Mindful Cannabis Tips for Daily Life

In this article, I will touch on some tips for using cannabis mindfully throughout your daily life. Because, like any other tool, using cannabis effectively comes down to using it in the right ways, at the right moments, to address certain gap areas and improve your overall experience. 

Below, I will share some cannabis approaches to keep in mind as you step through the various parts of your day, from morning ‘til night. And, I’ll include some insight into how to use cannabis during the more difficult moments in your days, step around them, and keep living the life you love. 

CBD can arm us with the energy and power we need to blast through our “to-dos”

Maintaining Energy During the Day

Throughout our days, it can be a challenge to maintain the energy we need to tackle our “to-dos”. Luckily, when it is applied in the right ways, cannabis can help us to feel more energized throughout the course of our daily life. 
So, what are some of the cannabis strategies for increasing energy throughout the day? 

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Daily CBD intake

  • CBD has been shown to help many people maintain their energy throughout the day and support performance enhancement

  • Smaller to mid-range doses are advised for that energetic feeling, whereas larger doses of CBD can be sedating; you may consider trying 15-20 mg every day for a week to determine how this affects your energy levels!

  • CBD is non-intoxicating, so it is a great supplement to your day-to-day activities, even during work hours if that’s an option for you!

• Consume a cannabis strain high in limonene

  • Limonene, a terpene that is found in many cannabis strains, has been known to provide an uplifting and mood-boosting effect for many cannabis consumers

  • Limonene is usually rich in strains with a “citrus” sounding name, ie: Grapefruit, Island Sweet Skunk, Super Lemon Haze, etc

  • Consider imbibing with a limonene-rich strain and turning on your favorite song for a truly elevated moment!

Also, cannabis can be a great supplement to other activities that naturally fill us with energy. I like to pair CBD with movement for a little energy boost when I am feeling humdrum in the afternoons. I’ll take a few puffs of CBD flower from my vape device and go on a quick walk around the block. Both CBD and movement, it turns out, are great for the endocannabinoid system. And, they feel pretty good for the soul, too. 

If you’re looking for CBD flower ~

Sometimes, good & quality CBD flower can be hard to come by. But I recently found a new source that I love, Cannaflower!

Some individuals who try high-THC products respond negatively, experiencing paranoia or over-stimulation. That’s why Cannaflower’s hemp flower is cultivated with less than 0.3% THC so it tastes, smells, looks, and smokes like marijuana - but without the high potency of THC. You can check out their selection here: https://cannaflower.com/shop/cbd-hemp-flower/

And, this brand lists COAs (certificates of analysis) for all of their lab-tested flower. I love to see this! For more information on COAs and why they are important, check out my blog post, “Keeping Yourself Safe & Sourcing Clean Cannabis”.

CBD + a walk outside = my favorite energy boost!

Managing Difficult Moments

For those of us who are dealing with anxiety or pain, moments where symptoms “flare” can be especially challenging throughout our day-to-day experience. Sometimes, your pain or anxiety may start to creep up to an 11/10… and then life starts to feel pretty uncomfortable! But, with some help from the cannabis plant, there are approaches you can leverage to get through the more difficult moments. 

In preparation for possible flare-ups, I always like to have either a smokable or vapable product on hand. Why? Because after smoking or vaping cannabis, the onset of relief is immediate. Meaning that if you are experiencing a flare-up and need relief right now, it’s time to reach for your joint or your vape pen.

You can then sit on your couch or in a comfortable space, take a few puffs of cannabis, and engage in intentional breathing until you feel grounded and balanced once again. 

Sedating terpenes, vapor, and bubbles make for an excellent relaxing evening routine

Relaxing in the Evenings

Once we’re done with our responsibilities for a given day, it’s time to relax! This can be harder to do for some than others, but don’t worry - there are ample cannabis remedies to help people ease into relaxation. In fact, the endocannabinoid system regulates our ability to relax (as well as eat, sleep, self-protect, and forget). 

One approach for using cannabis to relax is to smoke or vape a strain of cannabis that is rich in sedating terpenes, including myrcene and linalool (the latter of which is actually found in lavender, which is also known to have calming and sedating effects). Next time you need some assistance getting to sleep, talk to your budtender about finding a strain high in one of these terpenes. If a strain name has the word “purple” in it, well then this is usually a good way to tell that it will create a calm experience. Think of purple dreams!

If you’re someone who has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, then I would consider trying cannabis-infused edibles. THC-rich edibles, in particular, are one of my favorite ways to ease into my nighttime chill routine. Cannabis edibles can provide 8+ hours of relief, and many patients report that edibles help them stay asleep instead of waking up every few hours. 

To get started, you can take an edible (or just a nibble) before bed and record how you feel in the morning, noting, “Did I sleep better? Do I feel better? Do I need more cannabis?”. Start with about 2.5 mg THC and build from there for best results; going “low and slow” is always the best approach with cannabis to maintain a comfortable experience. 

When it comes to relaxation, there are so many ways to leverage cannabis to elevate your experience. One of my favorite strategies lately has been to imbibe in the bathtub! All you need for a cannabis wonder bath is some cannabis, some bubbles, and time to yourself.

You deserve it! Allow yourself to fully rest so you can recharge and keep performing at your best tomorrow.

Guiding with Intention

Through my own interaction with the plant, as well as conversations I have had with other cannabis aficionados, I have come to understand that cannabis is a plant that takes direction. This is where the "intentionality" behind mindful cannabis use comes into play. 

So, what does this look like? Here’s the thing: I have found that cannabis use can be enhanced by setting an intention before every dose. 

Before you light up your next toke, give the plant some guidance on what you would like it to do for you. You can verbalize this intention out loud, or simply say it in your head - whichever feels most natural and genuine to you. Once you have uttered your intention, the cannabis plant will hold onto this and help to guide you to your intended destination.

For example, you can say, "I would like this cannabis to help me manage my pain and find greater ease today". Or, "I would like this cannabis to increase my energy and fuel my afternoon weight lifting session”. 

By telling the plant (and yourself!) what you want to happen next, you are inserting direction and vision into this long-standing ritual. This might sound a little “woo-woo”, but give it a shot - bringing intention into your cannabis ritual doesn’t cost you anything, and yet it can yield really positive results. 

You can tell the plant what you want it to do for you 🌿

final note ~

When it comes to dosing with cannabis, consistent dosing is the best approach for improving your endocannabinoid health (remember to reach for CBD during those times where you cannot be impaired, such as during the workday). Think of your cannabinoids like a vitamin that you take every day to keep you feeling your best. Best of luck to you. And don’t forget to enjoy the journey!