Finding Time for Yourself: How CBD Can Help You Unwind After a Long Day

Finding time for self-care is crucial for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Yet far too many adults feel they don't have enough time to spare for activities they find relaxing and personally fulfilling. When they can justify the time, day-to-day stress often makes the experience less enjoyable. If you can relate, you might want to consider how CBD could help you relax, unwind, and enjoy the moments you have to yourself.   

Hemp-derived CBD is a pleiotropic cannabinoid¹ – meaning it exhibits a diverse range of effects on the body through multiple molecular pathways.² Once you know why it can be so difficult to decompress when you're stressed, it's a lot easier to understand why so many people count on the effects of their favorite hemp-derived products to relax and unwind after a long day.    

Understanding the Importance of Relaxation  

When your life is relatively calm and uneventful, you probably don't feel guilty for taking time for yourself because everything else seems to be falling into place. Your calm mind and ability to keep minor setbacks in perspective are a clear sign of a system producing just enough cortisol to maintain a balanced state of focus and awareness. 

At the slightest hint of nearly any threat to your physical, mental, or emotional security, however, that balance is inevitably disrupted by the stress responses that prepare your body to fight or flee. When the next "threat" hits before that cortisol and adrenaline surge levels out, your stress hormones remain elevated. The longer your stress levels are running in overdrive, the longer it takes to return to baseline.³ That's where CBD factors into the equation. 

Evidence Supporting CBD Use for Relaxation  

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the most abundant of the 113 potentially beneficial cannabinoids in hemp flower.⁴ After the oil is extracted and distilled, it's used as an ingredient in a variety of popular health and wellness products, including CBD oil tinctures and gummies. When those products are used to support your wellness routine, you gain the advantages of using a natural plant element that interacts with more than 65 molecular targets, including the receptors of essential neurotransmitters directly involved in stress management – serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).⁵ 

Most researchers, however, believe CBD's most impactful contributions are best explained by the way it asserts its influence on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) receptors. As the largest regulatory system in the human body, your ECS is involved in everything from emotional regulation and stress responses to sleep cycle regulation, immune system function, and the perception of pleasure and pain. After decades of study, most experts believe supporting ECS function with CBD promotes homeostasis – the processes that restore equilibrium when internal or external stressors threaten essential balance.⁶

Choosing the Hemp Extract Type That's Right for You  

Having too much unresolved stress in your life flips your system into survival mode. Over time, the continuous bombardment of stress hormones increases your risk of developing everything from sleep difficulties to chronic health concerns. That's why so many experts feel that stress relief and relaxation are crucial components of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Relaxing your body helps calm your mind. Calming your mind helps relax your body.⁷ It's all interconnected. 

According to the results of a 2019 CBDistillery® survey of 1,900 customers, most CBD users report positive results using our high-quality products for better sleep, pain, stiffness, and inflammation after physical activity, and relaxation. Nine out of 10 report that CBD helps calm their minds, and 88% say that it's helpful for mild or temporary anxiety. Our survey respondents were evaluating the effects of CBD products made with their choice of the three main types of hemp extract. 

Full Spectrum  

CBD products made with full spectrum hemp extract have the full array of cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients nature intended. The natural 15-20:1 CBD to THC ratio ensures there's little risk of intoxication. Most CBD users feel that full spectrum products have a stronger effect because of the way the cannabinoids and terpenes combine to produce the “Entourage Effect” cannabis is known for. 

Broad Spectrum  

Broad spectrum products have the additional cannabinoids and terpenes needed to initiate an entourage effect, except one. The small amount of THC is reduced to non-detectable levels – .01% or less. Although some CBD users feel the lack of THC diminishes overall potency, others feel there's no noticeable difference between full spectrum and broad spectrum products.⁸  

CBD Isolate  

CBD isolate is a highly refined, powdered form of hemp extract. It's flavorless, odorless, and has 0% THC. Although products made with CBD isolate powder don't have the range of cannabinoids and terpenes needed to initiate an entourage effect, you'll still have the advantages of ECS support from a product that could be the ideal fit for your routine if you don't care for the flavor and aroma of cannabis. 

