5 Easy Ways to Manage Stress

5 Easy Ways to Manage Stress

5 Ways to Manage Stress

Stress is something we have all experienced at some point in our lives. While small amounts every now and then is normal, there’s the flip side. When stress piles up over long periods of time, you end up mentally, emotionally, and physically burned out. One of the most common stressors is any type of change in our lives — like moving to another city, starting a new job or experiencing a loss. Many also feel the onset of stress seasonally, such as during a new school year or during the holidays.

Although stress may seem like an emotion you can bottle up until it passes, it’s more than that. While we experience emotional effects of stress, it is actually a physiological response. When we’re stressed, the body releases hormones and neurochemicals that impact the Endocannabinoid System, which is responsible for maintaining hormonal balance. That’s why long-term, sustained stress can be harmful and cause you to become physically ill. If you want to manage your stress before it reaches an extreme, try implementing these healthy habits into your daily routine.

1. Minimize your screen time

For many, a high amount of screen time is a contributing factor of stress. Studies have uncovered complex relationships between children developing anxiety and depression with increasing amounts of screen time and a notable association between screen time and depression among American adults. If you find yourself reaching for your phone habitually out of instinct, you may want to consider setting social media usage timers on your phone. Popular apps, like Instagram, offer a native timer within their settings that warn you once you’ve reached your daily usage limit. There are also third-party apps you can use that track the amount of time you spend on your phone and give you a warning once you’ve reached the limits you pre-set for yourself.

Our phones feed us a lot of content — emails, texts, push notifications and in-app social feeds. The volume of content coming our way can be overwhelming, and a factor in the stress we develop. If you find that is the case for you, try cutting down on the amount of time you spend on your phone and replace it with a healthier habit, like reading a book, exercising or taking a walk outside while listening to your favorite music.

2. Slow down and enjoy the grooming process

We tend to look at basic hygiene tasks, like brushing teeth and bathing, as necessary chores. But, if you let yourself enjoy the time spent grooming, it can be a rejuvenating experience. Focus your attention on the task at hand and how it feels, and think to yourself that this is something you get to do, not something you have to do.

While you may not have time to turn your evening hygiene process into a spa night every night, your mind and body will benefit from you spending a little extra time treating yourself. This can be as simple as giving yourself a pedicure, soaking in a hot bath or massaging moisturizing lotion into your skin after a warm, steamy shower. Small actions like these that make your body feel good can have a positive effect on your mental health.

3. Engage in de-stressing movement

Exercise doesn’t always have to be about weight loss or trying to achieve a certain look — there are so many benefits to exercise that go beyond aesthetics. Your body wants to move, especially if it’s been sitting at a desk for the majority of the day. If you don’t feel motivated or are short on time, you can start with movement as simple as a walk around your neighborhood or stretching for five minutes before bedtime.

When you’re able to carve out some time, try a yoga class. Many classes are now being offered virtually so you can practice in the comfort and convenience of your home. Rolling essential oils on your temples or wrists can be a good way to promote focus or relaxation during your yoga practice.

If you’re not a fan of yoga, try going out for a bicycle ride to enjoy the change of scenery outdoors. Or, blast your favorite tunes at home and have a spontaneous dance party. These are great stress-relieving activities, and you’ll find that when you move your body you will also gain energy.

4. Savor your favorite foods

If you live a fast-paced lifestyle, cooking or eating may be the last thing on your mind. You might find yourself eating lunch at your work desk or eating dinner in front of the TV with your phone in hand. These distractions deprive you of enjoyment you should be experiencing every day.

When it comes to the mechanics of eating, the tongue can detect only so many flavors. The true complex flavors from food also come from its aromas, which is absorbed most strongly through the throat rather than the nose. As the food’s aroma travels from the back of the mouth up into the nasal cavity, you obtain the full flavors of your food. By eating too quickly, there isn’t time for the food’s aroma to travel and you end up missing out on the complete culinary experience. This doesn’t mean that meal time needs to stretch into hours either — by simply taking a couple of more chews each bite and focusing on eating, you can elevate this everyday experience.

During your next meal, put aside distractions and savor each bite, focusing on the flavors and textures of your food. If you have time, try cooking a healthy, balanced meal for yourself. Creating meals in the kitchen is a great form of self-expression that can aid in reducing stress. While you’re at it, try experimenting with a hemp recipe that uses CBD oil for added wellness benefits.

5. Begin a journaling routine

If you’ve been having trouble quieting your mind, you may benefit from a journaling practice. Many people like to journal as a part of their morning or evening routine. If you choose to journal in the morning, it can help keep your thoughts clear for the day. When you write all of your feelings and concerns out on the page, it can be easier to tackle the day’s responsibilities ahead of you. Alternatively, if you choose to journal at night before bed, it can help you wind down. This can be beneficial if you have trouble falling asleep.

Studies have shown that journaling can aid in mitigating mental distress and increase your overall well-being. It has also been found that simply writing about stressful or emotional events can help improve your physical and psychological health, and that it can be utilized as a therapeutic tool.

Get More Wellness Tips

At Nature’s Script™, it’s our mission to empower you with everything you need to live a happier, healthier lifestyle. Browse our blog for more helpful wellness tips, and shop our full selection of premium CBD products that can be seamlessly added to your everyday routine. When it comes to premium CBD topicals that can support your health and wellness, we are dedicated to providing a safe and high-quality selection.

