2020 has caused most of us to take stock of what matters most–our mental and physical wellness. That’s one of the biggest reasons why 2021 should be the year you try CBD. Keep reading for all the details!
Reading Time – 9 min
The new year is in full swing and resolutions are on everyone’s mind. But like so many other things about this year, a lot of those resolutions look different. Instead of people saying “2021 will be the year I travel the world,” many are saying things like “next year I want to cherish my family more.” Instead of “I want to push myself to accomplish more at work,” it’s “I want to take more time to work on my mental health.” This year forced us to take stock of what matters most, and for most of us, that means our mental and physical wellness.
That’s why 2021 should be the year you try CBD. When you evaluate what really matters to you, it’s often not about how much money you’re making or what kind of car you drive. It’s about your health, your relationships, and especially the relationship you have with yourself. All of those things require balance, and that’s what CBD does best.
We understand it might be hard to believe that a supplement can help you achieve those things. First, we’re not saying it’s the key to a happy life. What we ARE saying is that CBD is a tool. It’s a tool that can help bring different aspects of your life back into balance. If that sounds like something you’re interested in, keep reading to understand why trying CBD should be at the top of your New Year’s Resolutions.
Disclaimer: We want to take a moment and remind everyone that while CBD is considered a safe and mild supplement, you should always talk with your doctor before adding CBD to your regimen.
The Psychology of Resolutions
Roughly half of adults make some kind of resolution this time of year. The most common of them being health-related, money-related, or quitting some type of negative habit (smoking, biting your nails, etc.). Unfortunately, changing routine behaviors, even if they’re not good for us, can be incredibly difficult. That’s why less than 10% of people keep up with those resolutions for more than a few months.
There are lots of reasons why someone might give up on a resolution. Sometimes the goals are too unrealistic and other times there are simply too many goals to juggle. Many become discouraged when they don’t see immediate progress, when the effort becomes more than they bargained for, or when these changes have unintended consequences. Below are a few tips to keep you on track…
Be Realistic
If your goal will completely change your life, consider accomplishing it in stages so you can work up to it. For example, quitting caffeine cold-turkey can be incredibly difficult and can easily lead to relapses. However, if you slowly decrease your caffeine intake over time, you’re more likely to make those changes stick.
Don’t Attempt Too Many Things At Once
Having a routine brings us peace and soothes our anxieties. If you attempt to juggle too many behavioral changes at once, you’ll likely “drop the ball” on at least one of those items. Not only will this increase your anxiety, but it might also be a blow to your confidence. Setting realistic expectations and tackling one change at a time will ultimately result in greater success.
Have A Support System
If you’re trying to cut down on your sugar intake but your partner doesn’t know about it, they might continue to bring sugary snacks into the house. You don’t have to tell everyone you know, but informing the people closest to you means they’ll be better equipped to support you. Plus, they can also hold you accountable when you want to throw in the towel and give up.
Use Different Tools To Make These Changes Easier
Like we said earlier, changing our behaviors is difficult. That’s why having additional tools is so helpful. One of the best ways to keep track of progress is to keep a journal of changes and any responses to them. Actually, there are lots of tools specific to your goals. If fitness is part of your goal, there are a variety of different fitness trackers that can help monitor your health. If mindfulness is your goal, using guided meditations can help you practice different breathing techniques. Your individual needs will dictate the types of tools you need.
Our favorite tool just happens to be CBD…
What is CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is a compound derived from the industrial hemp plant. It’s used as a supplement to interact with your endocannabinoid system (ECS). In doing so, it can bring several different physiological systems back into harmony.
If you’ve never heard of the ECS, we’re not surprised. Its discovery is still fairly recent, but the more we learn about it, the more we understand just how pivotal its role is when it comes to whole-body wellness. All vertebrates have an ECS and by using our own naturally-produced cannabinoids (called endocannabinoids), it promotes balance throughout the body. Sometimes that means promoting a more balanced sleep/wake cycle, stress response, immune response, and more.
Because CBD is so chemically similar to our endocannabinoids, the ECS can use CBD to accomplish its many tasks. It’s like you’re giving your ECS a few extra hands to help out.
So, how exactly will CBD help you out in 2021?
