Marijuana Pop Tarts For The Perfect Weekend Wake And Bake

Anthony Washington

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August 22, 2024

Marijuana Pop Tarts For The Perfect Weekend Wake And Bake

Treat yourself to a nostalgic breakfast favorite with a little something extra!

Breakfast has changed significantly in the past 30 years. The classics cereals have somewhat fallen out of flavor and smoothies, protein bombs, and Starbuck sugary drinks have taken over. Whether on the go or a lazy morning lounging in bed, the stomach needs something. For a special mornings, try these marijuana Pop Tarts for the perfect weekend wake and bake.

While there are recipes for cannabis smoothies and others…why not really treat yourself with a childhood favorite? Additionally, depending the strain, marijuana has the benefit either chilling or energizing, so it can fit the mood of the day. These treats have a smear of cannabutter included inside of each and every pastry, topped with a favorite filling. Dressed up with icing and sprinkles, these potent pastries are bound to make you feel all warm and fuzzy, and not just because of the nostalgia factor.

This recipe is dosed with 1 teaspoon of cannabutter per serving. The strength of the pop tart multiple things, including the type of marijuana used and how cannabutter is made. For more tips on proper dosage, here are 5 ways to figure out your cannabutter’s potency.

Cannabis Pop Tarts

Makes 4 (recipe can be doubled)

For the pastries:

1 portion unbaked pie dough (the same amount you’d use for a single-crust pie)
4 tsp cannabutter (I like to use either a standard cannabutter or a vegan coconut oil cannabutter)
4 heaping tsp filling of your choice (chocolate chips, thick caramel or chocolate topping, jam, etc.)

Egg wash: 1 egg, lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water

To top:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 Tbsp milk or cream
½ tsp vanilla extract
Pinch salt
Sprinkles, for garnish (I used a mix of green tinted edible glitter and rainbow nonpareil sprinkles)

1. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

2. Roll out the dough into a rectangle, approximately 8 inches by 12 inches. Cut the dough into 4×3-inch portions (basically, divide the dough into 8 equal-sized rectangles).

3. Place four of the rectangles on your baking sheet. Smear the center of each one with a teaspoon of cannabutter.

4. Directly on top of the cannabutter, spoon your desired filling, leaving blank space along the perimeter of each pastry. Avoid fillings that are too thin, or they may leak out of your pastries. I used fairly thick caramel sauce, which was probably about the thinnest consistency that would work for these pastries.

5. Brush the “naked” portions of the pastry with your egg wash.

6. Place the second batch of pastry rectangles on top of each topped pastry portion. Press down on the edges to ensure that the egg wash helps form a seal. Gently press the tines of a fork into the edges of each pastry to further ensure a seal. Poke the top of each one once or twice with the tines of a fork to let steam out. If desired, you can use the remaining egg wash to brush the tops of the pastries.

7. Bake for 7-9 minutes, or until golden. Remove, and let cool briefly on the sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

8. Make the icing. In a large bowl, use a fork or whisk to whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, milk or cream, vanilla, and salt. Mix until no lumps remain and it’s a thick but still pourable icing. Spoon some on top of each pastry; directly after icing, apply sprinkles (they will stick best while it’s still wet and slightly sticky). Let the icing set, and enjoy!

Store leftovers in a single layer, well wrapped, at room temperature, for up to 3 days.

The Best Marijuana Strains For Summer Concerts And Festivals

Anthony Washington

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August 21, 2024

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The Best Marijuana Strains For Summer Concerts And Festivals

Outdoor concenters and music festivals are great in the summer! Marijuana can make even more magical!

Summer is the time for outdoor music. Labor Day weekend will see Bumbershoot in Seattle, Caveman in Colorado, the Detroit Jazz and more. Being outside and soaking up the sun, tunes and vibes just feel right. And to enhance the experience, you can even take it to the next step. Here are the best marijuana strains for summer concerts and festivals.

