The concept of self-care has become more and more popular over the last few years as more people are prioritising their mental wellbeing. Something we’re definitely not mad about! We’re all about caring for oneself and living your best life. Therefore, we wanted to take World Mental Health Day as an opportunity to chat about maintaining mental wellness and using CBD for self-care.
Whilst we all love a good pamper session, filled with bath bombs and face masks, sometimes there’s a bit more to caring for our mental health. To get down to brass tacks, self-care is not just about looking good, it’s about feeling good too. Even if that seems a little less glamorous!
So, how can you use CBD for self-care and can it really help care for our mental wellbeing?
Calming the Mind and Body
Stress isn’t inherently a bad thing, a little bit of stress here and there is necessary to get us up and running. A little bit of pressure helps us motivate ourselves and achieve our goals. However, high-stress levels over a long period of time can have detrimental effects on our mental health as well as our physical health.
When we’re stressed, our bodies release a hormone called cortisol. This “stress hormone” kicks our organs into action and it prepares our flight or fight response. This response is what kept us alive when we were faced with danger on all sides, back in our ancestor’s time. However, it’s not exactly useful for us on a day-to-day basis these days.
When we’re stressed we often breathe much faster, the heart rate goes up, our blood pressure and blood sugars also increase. In addition, the body shuts down many “non-essential” processes that are actually pretty essential. One of which is the immune system! All of this means that we get tired much faster, we’re more irritable, we’re more susceptible to illness, and we have difficulty getting a good night’s sleep. This also means we’re feeling pretty on edge all the time.
Over the course of our lives, we will inevitably find ourselves in stressful situations. Bereavement, illness, financial difficulty, education, and a stressful working environment can all leave us feeling stressed. However, when it’s on a long term basis, it starts to become an issue for our mental health. Unfortunately, we can’t all just quit our jobs and move to the Caribbean so it’s up to us to figure out how to manage stress and how it impacts our mental health.
How Can You Use CBD for Self-Care to Reduce Feelings of Stress and Worry?
Anecdotal evidence suggests CBD can be used to help relax and relieve feelings of stress and worry. Studies back up this claim too. According to this report, experts found CBD to have an almost sedative effect, whereby participants in the study described feeling much more at ease and relaxed.
There are a couple of ways you can use CBD for self-care by slipping it into your daily routine. If you’re experiencing worry or anxiety about a particular event like an exam, driving test, or work presentation, you can opt for a fast-acting CBD product. Tinctures and oral pouches are the things for you because they both have high bioavailability rates. This means that the membranes in your mouth quickly and effectively absorb the CBD, helping you to feel calmer faster.
If you suffer from general feelings of unease and worry, you could opt for a slow and steady release of CBD. Capsules and gummies would be the best option for you as they’ll work over the course of a couple of hours, giving you longer-lasting effects.
Reducing Muscle Tension and Pain
Getting out in the fresh air and moving the body is a wonderful way of caring for your mental wellbeing. Of course, we’re not saying that going for a walk is going to cure depression – but it can help. Studies show that any kind of exercise, on a regular basis can have a massively positive impact on your mental health. It triggers the release of feel-good hormones as well as giving your brain a break from constantly worrying.
So, how can using CBD for self-care help with exercising? Well, if you’re a regular gym-goer, you will notice that your muscles will ache after working out. This is completely normal but it does mean that you will need some recovery time between working out – putting you on the bench.
Luckily, studies also show that CBD has anti-inflammatory properties meaning it can help reduce the pain and discomfort that you’re feeling after hitting the gym. CBD interacts with a cell-signalling system in our bodies, known as the endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system is responsible for regulating everything from pain perception to immune response, mood stability to the sleep cycle. Therefore, it can help reduce recovery times, getting you back out in the fresh air in no time.
Similarly, if you suffer from chronic pain or tend to hold tension in your muscles as a result of anxiety or stress, this could help too. Chronic pain can deeply impact our mental wellbeing as it interferes with our daily lives and it can be extremely frustrating to deal with. Therefore, using a topical CBD treatment to alleviate some of this pain and discomfort may help.
How Can I Use CBD for Self-Care When It Comes to My Exercise Routine?
You can use CBD-infused balms to deliver cannabinoids directly to the areas where you’re experiencing discomfort, providing fast and effective relief. By massaging the balms into the skin, you’re also improving circulation which helps us to feel relaxed. You can use this opportunity to slow down and take a minute to check in with yourself too. Perhaps even use this mindful massage as a time to meditate and clear the mind.
Perfecting Your Sleep Routine
We all know how a lack of sleep can negatively affect our mental well-being. We’ll often feel groggy and irritated when we don’t get a decent night’s sleep. This is only made worse if the reason why you were up all night was that you were worrying about something. Similarly, if you’re already experiencing a time of poor mental health, a restless night certainly won’t help.