Your Healthy Lifestyle: Tips for Creating a Relaxation Routine with Hemp-Derived CBD 

CBD products are generally well-tolerated, safe for most people, and carry no risk of chemical dependency. Side effects, however, are possible. You can minimize the risk of developing fatigue, dry mouth, nausea, and other symptoms of digestive upset by keeping in mind that no two CBD users are exactly alike. Instead of relying on the serving size suggestions printed on product labels, most experts recommend starting with a partial serving and increasing gradually (if needed) over time. 

Starting with that partial serving is the best way to determine the ideal amount of CBD for your unique needs – the smallest amount you can use for the effect you're hoping to achieve. Although some people claim impressive results within hours of their first serving, most of our 2019 survey respondents report achieving their best results within 7-14 days of consistent use. CBD can be enjoyed on its own or paired with any relaxation techniques you find helpful, including the following suggestions.   

Mindfulness Meditation  

Mindfulness meditation is a centuries-old practice that promotes a sense of calm acceptance through non-judgmental awareness of your feelings. While sitting in a comfortable position, focus your attention on your breathing while inhaling and exhaling naturally through your nose. Notice any thoughts that arise, but return your focus to your breathing when your mind wanders.⁹

Yoga  

Yoga is a popular discipline with significant benefits for your body, mind, and spirit. The focus on alignment and breathing helps build muscle, enhances flexibility, and promotes feelings of overall well-being.¹⁰ Adding CBD to your routine could help you feel more relaxed as you move through your poses and help ease your post-activity discomfort.   

Breathing Exercises  

Controlled breathing helps promote relaxation by diffusing the impact of cortisol and adrenaline. The relaxation technique is so simple and inconspicuous that you can use it any time you feel the stress and strain of day-to-day life. Breathe in slowly through your nose, hold for five seconds, then exhale slowly while relaxing your shoulders, abdominal muscles, and jaw.¹¹   

Discover How You Could Benefit from Incorporating CBD Into Your Daily Schedule  

The key to making the best use of your CBD for relaxation is selecting a high-quality product or two and using them consistently. For most CBD enthusiasts, that means starting their day with CBD. What that looks like is up to you. You might prefer adding CBD softgels to your supplement regimen or stirring a CBD tincture into your morning coffee. Most adults can expect the effects to last 6-8 hours.   

To help keep the effects of your morning CBD going strong, you might want to consider adding a second serving at midday – Maybe something portable like CBD gummies or softgels. Their effects usually peak in about an hour. If racing thoughts, physical discomfort after physical activity, or changes in your daily routine tend to keep you from getting the rest you need to wake feeling refreshed, you might also want to try incorporating CBD into your pre-sleep ritual. 

When you choose CBDistillery® CBD oil tinctures, topicals, softgels, and gummies, you can count on getting the high-quality CBD you need for optimal results. Our products are rigorously tested for purity and potency, quality-assured, and made with 100% clean ingredients. If you're leaning towards trying hemp-derived CBD but not quite sure where to begin, consider scheduling a personal consultation with one of our experts. If you have medical concerns or take medication, consult a healthcare professional. 

References 

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2. Lee M. (2011) How CBD Works. Project CBD. 

3. Chu B, Marwaha K, et al. (2022) Physiology, Stress Reaction. StatPearls https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541120/ 

4. Rudd J. (2023) CBD vs THC – What Are the Main Differences? Analytical Cannabis. 

5. Elsaid S, Foll B. 2020) The Complexity of Pharmacology of Cannabidiol (CBD) and Its Implications in the Treatment of Brain Disorders. 45 Neuropsychopharmacol 229-30 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-019-0518-1 

6. Sallaberry C, Astern L. (2018) The Endocannabinoid System, Our Universal Regulator. 34(6) JYI 48-55. https://www.jyi.org/2018-june/2018/6/1/the-endocannabinoid-system-our-universal-regulator 

7. Scott E, Ph.D. (2022) How to Relax Your Body and Mind. Very Well Mind. 

8. Wilkins T. (2022) What Is the Entourage Effect? How This Enhances CBD Effects. Marijuana Takers. 

9. Mindfulness Meditation: A Research-Proven Way to Reduce Stress. (2019) American Psychological Association. 

10. Scott E. (2022) 13 Benefits of Yoga. Verywell Health. 

11. Cronkleton E. (2024) 10 Breathing Exercises to Try When You're Feeling Stressed. Healthline.