How to Travel with CBD

How to Travel With CBD Legally, Safely & Conveniently

How to Travel with CBD

Traveling can be a fun and exciting adventure, but the planning beforehand? Not so much. For the health-conscious, traveling while maintaining healthy habits can sometimes be tricky. The disruption to your everyday schedule and the limiting capacity of your luggage are just some of the challenges traveling presents. If you use CBD to supplement your wellness routine, you may be faced with questions about how to travel with these products. Here, we cover everything you need to know about how to safely travel with CBD.

Is CBD Legal in All 50 States?

Federally, CBD products are legal as long as they are sourced from Industrial Hemp that is farmed by licensed growers and contain no more than 0.3 percent THC. When the 2018 Farm Bill was passed, the cultivation of Industrial Hemp was legalized and the FDA gained authority over Hemp-derived CBD products. However, there aren’t definitive policies in place at the federal level, so most of the responsibility is on state governments to determine how to regulate CBD products.

Even though Hemp-derived products are federally legal, not all CBD products are viewed the same among all 50 states. Each state’s laws vary depending on factors such as sourcing, labeling and the product’s contents. If you are planning to travel out of state and want to bring your CBD products with you, check that state’s CBD legislation. And at the very least, it’s important to understand where your CBD is coming from and if it meets federal legal standards.

Can You Carry CBD With You On a Plane?

According to TSA policies, it is legal to bring “products that contain no more than 0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis or that are approved by the FDA.” Generally, as long as your CBD products are legally sourced and meet THC level standards, you should be fine.

It is important to remember that while TSA officers do not directly search for hemp or cannabis products, they are required to report any suspected violations to a law enforcement officer if they come across a substance that appears to be cannabis-infused. Depending on the state’s view on CBD, this could potentially create a hold-up at the airport.

In the end, the final decision on whether or not your CBD products are allowed through the security checkpoint rests with the TSA officer. This is why it’s a good idea to know ahead of time what the laws are surrounding cannabis and hemp in the place you’re traveling to.

Is CBD Safe to Keep in Your Car?

If you’re road-tripping or traveling by car, you might have questions about how to properly store your CBD. It’s recommended to keep CBD products like oils and gummies away from excessive light and heat to maintain their potency and freshness. That being said, leaving your CBD in the car for long periods of time is not a good idea, as unattended cars can heat up quickly in the sun and spoil your products.

If possible, you should store CBD products in a cooler when traveling by car. If that’s not an option, keep your CBD tucked away in a dark place, like a backpack or glove compartment. Keeping CBD in your climate-controlled car while driving should be fine, but if you are parked and out of the car for several hours, it’s best to bring your CBD with you.

Best Types of CBD Products to Travel With

There are many different CBD products available, from edibles to oil tinctures. Each has different considerations for traveling.

Edibles

If you choose to bring CBD products with you on an airplane, CBD gummies and capsules are the easiest to pack in your luggage since they are non-liquids. Edibles like these are also good options if you’re traveling by car because of how easy they are to ingest on the go. You won’t have to worry about your CBD accidentally spilling or leaking as it rustles around in your bags.

Oils

If you prefer more flexibility in the amount of CBD you take and how you administer it, then CBD oil tincture is a compact and easy product to take with you on road trips or car rides. For flights, TSA rules state that liquids must be 3.4 ounces or under, so as long as your CBD oil products are the proper size and stored correctly, you can fly with them. (Nature’s Script CBD oil bottles are 1 ounce and safe to fly with.)

Tips to Keep a Consistent Wellness Routine While Traveling

Once you’ve figured out the logistics of how you’re traveling with CBD, you’re left with figuring out how to actually keep up with your wellness routine on the go. Traveling should be fun, and you shouldn’t have to worry about getting out of shape, catching a cold or letting stress overwhelm you. Try keeping these tips in mind while traveling to maintain your wellness routine.

1. Take supplements

Depending on your specific needs, you might want to supplement your meals with Vitamin C for an immune system boost, probiotics for gut health, or CBD gummies to promote relaxation.

2. Stay hydrated

It can be easy to forget about your water intake when you’re having so much fun traveling, but staying properly hydrated is essential for many health reasons. If you have trouble drinking enough water because of the taste (or lack thereof), you may want to toss in a few pieces of fruit in a travel water infusion bottle. Or, you can opt for CBD oil-infused tea. With minimal, compact ingredients, it’s easy to bring along everything you need for a cozy cup of tea to stay hydrated while traveling.

3. Don’t neglect mental health

There’s a lot to see and do while traveling and while it’s fun, it can also be draining at times. Carving out a few minutes every day to practice mindfulness can help keep you clear-minded and positive. This can be a guided meditation, journaling about your trip or taking time to slow down and stretch.

4. Move your body

After sitting in a plane or car for hours, your legs will be itching to move. Try to walk whenever possible to keep active, get your blood flowing and help clear your mind. There’s a lot of great exploring that can be done on foot, rather than in a car or bus.

5. Get quality sleep

Even though you don’t want to miss out on anything while traveling, remember that quality sleep is important for immune system function and for your overall mood. If you have trouble falling asleep while traveling, you might want to create a mini-routine in the evenings to promote relaxation. You can try listening to a soothing sleep story before bed or taking CBD sleep gummies.

Get More CBD and Wellness Tips from Nature’s Script

At Nature’s Script™, we are dedicated to providing you with a safe, high-quality selection of CBD products that can be added seamlessly to your everyday routine, next vacation or business trip. You can shop our full selection of premium CBD products online, and learn more about how CBD can be incorporated into your wellness routine on our blog.