What Is Couch Lock And How To Beat It

As any marijuana user will know, the effects of THC can be deeply relaxing. So relaxing in fact that at times you might find yourself feeling too lazy and sedated to even get up off the couch. This side effect is affectionately known as couch lock, and while it’s harmless, you might want to know how to counteract it.

Feeling like you’re glued to the couch can be enjoyable if you simply want to kick back, relax, and revel in the relieving benefits of cannabis. But sometimes couch lock can be troublesome and inconvenient, especially if you want to get past your high and get on with your day. Luckily, there are many ways to get rid of it. Here’s how to beat couch lock.

Drink More Water

Staying hydrated is always helpful if you plan on smoking marijuana. Even before you take your first hit, you should ensure you have some water nearby. Not only will drinking water help you beat dry mouth (another annoying side effect of smoking weed), but it can also help you beat couch lock.

Hydration is important for your body and brain. If you use marijuana without hydrating yourself beforehand, the side effects will hit you harder. In addition to couch lock, you might experience nausea and headaches if you haven’t drank enough.

On top of that, water can help you flush THC out of your system faster. As such, drinking more will help you feel more lucid and alert, helping you to get rid of that couch-lock feeling faster. Other liquids such as juice, green tea, and coffee can also help.

Walk Around

When you’re getting high, you might not want to do anything physical. However, the longer you stay slumped on the couch, the harder you’ll be hit by couch lock. As such, it helps to get active and move around.

Sweating can help you get rid of some of the THC in your system. However, you don’t need to go for a run or hit the gym. Simply getting up and walking around can help you avoid feeling too sedated, especially as it keeps your body and mind occupied.

That doesn’t mean you need to stand up and walk around the whole time you’re getting high. You can still kick back and enjoy the beautifully relaxing effects of marijuana. Just get up and walk around every 20 minutes or so to get the blood pumping, even if it’s just a trip to the kitchen.

Eat Something

Another one of the common side effects that practically every weed user will experience in some capacities is the munchies. This is the sharp pang of hunger you often get after consuming cannabis that makes you want to binge on your favorite junk foods.

While it can be annoying, getting the munchies isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Interestingly enough, marijuana is often used to help patients who suffer from appetite issues. But even for recreational users, indulging your hunger might help you reduce the effects of couch lock. 

Eating a meal or even getting up to grab a snack can swiftly boost your energy levels. But beware – certain foods might have the opposite effect. For instance, too much junk food can cause your body to crash, resulting in you feeling even more lazy and unmotivated. That doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in your favorite snacks – just choose your food and portions wisely.

Take A Shower

Taking a bath when the tranquilizing effects of cannabis are starting to hit you isn’t the best idea. You’ll likely end up feeling even lazier than before, and it’s better to be couch-locked than bath-locked. A shower, on the other hand, might just be the ideal remedy.

Getting up and taking a hot shower can get your blood pumping and might even help you sweat out some THC. Showering can also make you feel more alert, which is perfect for tackling marijuana-induced drowsiness.

On top of that, showering while high feels invigorating. Combined with the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of cannabis, your whole body will feel sensational. You’ll then come out of your shower feeling refreshed, revived, and ready to enjoy the rest of your high without feeling like you’re stuck to the couch.

Sleep It Off

Many methods of beating couch lock involve fighting against it, usually by becoming more active and giving yourself more energy. However, you might want to try doing the opposite. One of the most effective ways to get rid of the laziness you feel is often to simply give in to it. Instead of trying to get up and move around, just grab a blanket, enjoy the relaxing effects, and take a rest.

The effects of marijuana usually come and go within around 2 to 3 hours so even taking a short nap can help you get rid of intense couch lock. It can also help you counteract other side effects such as nausea, headaches, and anxiety. Even if you’ve taken too many edibles and end up with a bad high for hours, sleeping can help the effects pass faster and help you get over the overwhelming effects.

Of course, sleeping it off isn’t always the best approach. If you need to get off the couch and get on with your day, dozing off is probably the last thing you want to do. But if you have no responsibilities for the day, drifting off into a marijuana-induced nap can feel glorious. You’ll then wake up feeling refreshed and energetic.

Conclusion

Couch lock isn’t necessarily a bad thing – some users might even enjoy reveling in the tranquilizing effects of marijuana and simply drifting off into a dream-filled sleep. With that said, there will be times you simply want to get past the laziness and get up, especially if you have things to do, so use these methods if you want to beat couch lock.

Choosing your marijuana products wisely can also help. For instance, sativa strains are usually more energizing and uplifting than indica strains. You can also use CBD products if you’d prefer to avoid the powerful effects of THC. You can find all these products and more available for delivery online from West Coast Cannabis.