Marijuana taps into our minds to positively influence how we perceive things, including music. Marijuana accesses a neurotransmitter system, the endocannabinoid system, which regulates appetite, pain, mood and memory. The way the plant activates this system explains a lot of the unique effects it has on music listening. Some of these influences, like changes in the endocannaboid system, may be imperceptible at the time, but can change the way we feel when we experience sounds.

Blue Dream

When you have a full day of bouncing between stages, this strain will let you lean into the music and still give you energy. A sativa dominant hybrid it will keep you active and ready to dance.

Pineapple Express

This pleasantly aromatic sativa is a cross of Trainwreck and Hawaiian. Whether listening to the gentle melodies of island music or getting your face melted at a metal show, Pineapple Express compliments the artistic tastes of most music connoisseurs.

Space Queen

Not only will famous sativa strains help you feel comfortable in the middle of a crowded auditorium, it’ll make you want to get up and dance.

Capitalizer

This sativa dominant hybrid was bred to grow to massive sizes under the sunshine in the Sierra foothills of central California. If you want to feel like a rock star, trying consuming this potent strain while being near the stage.

OG Platinum

As a highly-revered hybrid strain, OG Platinum has an award-winning nose and immediate high. Savoring it will have you playing air-guitar with the band in no time.

Silver Haze

As one of the most popular sativa-dominant hybrids on the market, Silver Haze balances a solid body buzz with cheerful mood. This is a perfect strain if you are going to a concert and you usually get uncomfortable in crowds.

Girl Scout Cookies

This Durban Poison x OG Kush is celebrated by pop-culture icons. Point being, if your favorite rappers use it—Girl Scout Cookies are a sure bet for a blow-out concert experience.

Super Lemon Haze

This sativa-dominant hybrid has a piney smell and looks like it’s been dipped in sugar. Making it perfect for outside event. Super Lemon Haze’s energetic buzz is sure to get the party started.

Rockstar

Rockstar is an indica dominant cross between Rockbud and Sensi Star. However, don’t let the label intimidate you—Rockstar will have you feeling stress-free at your favorite festival without the usual debilitating indica effects.

Jack Herer

This prominent sativa strain is named after one of the most renowned cannabis growers/activists to date. Even more, it’s great for getting the creative juices flowing, whether on the stage or in the crowd.

This Cannabis Mug Cake Is The Perfect End Of Summer Sweet

Anthony Washington

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August 15, 2024

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This Cannabis Mug Cake Is The Perfect End Of Summer Sweet

It is August and everyone wants to squeeze out the last of the summer fun – what about adding in this easy marijuana treat to the list of goodies to consume?

Swimming, fresh peaches, ripe tomatoes, bbqs, camping, beach trips – all things we are trying to pack into the reminder of the summer. This cannabis mug cake is the perfect end of summer sweet to add to your list of goodies. It is easier to make than a sheet cake and you are able to transport to share with a group of friend. Or you gobble it when you are either streaming or stargazing!

A microwave will cut your time and let you get back to enjoying summer. Approach this with a from scratch angle, or portion out boxed cake mix to suit your taste. Either method will gives something as cake-like as it is quick. And for extra fun, keep a jar of icing in the fridge to toss a dollop on top and really indulge!

Cannabis Yellow Mug Cake

Adapted from Betty Crocker box mix
Makes one mug, 10mg THC estimated

6 Tbs boxed yellow cake mix
1 tsp cannabutter*
2 Tbs softened unsalted butter
2 Tbs water
2 Tbs beaten egg
Frosting if desired

Take a microwave safe mug and grease well with either nonstick spray or butter. In a small bowl, mix wet ingredients and the softened butters until it makes a thick goop. Store the extra egg in a sealed container for breakfast or breading and make sure the cake mix is closed up tight until you use it again.

Add the cake mix and beat well for at least a minute to aerate the mixture. Go for longer if you can stand it, the more air in the batter the better it will rise and the more uniformly it will cook as the microwave heat fluffs it up.

Transfer into the mug and scrape the bowl with a spatula, you don’t want to waste the small amount of batter you have. Microwave for 1 minute, allow to stand in the microwave for 5 seconds after as it will be quite hot. Top with a scoop of frosting and you’re literally golden!