Choosing CBD in 2021 Means Choosing Wellness
Even if the items below aren’t directly related to your unique 2021 resolutions, they’ll indirectly make it easier to accomplish them. Don’t believe us? Keep reading…
Using A CBD Supplement Means You’ll Experience Less inflammation
Everyone experiences inflammation from time to time. It’s a natural immune response that’s meant to protect us. When inflammation doesn’t naturally subside, however, issues can quickly develop. Old sports injuries can develop into bigger problems because of inflammation, sometimes that winter joint pain is really arthritis, and there are even individuals with severe health problems who have debilitating inflammation. Whatever the reason, CBD can help.
Your immune system is in charge of your inflammatory response. Sometimes, however, this response becomes unbalanced. That’s where CBD comes in. By supplementing with CBD, you make it easier for your ECS to bring balance back to your immune system. That means less inflammation and less pain.
Speaking of pain…
CBD Helps Reduce Chronic Pain
Obviously, part of the reason that CBD helps reduce chronic pain is because of its ability to reduce inflammation. However, it doesn’t stop there. There’s strong research indicating that CBD may help to reduce the signals in your brain that communicate pain.
A review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology says, “The mechanism of the analgesic effect of cannabinoids include inhibition of the release of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides from presynaptic nerve endings, modulation of postsynaptic neuron excitability, activation of descending inhibitory pain pathways, and reduction of neural inflammation.” Basically, CBD reduces the messages in your brain that tell the rest of your body to experience pain.
This isn’t going to help acute pain (like broken bones), but chronic pain sufferers may find relief from CBD and be able to manage everyday activities more easily.
CBD May Help Improve Cholesterol and Promote Healthier Eating Habits
This one seems almost too good to be true. However, a study from 2016 indicated that CBD is able to affect how our bodies use fat. First, CBD may encourage your body to change bad fat into good fat.
While it might not always feel this way, your body needs a certain amount of fat to function properly. This is what insulates us and provides a cushion for our organs. This is known as “brown fat.” When there’s too much fat, however, it’s called “white fat.” This type can lead to weight-related illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. Through diet and exercise, white fat naturally turns back into brown fat, but this process is slow and it’s more difficult for some.
CBD won’t immediately cause your cholesterol to improve, but over time it will promote the transformation of white fat to brown fat. On top of that, there’s even research indicating that CBD may be able to help burn fat and curb hunger. For all of our readers with fitness aspirations for 2021, take note!
CBD Can Help Make Anxiety More Manageable
It doesn’t matter what your job is or how much money you make, anxiety can strike anyone. When it does, it can feel like the world is falling apart around you. Luckily, CBD is a natural anxiolytic and several studies indicate that it could be a beneficial treatment for several anxiety disorders.
It’s believed that part of this trait comes from its ability to boost GABA levels. GABA is the neurotransmitter that tells your brain to calm down. It makes sense then, that if you’re low on GABA you experience racing thoughts, mania, and anxiety. Your ECS has a safety measure in place, however, that boosts GABA levels when they get too low. By supplementing with CBD, you just make it easier for your ECS to accomplish that task.
Boosting GABA also helps prepare your brain for a restful night’s sleep…
CBD Will Help You Get Better Sleep
Poor sleep immediately lowers our quality of life. Any chronic pain or anxiety is made worse by poor sleep, your immune system can weaken, and it can even set off a stress response that’s difficult to rebalance. Luckily, many people are experiencing better sleep by supplementing with CBD.
If you find yourself unable to quiet your mind before bed, the GABA-boosting qualities of CBD will help promote a sense of peace and calm. Also, many of the items we’ve mentioned earlier will naturally lead to higher quality sleep. If chronic pain makes it hard to fall asleep and/or stay asleep, CBD will help improve your sleep by reducing that pain.
Even people who suffer from insomnia will find that full-spectrum CBD helps them find the relief they need.
Feel Better and Live More in 2021 with CBD
There’s a wide variety of CBD products, so make sure you choose the products that most easily fit into your current lifestyle. This step will make it that much easier for your new CBD habit to stick. Whatever your 2021 goals are, integrating CBD into your routine means you’ll be better equipped to tackle them.
As always, remember to consult with your doctor before starting any new supplements, especially if you’re on any medications. Side effects are rare and usually mild, but it’s always best to err on the side of caution.
We wish all of you a safe and happy 2021, and we’re thrilled you’ll be taking us along for the ride. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions and don’t forget to stock up on all your CBD favorites.