Consider this: The average American works 2012.4 hours each year. It’s no wonder work-life balance has become such a hot-button issue over the past decade.
We’re not against the idea of hard work or a can-do attitude. After all, Stash is a proud employer of many talented employees, and we’re happy to contribute to their livelihood as much as they’re pleased to contribute to our dispensary’s success.
All the same, we wouldn’t want our team to make their entire lives about work.
Also, work is not the only aspect of one’s life that can be demanding or stressful. We all have personal responsibilities outside our professional lives that weigh on us, even if we’re up to the challenge.
Thus, finding time to relax is crucial to your overall quality of life. Through relaxation, you’ll enjoy immeasurable health benefits and garner an appreciation for the small things in life.
The Unavoidable Marriage Between Cannabis And Relaxation
The connection between cannabis and relaxation is a complex one.
Many people who don’t consume cannabis think it’s automatic that cannabis melts you into a couch, unable to do anything other than eat potato chips, watch television, and then pass out.
Any cannabis enthusiast knows that the above characterization is reductive—because it ignores recreational cannabis’s broad spectrum of experiences, moods, and sensations.
More to the point, not all strains and consumption methods are conducive to relaxation.
Let’s say you’re an experienced cannabis enthusiast, and you consume a high (but responsible) dose of edibles. Given your veteran status and understanding of your body, you’ll be fine—but would the effects be considered relaxing? Most often, not. Yes—it’ll be fun. A wild ride. But you’ll have difficulty achieving a soothing calm until you start to come down back to earth.
Additionally, taking a massive hit from a dab rig or burning through an entire bowl in one bong hit typically won’t offer you relaxation.
That said, many people have differing definitions of relaxation. Still, we’ll always suggest to air on the side of caution. While more experienced cannabis pros might yield joy and a sense of “relaxation” from the chaos of higher doses, like any good meat dish, low and slow is your best bet with any indica, sativa, or hybrid.
With this low and slow mentality, and through mindfully controlling the amounts you consume, cannabis will provide fulfilling and relaxing effects that bolster your other relaxation rituals.
First Things First: How Do You Relax?
A problem with many relaxation advice blogs is their assumption that everybody relaxes the same way.
Yes, tea can be very relaxing—when you like it. Nevertheless, not everyone finds much enjoyment in sitting down with a cup of Earl Grey, chai, etc.
What about listening to music? Does “relaxing” mean you only listen to ambient and meditative music? Maybe your definition of relaxation is listening to Ice Cube and Dr. Dre spit aggressive gangster rap lyrics.
Similarly, you could find relaxation in playing sports or through other forms of exercise due to these pursuits’ underlying, meditative aspects.
Speaking of meditative—we could suggest incorporating meditation into your relaxation routine and throwing in some cannabis. But what if you have no interest in meditation?
Our point is that there are a thousand different ways people relax. As much as more stereotypical forms of relaxation, like a massage or a spa treatment, can offset stress, so can boxing for twelve rounds against a stationary punching bag.
Ask yourself what kind of relaxer you are. Do you prefer more traditional approaches to relaxation, where you could easily fall asleep? Or, are you more experiential, and do you glean relaxation from losing yourself into more active pursuits?
The answers to these questions will dictate the type of cannabis that aligns with the methods of relaxation you most enjoy.
Sativas, Indicas, Hybrids, And Your Relaxation
Most cannabis veterans know the distinction between sativa, indica, and hybrid strains. If you’re new to the world of cannabis, here are some standard rules to guide your purchasing:
- Sativas are typically more “active” or “busy” strains. Many people refer to these strains as “daytime” cannabis because of their links with productivity.
- Indica strains are more associated with couch lock and sleep. Not all indicas pack a superpower punch, but they’ll make you drowsier than your average sativa.
- Hybrids combine indica and sativa strains and can lean heavier one way or the other. The idea is to balance out the effects so you don’t feel too energized or too tired.
Incorporating cannabis into your relaxation rituals means matching the strains with your approach to relaxation.
Provided your approach to relaxation is more adventurous, involving things like hiking, going to concerts, or hitting up the local tavern, a sativa—or a sativa-dominant hybrid—might be your best bet.
Say you’re more into couch-related relaxation, where you aim to shut off your brain. In this instance, go heavy on the indica. For example, if you’re big on napping for relaxation, purchase the heaviest indica you can find and let it lull you into a peaceful slumber.
Cannabis selection can get complicated when you want to engage with media for relaxation, such as watching a movie.
First, the ideal cannabis would have to depend on the film you’re watching. Something you’ve seen a million times doesn’t necessarily demand specificity. However, a new movie that demands focus calls for you to be more particular about strains and even how you consume the cannabis.
Don’t be afraid to speak with your budtender about combining cannabis with your relaxation rituals. Dispensary staff keenly understand cannabinoid profiles and can make insightful recommendations based on their expert knowledge.
Ramp Up Your Relaxation Rituals With Stash Dispensary
As Chicago’s prime cannabis destination, Stash Dispensary has gained a reputation for guiding our loyal customers toward the most desired cannabis-infused experiences. This notion extends to helping our valued clientele kick back with strains that vibe with their specific relaxation rituals.
Visit our online menu to see which one of our selections will help you chill out most. Or visit one of our Chicago locations and speak with our well-versed budtenders about the best strains for relaxation.
