Cannabis and CBD products can be powerful stress-relief aids. In addition to relaxing the mind, these products can help place things in perspective and make one’s life seem more manageable. As effective as cannabis and CBD are, however, they work best when paired with other self-care practices. So, if they’re currently the only weapons in your stress-management arsenal, you’d do well to bolster your defenses a bit more. To truly get the most out of cannabis for stress relief, pair it with the following measures.
#1 Find the Right Strains
If you’re interested in using cannabis for stress relief but have little experience with weed, it pays to do your homework. Certain strains are far more conducive to stress relief than others, and it’s good to know exactly what you’re getting before taking the plunge. Washington state residents on the hunt for answers should contact an Olympia dispensary.
#2 Talk to a Therapist
The common misconception that therapy is the exclusive domain of people suffering from pronounced and obvious mental health problems is absurd. Virtually everyone stands to benefit from working with a seasoned therapist – and you are no exception! Unmanageable stress levels are among the most common reasons for which people seek therapy. In addition to providing you with a safe space for discussing your problems, therapy can give you valuable coping tools and help you come to terms with past trauma.
#3 Make Time for Yourself
For many of us, finding the time to engage in self-care can be an uphill battle. Between crowded work schedules and family obligations, carving out time for personal enjoyment is often easier said than done. While throwing yourself into your work and dedicating your free time to family is certainly commendable, this doesn’t mean that it’s okay to completely neglect personal fulfillment. With that in mind, take care to make time for yourself on a regular basis. For example, if you don’t mind staying up late, consider going to bed an hour later than usual and using that extra time to enjoy a hobby, catch up with your media backlog or just kick back and relax. Alternatively, if you’re a morning person, why not get up an hour earlier than usual and dedicate that extra time to you and you alone.
If finding time for yourself has proven excessively challenging, don’t be afraid to ask for help. For instance, if you have small children, asking a partner, close friend or family member to look after them once a week can be a great way to free up some time. Additionally, if unmanageable work hours have been an impediment to personal time, consider talking to your bosses about switching to remote work.
#4 Set Clear Boundaries
In the absence of clearly defined boundaries, bosses, coworkers, friends and family members are liable to take excessive advantage of you. Frankly, it’s easy to see why so many of us have trouble saying no. We’re afraid that it will lead to conflict, result in the loss of friendships, hurt our professional goals or result in a host of other undesirable outcomes. While it’s true that saying no can rub some of the people in your life the wrong way, those individuals likely lack the proper perspective.
As difficult as it may be for you, learning to say no to things you don’t want to do can serve you well in many areas of life and help reduce stress. This doesn’t mean you should never help others out, but neither should you allow yourself to be treated like a doormat or feel obligated to do things that place undue strain on you or are well outside of your comfort zone.
When it comes to reducing mounting stress levels, cannabis can prove tremendously helpful. So, if you reside in a state in which recreational marijuana use is legal, you should consider using weed or weed-based products next time you find yourself in need of stress relief. Of course, this isn’t to say that cannabis should be the only stress relief tool at your disposal. In order to get the most out of cannabis use, you’ll need to pair it with a number of other relaxation-inducing pastimes. If diminished stress levels are what you’re after, put the measures discussed above to good use.
