Can Weed Help You Rest on Vacation? CBD, Sleep and 8 Tips to Recharge

Weed can help some people unwind on vacation, mostly by easing stress, anxiety and aches that get in the way of good sleep, but the evidence that CBD on its own fixes insomnia is still thin. Vacations are your chance to step away from the daily grind and recharge, and plenty of people reach for cannabis to help them get there.

With its reputation for helping you relax and de-stress, cannabis can be a great sidekick for a truly restorative break. Here's what the research says about how weed and CBD can help you rest on vacation, and how to make the most of the time off you've been waiting all year for.

How does weed affect your body and help you relax?

CBD's role in the body and its potential health benefits are still being studied. Scientists don't fully understand how it works yet, but it's thought to have anti-inflammatory and calming effects on the central nervous system, which could help with pain and anxiety.

Mitch Earleywine, a psychology professor at the State University of New York at Albany and a member of the advisory board of NORML (the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), notes that CBD has been shown to reduce inflammation and may help relieve pain.

Researchers have also found that CBD's calming effects on the nervous system can help with certain types of seizures, which led to the anti-seizure drug Epidiolex, the first CBD-based medication approved by the FDA.

Does CBD help you sleep? What the research says

That said, the scientific evidence on CBD for sleep disorders like insomnia is limited. Some studies suggest that CBD combined with THC may help with sleep problems such as insomnia and sleep apnea, but there are no large-scale clinical trials looking at CBD alone for sleep disorders.

Anastasia Suraev, a doctoral candidate at the University of Sydney, points out that no clinical studies have used CBD by itself to treat insomnia. Some studies have found CBD can cause sedation as a side effect, but those effects may be influenced by how CBD interacts with other medications.

Ryan Vandrey, a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, adds that while CBD itself may not be directly sedating, it may help sleep indirectly by easing pain and anxiety, two things that often get in the way of a good night's rest. So CBD may still play a useful role in supporting healthy, restful sleep.

How to actually rest on vacation: 8 tips

Getting the most out of your vacation starts with switching into relaxation mode. Health and wellness experts offer some solid advice to make sure your time off is a real chance to rest and recharge.

1. Rest with no schedule: When your vacation starts, give yourself a few days of real downtime, with no alarms and no set schedule. Let your mind and body reset to their natural rhythm.
2. Plan activities loosely: After those first lazy days, plan things you're into, but don't box yourself in with a strict schedule. Make time for things that get both your body and mind going, like group games, reading, exercise and creative projects.
3. Make sleep a priority: Getting better and more sleep is key to recharging on vacation. Get moving in the morning, skip the booze and heavy meals at night, and cut back on screens before bed.
4. Pick things you actually enjoy: Instead of packing your days with obligations, look for activities that genuinely make you happy and help you relax. Make time for music, reading, getting out in nature and whatever hobbies light you up.
5. Log off social media: It's tempting to stay plugged in 24/7, but try to cut back on social media while you're away. Set specific times to check your accounts and focus on being present.
6. Don't overdo it: On vacation it's easy to go overboard on food and drinks. Try to keep a healthy balance and enjoy everything in moderation.
7. Learn some relaxation techniques: Use the downtime to pick up breathing exercises and mindfulness practices you can keep using once you're back to everyday life.
8. Plan future projects: Take some time to think about your goals and hobbies for the rest of the year. Find projects that get you excited and that you can work on outside of work and family obligations.

Follow these tips and your vacation can be a truly recharging experience, sending you back to everyday life feeling refreshed and full of energy. A well-planned, balanced vacation is a big part of keeping a healthy balance in your life.