edge off. It also enables you to be less fidgety, allowing you to have a more restful sleep.

It is worth noting that some people won’t notice an immediate effect of CBD on their sleep, so it’s recommended that you remain patient as you continue using CBD to aid your sleep pattern.

What about you?

If you’re reading this and wondering whether CBD could help you better manage your side hustle or even just your day-to-day focus, why not learn more about Nooro or try one of our Taster Packs.