*Cannabutter

Decarboxylate 3.5g of finely ground cannabis at 225 degrees for 20 minutes in a tightly sealed, oven safe container. Put cannabis in lidded mason jar or vacuum sealed bag with cannabis and one stick of butter. Heat in water bath just under boiling for at least 1 hour. Strain and chill to use in recipes.

This little treat can be used during the week, at the beach, after a walk or even shared with a special person.

Vegas Cannabis Exhibit Lands Major Music Collaboration

Anthony Washington

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August 15, 2024

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Vegas Cannabis Exhibit Lands Major Music Collaboration

Music friendly Vegas just landed another win with a pairing of Music and Cannabis

Vegas is home to gambling, fine food, singing Elvises (thin and thick) and millions of tourists. It is also home to great music with Celine Dion, Drake, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Frank Sinatra and more gracing the city’s stages. Last year the buzz was about the MSG Sphere, but now a Vegas cannabis exhibit lands major music collaboration is the latest news. CANNABITION: An Elevated Immersive Experience is following the Sin City tradition of taking something fun and making even bigger.

CANNABITION is a 12,000 square-foot cannabis immersive experience developed to give an incredible experience. In the Planet 13 complex, visitors will have an incredible chance to delve and explore the marijuana world. And now, they have brought in cannabis’s natural partner – music. The experience announced a collaboration with renowned composer, music producer, record label owner Tom Rothrock. His work with iconic artists such as Beck, Elliott Smith, Moby, the Foo Fighters, James Blunt and more has had an impact on the industry and is now going to make a mark in Las Vegas.

His work on Beck’s breakthrough hit “Loser” and his contributions to the albums of multiple Grammy Award-winning artists have cemented his status as a visionary in the field. Rothrock has also contributed to film scores of “Good Will Hunting,” “Collateral” and “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.”

His vision for CANNABITION is to present a seamless integration of audio and visual elements. The visitor experience will be enhanced through music complementing the interactive, reality-bending exhibits designed by Emmy Award-winning creative director David Korins. The music will range from subtle, film score-like moments to more prominent, rhythmic-driven pieces across an eclectic variety of genres. The audio experience will touch on Latin and American Hip hop paying tribute to cannabis culture. Appealing to a variety of listeners, CANNABITION will also feature everything from ambient to EDM, indie, alternative rock, funk and more.

Individual exhibits will also feature their own distinct audio identity helping visitors interact with the visual art. As guests enter individual rooms, CANNABITION’s main score will begin to harmonize with new sounds unique to each installation. Moods in each exhibit space will subtly shift as the audio morphs to enhance the visuals.

“Tom Rothrock’s involvement elevates CANNABITION to new heights,” said Michael Stratton, general manager, CANNABITION. “His genius in music production will transport our visitors into an otherworldly experience, making this exhibition unlike anything Las Vegas has ever seen, heard or felt.”

From the early days of Vegas to today, music has played a part in Sin City’s success. Dion 2003-07 Las Vegas residency A New Day, remains the highest-grossing residency in the history of music, according to the Billboard Boxscore.

This California Town Still Thinks Cannabis Stinks

Anthony Washington

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August 14, 2024

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This California Town Still Thinks Cannabis Stinks

This tony California town still think legal cannabis stinks and is going to court to stop it.

In 2018, California was fully legal, but one posh town made a big stink about the odor of cannabis being grown nearby. The Fresh Toast covered it then, and it seems the fight continues on. Th small seaside town of Carpinteria is in Santa Barbara County in California. The pricey enclave of old town Carpinteria is the third most expensive neighborhood in the United States per square foot at $4,129 per square foot. With a population of 12,950 is it a a popular surf destination with a slogan of “World’s Safest Beach”. But this California town still thinks cannabis stinks. And some residents want to stop it.

