Posted by Planet Earth CBD on Jul 20th 2020
Nighttime Rituals: Reading with CBD
If you are among the 164 million Americans who struggle with sleeping, perhaps you are a perfect candidate for CBD… and a good book.
With the virus on your mind, school situations up in the air, projects at work piling up, there’s a lot to be stressed about. But with the help of this perfect pairing, two stress-relieving mechanisms, Planet Earth can help you manage.
We've Got the Tips
Establish a regular bedtime routine. You will be more inclined to slip into a deep sleep, and a restful one at that. By brushing your teeth, flossing, and get into bed by 10:30 pm, you’d be surprised how much of a difference some structure can make.
Get Lost... In a Book
While experts advise against the usage of cell phones before bed, they also advise opening a book. What’s the difference you ask? According to Dr. Raman Malhotra, Associate Professor of Neurology at the Washington University Sleep Center in St. Louis, “reading content that may be distressing, stressful or even too exciting can have the opposite effect of making it more difficult to sleep.” Blue light isn’t the only negative thing radiating from your phone. Take a break from constant news feeds and you may just realize what a relief it is NOT to be bombarded. Instead, lower the volume in your head and escape into a different kind of world.
Studies Show...
One study found reading for 30 minutes to be linked to lowered blood pressure, heart rate, and considerable reductions in stress. The University of Sussex reported that reading for just six minutes before bed may reduce stress by up to 68%, making it more relaxing than drinking a cup of tea (my personal favorite), or listening to music.
Reading and relaxing go hand in hand. Cozying up in bed, you know that your problems, the world’s problems, and tomorrow’s tasks will just have to wait until… tomorrow. So, take this time when you know you’re not going anywhere for the next, hopefully, six to eight hours, to spend on yourself. Forgetting about your own situation and entering another plot with different characters and scenarios can do more than just calm your thoughts, it can open you up to making improvements in your own life and relationships. Read yourself to sleep and wake up with a renewed vantage point.
Endocannabinoid System (ECS)
When our bodies are stressed, and our balance is off, so if our endocannabinoid system. The consumption of CBD can help the ECS maintain the homeostasis our bodies need in order to communicate and function properly.
How Does CBD Help Stress?
If the body becomes too stressed, tissue throughout the body may endure oxidative damage. Typically, the body then restores itself in “rest and digest” mode when we are in a state of relaxation. When stress is prolonged, however, free radicals continue to roam and wreak havoc on not only our tissue, but also our immune system, throwing off the balance we strive to obtain.
When you are in a state of unrest, the hypothalamus, the part of the brain which triggers the release of a hormone called cortisol, transports a message to the rest of the body to suit up and fight oncoming stress. CBD’s superpower is its ability to detect cortisol, causing the body to respond faster to stress and preventing that stress from sticking around for too long.
A New (Hemp) Leaf
Turn over a new leaf, a new page, for better rest, better health, and an overall better quality of life. Taking CBD and reading a chapter or two can do wonders on your sleep cycle. The combination can work to quiet your mind and ease your worries. If you struggle to fall asleep and/or stay asleep, try Planet Earth’s hemp-derived CBD and then crack open a book… it might just do wonders!
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