POPSUGAR UK

I'm a Fitness Editor and Weed Is an Essential Part of My Self-Care

20/04/2018 - 11:45 PM

When you picture a fitness editor, marijuana is probably the last thing you'd associate that role with. I always love hearing people's reactions when they find out I smoke weed every day, with my favourite being: "But you look so innocent!" And this is just one of many examples of the stigma surrounding cannabis use. The beautiful thing is that today, a "stoner" can be anybody, from a mother to a fitness editor. The reason I light up each night varies [1], but one thing is certain, and that's that cannabis is an essential part of my overall self-care.

One of the first things I do as soon as I get home is smoke a joint or use my vape. It allows me to immediately unwind after the workday and switch over to me mode. While I don't shut off completely, I've found it necessary to at least set boundaries for my work life and home life. Since I obviously only smoke outside of office hours, it's easier for me to make that mental shift to relaxation when I start smoking. Once I've settled in for the evening, my next favourite thing to do is to turn on some music and make dinner. Not only is this ritual amazingly relaxing, but it also sets the tone for the rest of my night. And if you've never been high, just know that weed makes everything better. It enhances all of your senses, from taste to touch (yes, high sex is pretty incredible [2]), and allows you to appreciate things on another level.

Cannabis is like my equivalent to a glass of wine (minus the hangover), but it's more than just about getting high. The great thing about it is that it can serve medicinal and recreational purposes, both of which I consider to be important contributors to good health. I'll smoke to relieve my stress on some days, while I'll make it into a social activity on others. Who's to say that sharing a joint with friends and laughing until we cry isn't a form of self-care? My mood certainly improves, and I stay in good spirits long after, proving that recreational use shouldn't be less acceptable than medicinal as long as the person is using responsibly. But the medicinal benefits of cannabis shouldn't be ignored either.

Cannabis can be an incredible wellness tool [4] that may relieve someone who suffers from chronic pain or help an 8-month-old girl [5] manage her brain tumor. While the extent of my own medicinal use only goes as far as stress, I have a number of friends who use CBD to ease their anxiety. On a self-care level, I love soaking in my tub with a CBD bath bomb [6], smoking a joint while watching a movie with my boyfriend, or eating a low-dose edible before a scenic hike. Regardless of the activity or the method of consumption, the end result is always that I'm calmer, more relaxed, and more present.

Over the course of five or six years since I've started smoking weed regularly, I've figured out how to incorporate marijuana into my lifestyle in a way that enhances it. Sure, there are weekends when I intentionally glue myself to the couch and binge-watch series after series, but for the most part, I'm quite productive in an elevated state of mind. I'm lucky to live in California, a legalized state [7], and especially in San Francisco, where weed is probably the most welcome. It's better for my body than alcohol [8], and it helps me enjoy life a little more — so yes, I'm a fitness editor who smokes weed every day, and I don't care what you think.


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/Cannabis-Self-Care-44765614