Mindfulness is a psychological process of instantaneous recognition of our thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations. To put it simply, mindfulness is the ability to stay present at the moment. This process can bring you different emotions from happiness to sadness. The more mindful you are the less you get distracted from the present moment.

At the same time, it is important to distinguish mindfulness from meditation. Unlike meditation, mindfulness is not a concentrated focus on the present. It is a way of living when we are able to stay aware of the present most of the time.

We can train mindfulness through meditation, thinking, listening, yoga, and mindful walking. Mindfulness doesn’t spare us from facing stress. However, it helps us to stay aware of more ways to deal with problems in life. Surely, mindfulness doesn’t mean that we never get anxious, but it allows us to be more aware of what is going on and how to react properly to a critical situation.

Why Are Mindfulness Practices So Popular?

Mindfulness studies grow day by day. It is a useful skill to control our emotions, thoughts, and relationships. Here is a number of reasons why mindfulness practices are worth trying:

• Mindfulness helps us deal with stress and stressful situations better. It is capable of preventing chronic and acute stress and calming our brain.
• Mindfulness enhances our mental focus. In fact, “multitasking” makes our concentration levels run low. At the same time, even ten minutes of everyday meditation will make your concentration better, while watching your breathing makes you focus.
• Mindfulness improves our mental health. Cognitive treatment helps people overcome depression and anxiety when mixed with therapy.
• Mindfulness reduces bias. Mindfulness meditations prevent us from being stuck in our emotions and help us to start seeing a bigger picture.
• Mindfulness enhances our compassion. A number of mindfulness meditations put us in a more altruistic mindset.

Ways of Practicing Mindfulness

It is possible to practice mindfulness in a number of ways:

• Mindful breathing

Breathing is a key part of mindfulness practice. Conscious breathing means that we take slower, deeper breaths and hold them for longer. Mindful breathing can be done anywhere, including work, with eyes staying open or closed. It is recommended to practise mindful breathing for 2-3 minutes three times a day.

• Mindful listening

Mindful listening is a technique that allows us to look at the situations from the perspectives of other people. It helps us stay present in the moments when we receive new information by listening to others.

• Mindful walking

Unlike normal walking, mindful walking requires more effort. It allows us to pay more attention to things we would typically have missed, immerse deeper in our surroundings, and stay present at the moment. Mindful walking is recommended for those who need a rest from work or home duties.

• Mindful working

The practice of mindful working helps us to stay concentrated on breathing and body while sitting down at work desks, especially in front of the computer. In fact, self-conscious mindful minutes reload brains and increase work productivity.

Apart from the above-mentioned mindfulness practices, there are other things worth trying in order to decrease the stress level. For example, you might visualize your upcoming day for a couple of minutes before getting out of bed. Tell yourself that each new day is going to be great and productive. You can also add a CBD product of your choice to your daily ratio, either CBD capsules or CBD chocolate for additional relaxation. By repeating this morning routine every day, you create a positive mindfulness experience.

Reasons to Use CBD for Mindfulness Practices

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant, popular in the wellness industry for its numerous medicinal properties. However, people frequently confuse CBD with THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive compound found in marijuana or “weed”. While THC instigates high behaviour, CBD helps to relax and release stress.

Though both marijuana and hemp belong to the Cannabaceae family, only “weed” contains high levels of THC. On the contrary, organic hemp possesses high levels of CBD and low levels of THC.

Recently, CBD has become the darling of people wishing to expand their mindfulness practices. Cannabidiol is not an intoxicant, but a natural plant-based supplement. In fact, CBD is as intoxicating as a cup of herbal tea.

One of the most challenging things in mindfulness meditation is the ability to stay focused. CBD consumption can easily fix this problem. Several types of research have shown that cannabidiol prevents our brain from overactivity and increases alertness. CBD allows us to have more control over a range of creeping thoughts, and, consequently, helps to get rid of unwanted ones. In this way, CBD also helps us deal with anxiety. Obviously, when we are able to control an endless stream of thoughts, coping with anxiety becomes easier.

If you combine your mindfulness practices with yoga, sometimes it is possible to experience pain when stretching, especially for beginners. CBD-infused creams, gels or even simple teas are renowned for their anti-inflammatory properties. They can also be useful for pain relief.

How does CBD work for Mindfulness?

The human body has two cannabinoid receptors named CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are predominantly located in the central nervous system. They influence coordination, emotions, and mood. CB2 receptors are mostly detected in the peripheral nervous system. They affect inflammation and pain.

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) binds to CB1 receptors and thus instigates “high” behaviour. On the contrary, CBD doesn’t attach directly to any of the receptors. Instead, CBD stimulates CB1 and CB2 receptors indirectly. Consequently, both of the receptors produce mild non-psychoactive responses, such as pain relief and sleep improvement.

Apart from that, CBD mildly stimulates TRPV1 receptors that affect body temperature, inflammation, and pain perception. In addition, CBD boosts the presence of anandamide, or the so-called “bliss molecule”. This molecule is known to increase the neural generation of pleasure and motivation.

Can CBD Treat Anxiety and Depression?

Unfortunately, there is still no sufficient scientific evidence of successful anxiety and depression treatment with the help of CBD. However, the reports from 2014 have shown that CBD could be used as a supplementary treatment against depression. In particular, cannabidiol appears to have a positive interaction with serotonin receptors in the brain. Serotonin affects personal emotional states such as happiness and well-being among other impacts.

It is thought that CBD acts similar to serotonin reuptake inhibitors — anxiety and depression medications. CBD targets a 5-HT1A serotonin receptor which increases the serotonin availability in the brain. Maintaining serotonin levels remains one of the most significant therapy functions for people suffering from depression. You can experience improvement in mood, and no longer feel anxious.

In fact, CBD may be considered as a healthier alternative to traditional antidepressants for the following reasons:

• CBD is natural and doesn’t do any harm even in substantial amounts (up to 1500mg);
• It is close to impossible to get addicted to CBD, while drugs like Xanax can develop a strong addiction;
• One doesn’t require a prescription to buy CBD.

What’s the Best Dosage of CBD?

The 2017 World Health Organization report confirms that humans and animals tolerate CBD extracts from hemp well. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also suggest that adults can harmlessly absorb up to 1500 mg of CBD by mouth daily during a monthly period.

At the same time, clinical research on how CBD influences the human body continues. At present, scientists focus extensively on CBD’s possible effect on digestion and hormones. The potential risks are also studied, and there are no precise results yet. Therefore, it is not recommended to exceed the daily norm of 30-100mg of CBD, especially for new users.

The majority of CBD consumers prefer taking CBD orally, using a range of capsules, oils, and tinctures. Cannabidiol is most effective when used regularly, however, dosing is an individual process. It is recommended to start with a low dose in order to make sure that no side effects appear. Still, there are certain tricks that can help to increase the CBD amount in your body.

• When taking an oral CBD formulation, try to hold it under your tongue or swish it around your mouth before swallowing.
• Experiment with diverse inhalation methods before increasing the CBD vape dose.

To summarize, mindfulness is the state of awareness when our body, mind, and senses remain in harmony with each other. We train it in different ways. Obviously, when we combine CBD with other mindfulness practices such as yoga or meditation, it facilitates a clear mind. Eventually, you may find out that suddenly you have more time on activities that you couldn’t make before. In addition, CBD can help you overcome stress resulting from fast-paced life because your mind would not feel that chaotic.

Therefore, including CBD into your mindfulness practices often gives you a higher effect of awareness. Together, CBD and mindfulness practices relieve pain, anxiety, and other conditions. So, try CBD for mindfulness, and see the effects for yourself.