Health & Wellness

New Years Resolutions: Using Cannabis For Accountability

By Taylor Engle

A new year is upon us, and people are taking the opportunity to set goals for 2022. Whether that looks like exercising more, going to bed earlier, or eating healthier, most resolutions can be supported and realized with the aid of cannabis. 

Cannabis has been utilized throughout the centuries to tackle a wide variety of challenges: like chronic pain, depression, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, nausea, lack of focus, and much more.

In other words, it’s safe to assume that there is a cannabis regimen out there that can help you tackle your New Year’s resolution with gusto.

The Bluntness has rounded up eight of the most common New Year’s resolutions that people usually make to break – but this year, it’s time to actually stay accountable and conquer something new with cannabis’s humble help.

Using Cannabis to Keep Your New Year’s Resolution

While every day is a new day and it’s never the wrong time to move forward on much-needed change in life, January 1st is universally recognized as the day to start doing things differently.

After all, it’s metaphorical and cathartic. Out with the old year, in with the new you.

However nice this sounds on paper, it’s very rarely executed past the month of February – or the 17th day of the year, if we’re really being honest. 

Despite the almost-guaranteed resolution failure, people continue to set new goals at each year’s end, staying optimistic about what their future selves will accomplish. But what if we told you cannabis might be able to help increase the odds of you staying accountable?

From incorporating daily runs into your routine to calling friends and loved ones more often, these are eight of the most commonly-chosen New Year’s resolutions throughout the world – and the best way you can utilize cannabis to accomplish everything you want to, and more:

1. So you want to lose weight.

Of all the stereotypical New Year’s resolutions, losing weight is easily the first one that comes to mind. Luckily, cannabis can come in handy if you make sure to utilize it correctly.

We know what you’re thinking: doesn’t weed give you the munchies? And while some strains like White Yoda or anything from the Kush/OG families are known for making consumers unusually peckish, there are just as many strains with the opposite effect.

It’s all in the details: while THC is recognized for increasing appetite, CBD is known for quelling it. That being said, if you stick to CBD-heavy strains like AC/DC or Harlequin, you’ll receive those appetite-suppressing effects needed to cut down a few calories. 

Another health-conscious option is to eat only healthy foods before or after cannabis. Your endocannabinoid system will thank you!

You might also consider THCV-rich cannabis for weight loss, if you can find the products.

2. So you want to exercise more.

This can go hand in hand with losing weight depending on your desired results, but another popular New Year’s resolution is upping the exercise for the year. 

And whether that means taking your workout routine from four days a week to five or starting from scratch altogether, cannabis might be able to help you stay on track.

Increased exercise typically comes with soreness – especially if you’re doing something a lot more strenuous that you’re used to. Because of this, many consumers rely on cannabis-infused topicals or tinctures to soothe some of that pain.

Cannabis has long been recognized for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory properties, which can help speed up your recovery process between workouts and get you back on your feet that much quicker.

Additionally, a cannabis-induced altered state can also increase awareness of your body before, during, or after exercise.

3. So you want to learn something new.

From picking up a guitar to learning how to bake from scratch, you’re never too old to learn something new, and January 1 is a great day to start.

While the old “stoner” stereotype casts the average cannabis consumer on the couch with a bag of chips, this isn’t universally true. In fact, cannabis can actually be highly beneficial for productivity, creativity, and focus, as long as you make sure you’re using the right product, dosages, as well as set and setting.

Heavy indicas are more likely to render you couch-locked for the day, but if you’re looking for a boost of inspiration, strains like Blue Cheese, Haze, Strawberry Cough, or Sour Diesel are known for their uplifting, cerebral, energetic effects.

4. So you want to get to bed at a decent(er) hour.

Getting enough sleep each night is crucial to daily success, and increasing those z’s might be your goal for 2022. If so, here’s how cannabis can help.

Indica-dominant strains are more likely to have sedating effects, but a few of the most universally-recognized strains for getting a better night’s sleep are Georgia Pie, Platinum OG, LSD, or Northern Lights.

5. So you want to get organized.

A huge setback for most people throughout the world? Lack of organization. Adding a little order to your daily routine really helps keep things streamlined and moving along, and adding a little cannabis to the mix may increase those odds.

While some cannabis strains allow you to drift off into lala land, others promote razor-sharp focus that makes planning a breeze. If you’re trying to stay more organized, opt for creativity-boosting, clear-headed strains like Gelatti, Gary Payton, Jack Herer, or, ironically, Space Queen.

6. So you want to quit smoking...cigarettes.

Well, this is a time-old tale with a quick fix: swap the cigs for cannabis! 

Trying to quit smoking in general? Thankfully, there are an endless number of ways to consume cannabis, and smoking is only one of them. Opt for gummies, infused drinks, tinctures, transdermal patches...the options are limitless, and your lungs will remain untouched.

Also, research continues to show how CBD could help with nicotine withdrawal.

7. So you want to travel more.

Saying “I want to travel more” and actually doing it are two very different things, but one way to ensure you take yourself up on your own offer is to map out a few concrete travel plans for the year.

Another way to up the ante and get yourself to actually take those trips? Select places where cannabis is legal – that way, you’ll have that much more incentive to actually go. Bonus points if you pick destinations with cannabis tourism, like California, Colorado, or Washington. 

Before you pack, be sure to check out our guide on How to Travel with Cannabis.

8. So you want to spend more time with loved ones.

The past year and a half has taught us all a lot about the importance of relationships, and your goal for 2022 might be to foster yours more than ever before. Cannabis has long been a joining force for people around the world, and incorporating the plant into your quality time spent can enhance it that much more.

Consuming cannabis with loved ones allows you to go deeper, get to know each other on another level, and perhaps bond in a really unique way. Whether it’s bringing cannabis into the bedroom, playing silly weed games, or even cooking together, the possibilities are great.

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