Recently, there’s been a growing trend toward mindful consumption in various aspects of life – cannabis included. As more states move to legalize the natural product, cannabis has slotted in nicely into greater trends toward health and wellness. Several “cannabis novices” and one-time “cannabis skeptics” now see the value of the plant for relaxation, focus, creativity, pain relief, and social connection.
But how do you integrate cannabis into a balanced lifestyle? What steps can you take to control your relationship with cannabis and ensure that you extract its wellness benefits? Learn more below.
What Is Mindful Consumption, Exactly?
First things first, let’s define our term clearly. Several wellness articles trade in broad, buzzy terms, but that’s not what we want here. When we say mindful consumption, we mean:
- Awareness of why you’re consuming cannabis (i.e., for focus, relaxation, creativity, etc.)
- Intentionality about what strains, strengths, and dosages you use. Rather than just buying the first thing off the dispensary shelf, you align the product to your overall goals as defined above.
- Incorporating practices that enhance mindful usage, like self-reflection activities and small rituals.
- Attention to details while you consume cannabis. This can be as simple as noting how amazing it makes food taste or as involved as keeping a journal for feelings while you use cannabis.
Now that’s out of the way, let’s cover a few tips for starting your mindful consumption journey with cannabis.
The Basics: Identify Your Purpose, Shop Accordingly, and Create Rituals
Basically, let’s break down the above definition to give us a usable road map.
To start, you want to identify your purpose. Why do you want to enjoy cannabis? Are you hoping it breaks you out of your shell a little? Are you hoping to glean some emotional insights, spur your creativity, or just get rid of that nagging lower back pain for a while?
Next, you can take these insights to a dispensary. Ask them for help with strain selections that fit your purposes. Strains and individual products vary widely in THC, CBD and terpenes, each of which brings differing levels of intensity and enjoyment to the experience.
Finally, consider creating rituals. Follow your cannabis use with mindfulness routines like meditation, yoga, or creative pursuits. Keep a journal for your thoughts. Or simply focus on your breath. These rituals can help connect you with your original purpose for enjoying cannabis.
A Few More Tips for Practicing Mindful Consumption
Now that you’ve learned the basics, let’s cover a few more tips for mindful consumption.
First, start low and slow. Especially if you’re new to cannabis, it’s best to ease yourself into the feel to ensure a balanced and positive experience. Visit this resource for dosage guidelines.
Next, store your cannabis correctly to preserve its potency and terpenes. Choose an airtight container. Add a Boveda pack, which helps with humidity control for cannabis to preserve its terpenes. And place the container in a cool, dark part of the home to limit UV or heat exposure, both of which degrade THC and CBD.
Lastly, try incorporating cannabis into other wellness routines. See how it feels when you exercise with cannabis. See how it feels when you cook after enjoying cannabis. See how it feels to connect with friends in a social setting or go for nature walks. Integrating cannabis into daily activities can help you ensure that it’s part of a balanced lifestyle.