How to Plan & Execute a Successful Cannabis Break is a continuation of Why Take a Cannabis Break

It's best to read Why Take a Cannabis Break first https://steemit.com/life/@triplonger/why-take-a-cannabis-break)

This article is not intended to be used as medical advice! For those using marijuana as a medical treatment, seek the help and opinion of a trusted medical professional

Define your Why

Whether you are taking a break for your health, tolerance, work, money, discipline, etc, clearly defining your why is a good place to start. It tends to ground you in “Why the fuck am I doing this?” when times get tough, which they probably will, at least once or twice.

Choose a Length of Time

Decide how long to take a break for. I find a clearly defined goal leads to much more success than going in all willy nilly. Perhaps you’re nervous and want to start small or maybe you like to go big?

Whatever you do, do it for you.

Banish the Temptation

For me, getting rid of any cannabis, cannabis products and smoking accessories in the vicinity is a wise move. Out of sight, out of mind. For others the opposite is true and knowing there is no cannabis within reach sends them into an anxious spiral.

Decide which is a better approach for you and apply it.

Switch to Natural Remedies

Some people use cannabis to regulate inflammation, appetite, sleep, anxiety, depression, nausea, and so much more. It really is a healing herb.

Consider switching to natural remedies to mitigate your symptoms during your cannabis tolerance break, turmeric for inflammation, ginger root for appetite, valerian root or magnesium for sleep.

Curb Companion Habits

My first cannabis break was during my first ever alcohol-free Sober October, since (at the time) alcohol and cannabis went hand in hand for me, I found it easier to drop them both at the same time.

Perhaps your cannabis consumption has a companion habit? If you think it will help and not hinder, try breaking from both.

Seek Support

It can be helpful to have a supportive friend or companion who can cheer you on when times get tough. Better yet, maybe you can find a cannabis consuming pal who might be interested in joining in on the fun (but not because you told them to).

Stay Busy (but not too busy)

Depending on how often you consume cannabis, you’ll potentially have some extra time on your hands. Use the opportunity to take up a new hobby or progress at one you already love. I like to go for trail runs, bike rides, hikes or coffee dates with friends.

For me, engaging in activities I usually infuse with cannabis is a fun way to see how I feel about that activity without cannabis, but some people may find it triggering. Listen to yourself.

I tend to steer clear of activities that I know will lead to avoidable negative emotions, like eating lots of sugar or junk food, watching sad movies, scrolling Facebook or binge drinking alcohol.

Challenges of Cannabreaks

Taking a break from cannabis affects each individual differently. Some people notice very few detox symptoms while others are profoundly affected. Generally speaking, people tend to notice a shift in their appetite, trouble falling asleep, light headaches, irritability, boredom and anxiety.

Speaking from experience, the second day of my cannabreak is usually the hardest. The novelty from day one has worn off and since cannabis is a great sleep aid for me, I usually struggle to fall asleep as quickly as I’m used to.

To counter the insomnia, I ramp up my physical activity output during the day, take some magnesium in the evening and try to steer clear of any screen time for 60 - 90 minutes before bed. I generally toss and turn until I finally drift off.

This tends to lead to some irritability the following day, so I plan a relaxing and detoxifying afternoon for myself, usually away from other humans. I like to go for a lengthy sauna session, a mellow hot yoga class or a 60-minute float in a sensory deprivation tank.

If you’re into lucid dreaming, you’ll be stoked, because abstaining from cannabis can often bring about wild and vivid dreams. This is because cannabis encourages the body to spend more time in deep sleep or slow wave sleep (SWS) states rather than REM sleep states, the time in which we do our dreaming. Thus, no cannabis equals more dreaming.

I tend to have vivid, unpleasant dreams for the first two or three nights which can often lead to waking up in an equally unpleasant mood. I try to counter waking up on the wrong side of the bed with a short morning meditation and a mindfulness practice of journaling a list of things I’m grateful for (a la the 5 Minute Journal).

Like anything worth doing in life, there will always be highs and lows, it’s just the nature of the beast. You have the power to control your attitude towards the obstacles and work to overcome them. The obstacle is the way.

Conclusion

Overall, I find the good outweighs the bad and I can come back to my conscious cannabis consumption with a renewed lease on life, a better balance with the healing plant and elevated experiences as a result.

Stay Rad,

Ali B