However, it’s a vicious cycle when it comes to sleep because if you’re feeling stressed or worried, you’re less likely to get a decent night’s sleep. This, in turn, contributes to you feeling even more stressed and worried. Another factor that can impact our sleep negatively can be pain and discomfort. If you’re feeling as stiff as a board because your muscles are tense due to stress, you’re not going to be able to get comfortable and drift off.
But How Can Using CBD for Self-Care Help Here?
Well, as we know CBD-infused balms can help alleviate muscle tension, helping us to feel relaxed. Including a CBD-infused massage as part of your nightly routine can help prepare you for sleep.
If you’re not getting enough sleep because you’re spending most of your time tossing and turning, worrying about the day ahead, there are other options. Of course, you can use tinctures and capsules as we discussed. Or, you can opt for a CBD-infused chamomile tea. Chamomile tea has been used for centuries to help us feel more at ease and ready to sleep. By combining CBD with this natural plant extract, you’ll be off to the land of nod in no time at all.
We recommend enjoying a cup of chamomile tea after dinner or late in the evening, at least two hours before you hope to go to bed. This gives the CBD time to get to work.
A Big Part of Self-Care Is Nourishing Your Body
Think of yourself as a plant (albeit with more feelings). Essentially, you need sunlight, water, food, and a comfortable space to live and grow. So, where does using CBD for self-care come into this? Hear us out! Taking the time to prepare nutritious meals for your body can work wonders for your mental health. After all, your mental health is closely linked to your physical health, especially gut health.
Not only will the nutrients help maintain overall health and wellness, but a mindful activity like cooking can also help you focus on the present, not worrying about the past or future. The best way to do this is to try a new recipe that you’ve never tried before. This is because you’ll need to concentrate on the task at hand and your mind won’t be able to wander off.
CBD works in tandem with your ECS to help it run smoothly and effectively. This means that it can help stabilize and maintain your moods, as well supporting a healthy digestive system. This can help you get the most out of your foods! So why not combine the two and use CBD for self-care cooking activities? You’ll benefit from the nutrients in your beautifully cooked meals, the process of lovingly preparing a meal for yourself, as well as the calming effects of CBD. We have tonnes of CBD recipes right here that you can try!
Caring for Your Skin Can Leave You Looking and More Importantly, Feeling Your Best
If you’ve got a lot on your plate, the last thing you might be thinking about is your skincare routine. We know this is going to sound counterintuitive, but we believe that the busier you are, the more time you need to set aside for rest and relaxation. This is a priority, just as much as everything else you’re balancing high on that plate.
Without rest and recovery, you’ll be feeling burnt out fairly quickly. Similarly, we all need time to look after ourselves, so we can feel like our best selves. Realistically, you’re not going to feel like your most amazing self if you haven’t showered for three days or washed your face.
Equally, skin conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis can all be triggered when we’re stressed. All of these inflammatory skin conditions can lead to flare-ups that are uncomfortable and often painful. As if we weren’t stressed enough, now we have to deal with sore and itchy skin too? This, of course, can also impact our mental health! Luckily, you can help avoid flare-ups by using CBD for self-care and adding some CBD skincare products to your routine.
As we know, CBD has anti-inflammatory properties, which means it’s brilliant for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Therefore, it can help calm down irritated skin and potentially prevent future flare-ups! Taking a couple of moments to go through your skincare routine every morning and evening also gives you a few moments to yourself. In the morning, you can practice some daily affirmations as you apply your moisturiser. Similarly, you can take note of your gratifications when you’re doing your double cleanse in the evening!
Now It’s Time for the Bath Bombs and Face Masks
Of course, a major part of self-care is showing yourself a little love, and the best way to do this is with a good pamper session. Bath bombs won’t fix everything you’re worried about but enjoying a long soak in the tub might help you process. The act of drawing yourself a bath and using oils and soaps can help boost your mood. You can take this time to process your feelings, gather your thoughts, meditate or even practice breathing exercises.
When you apply CBD to the skin, it interacts with ECS receptors in the local area. This helps to soothe the area, leaving us feeling calm and relaxed. This works really well when you add CBD-infused bath bombs or oils to your bath as they help relieve muscle tension. It works exceptionally well when paired with plant extracts like lavender that also have calming properties!
Prioritise Using CBD for Self-Care
Self-care isn’t just for when you’re feeling completely burnt out, anxious, and miserable. In fact, making sure you include effective self-care techniques in your daily routine can help prevent you from feeling burnt out altogether! Remember, prevention is always better than a cure.
Many people have started using CBD for self-care, and we can certainly see why. Its calming effects can help reduce feelings of stress and worry, whilst topical CBD can also soothe tense muscles, leaving us feeling refreshed and relaxed. Both of these aspects contribute to a better night’s sleep, something that is essential for a healthy body and mind.
Whilst you can use CBD for self-care to support mental wellness, it isn’t a cure-all concoction. If you’re suffering from long-term feelings of anxiety or depression, you should seek guidance from a medical professional. They can work with you to come up with an effective treatment plan that’s tailored to your individual needs. Remember, you’re not alone and you will get through this!
