By Janelle Lassalle @jenkhari
As a Creative Person, I do lots of different things and wear many hats. This includes, but is not limited to, roles as a writer, painter, illustrator, model and chef.
I often take on these roles simultaneously–or rather, take on as much work as I can, as I’m sure many of you can relate to. And in doing so I would always inevitably be held back by that great, big meanie we call burnout.
My career (careers??), however, massively improved once I was introduced to a powerful plant ally: Cannabidiol (CBD).
I’ve spent nearly five years learning how to utilize CBD in every way imaginable. Here are my top tips on how creatives can use Cannabidiol (CBD) to enhance their practice, whatever it may be.
Ease those poor, aching joints
I recently completed my second book. It was nearly 400 pages long, and had taken me less than two weeks to write.
I wrote so much I basically broke my hand. It began to radiate pain on a daily basis, preventing me from getting my work done.
Few things, if any, alleviated its daily throbbing–until I introduced CBD to the scene, that is.
What inspired me to do that? CBD is a promising treatment for arthritis and joint pain.
I began using a CBD topical on the area. A CBD topical is a type of CBD product like a lotion or salve designed to be applied to skin.
This CBD topical wasn’t just any topical, however. Containing 1,000 mg of CBD per 3.4 oz, NextEvo’s CBD Body Recovery Cream is one of the most potent topical CBD products I’ve encountered to date.
The brand attributes this product’s potency to their proprietary Smartsorb™ technology that amplifies CBD’s bioavailability, thus enhancing its overall effect.
My aches and pains would quietly fade into the background a few minutes after applying the lotion each evening.
Writers aren’t the only artists that benefit from using CBD topicals on achy spots like wrists. Many musicians I know also complain of carpal tunnel-like symptoms in their wrists and hands, especially after playing long shows.
“I often experience hand cramps and aches after drawing, and have been increasingly concerned about long term damage,” says Scott Brazee, a musician and illustrator based in Los Angeles, CA.
That began to change once Scott was introduced to CBD topicals.
“NextEvo’s CBD Recovery Cream is both incredibly soothing and relieving,” Brazee says. “It gave the feeling I was giving back to the health of my hands after relying on them all day for work.”
All sorts of creatives know how debilitating joint pain can be. Many athletes and cooks, too, frequently experience joint pain and can stand to benefit from using CBD topicals.
Calm Your Mind & Focus
Whether I’m writing or painting, one of the most daunting sights is that of a blank page or canvas.
Many artists I’ve spoken to have felt this way; felt as though the most challenging part of getting started in art is overcoming your own negative thoughts and emotions.
“I use CBD on a daily basis; it helps me feel less anxious which allows me to feel more open to doing art,” says Madeline Music, a Portland based painter.
I know I feel this, too; know that my anxiety often keeps me from creating, which is why I do everything I can to combat any self-defeating, anxious thoughts.
CBD has potent anti-anxiety effects, which is why I like to use it as a pre-work ritual to help me calm my mind, center myself and focus.
I often find myself smoking a terpene rich hemp blend for this purpose (East Fork Cultivars is my favorite hemp flower). If I don’t have the luxury of being at home, however, I like to keep CBD in my purse at all times in case I need a pick me up before a work meeting. One of my favorite CBD forms is Caliper, a flavorless CBD powder that I can add to virtually anything.
Get Some ZZZzzz’s
The hyperbolic image of a frenzied artist chugging cup of coffee after cup isn’t all that far off from the truth (okay, for me at least).
You don’t have to be a coffee addict to be missing out on shuteye, although many artists I know are all too guilty of it.
Remember those racing thoughts I mentioned earlier? This is another fun time where those show up for us creative folk as we toss and turn, fretting over every creative decision or blunder we’ve ever made.
“Like many creatives I have a hard time letting my mind quiet down at the end of the day when it’s time to sleep,” Brazee shares.
You know what’s one of the best things for creativity? Sleep, you little rascal. That’s right: science tells us, in all caps, that neurocognitive ability (your brain’s ability to work and produce things) is drastically influenced by sleep.
Research shows that CBD boasts a number of other therapeutic properties in addition to its robust anti-anxiety effects. It may also be able to help you improve your sleep health.
A 2019 study of 72 adults published in The Permanente Journal found that 79.2% of all patients at the first monthly assessment following CBD treatment experienced an improvement in anxiety and sleep.
“Unlike other medications that typically knock me out and leave me feeling groggy in the morning, I found using CBD as a sleep aid helped my mind and body slowly transition into a natural feeling and restful sleep,” Brazee confides.
You can find a lot of exciting CBD products geared towards helping you get better sleep on the market today. A couple of my favorites include:
- NextEvo Sleep Support CBD gummies: High CBD bioavailability plus melatonin? Sign me up.
- Peak Extracts + East Fork Cultivars Full Spectrum Pineapple Kush Hemp Chocolate Bar: Peak Extracts produces some of the most terpene-rich products around, and their chocolate is insanely tasty. The Pineapple Kush is stony, sweet and sleepy–a perfect nighttime treat.
- Papa & Barkley Sleep Releaf Tincture: This tincture combines CBD along with Cannabinol (CBN) and a little THC for maximum synergistic effect. It’s also full spectrum and solventless.
Feeling rested enough yet? Now go forth and make merry!