Old Carpinteria is a town in a bigger country. The town has a city council, but the farms outside the city limits are rest in the country. A group of city residents filed a class-action lawsuit in September against two cannabis farms in the county they allege are destroying property values. Weed farming has become a massive industry in Santa Barbara. Last statistics show marijuana farms grown $260 million, the second largest crop only behind strawberries at $811 million. But other agriculture farms are unhappy and say they are harming thier crops of roses, avocados and more.

The terpenes in the plant provide the smell and some of the essential therapeutic benefits. Currently, most legal weed is grown in expansive greenhouses. The high cost of indoor grow has not only shown up at the shelves of dispensaries, but also in weak profits for growers. Being in a greenhouse produces year round crops, but can be a smaller footprint.

Santa Barbara Coalition for Responsible Cannabis coalition has spent over a million dollars fighting weed farms in the county. Two years ago, after much legal wrangling, they signed a peace treaty with a leading growers’ organization in the Carpinteria Valley. But they say they haven’t followed the deal which included installing the latest tech to “clean the smell”.

Residents want them to adopt state-of-the-art clean-air technology in their open-vented greenhouses. Carbon filters called “scrubbers” have been shown to be effective in preventing the smell of cannabis from wafting out of the roof vents and into neighborhoods. Only four of 20 active marijuana farms in the valley are fully equipped with them, county records show.

Santa Barbara County, which oversees regulation, has been very slow in addressing the issue via mandates. There are a variety of crops and they are concerned about more regulations on farming in general. Rather, than encourage both sides to be good neighbors. Five years into it, it seems patience and good neighbor spirit is wearing them.

Legal Marijuana Makes A Big Difference For Consumers

Terry Hacienda

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August 13, 2024

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Legal Marijuana Makes A Big Difference For Consumers

Most people follow the law without even thinking – which has been good for people and marijuana

Over 50% of the country has access to legal cannabis. Veterans, patients, and everyday people have access to a product which helps medical or provide for some fun. The mood and perception of the country has changed dramatically since legalization and now some 85+% of the country believe it should be legal in some form. It is no longer a taboo in most of the US and definitely not in Canada. And there is some interesting research about how people are reacting to legal weed.

Prohibition was a great experiment which not only annoyed the general population, but also taught people how to break the laws. The US, Canada, Finland and Iceland all made alcohol illegal and they had a portion of the population set aside the law and try to figure out how to get booze. The experiment ended, just as the marijuana prohibition will end at some point. And already you are seeing a BIG change of behavior with average consumers.

As legal dispensaries take root, the public seeings them as another legitimate retailers, except in New York where illicit stores have outnumber legal ones 10 to 1. NuggMD< According to according to a new poll conducted by the cannabis telehealth platform NuggMD, a cannabis Telehealth platform funded a study about purchasing habit. In legal market 77% of people buy all or most of their cannabis from regulated stores. And, important for law enforcement, only 6% said they get none of their marijuana from legal stores.

From a consumer standpoint, this is important because the product have gone through testing and are also legal and, most, have exactly what is on the the label. Wana Brands, one of the largest products companies held off entering the NYC market until they began correcting the mess. The public is more comfortable in a proper setting where there is little worry or surprise.

Another change due to legalization is with Boomers. The generation which first embraced marijuana has begun reconnecting. Having be frightened by the zealous War on Drugs, most moved away out of fear of breaking the law. But with the changes, they have started consuming again. And the surprise is Boomer are using it for health benefits. They state it is good for inflammation, chronic pain, difficulty sleeping and more.

And, as Gen Z has entered adult, they have been in an era where marijuana has been legal. They have also helped lead the trend of California Sober where people have quit alcohol and only use weed. Science has shown marijuana is a much better alternative them alcohol which can have some serious impact on the body.

Can Marijuana Help Boomers Extend Productivity

Terry Hacienda

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August 13, 2024

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Can Marijuana Help Boomers Extend Productivity

As North American adults are living longer, can marijuana help them be more productive?

Canadian are extended to live longer (52 more years) than Americans (49.3 more years). But both are an extension of life expectancy, allowing for a longer life and more years to have fun and be productive. While being productive could mean work, it also includes enjoying life, family and passions. Can marijuana help boomers extend productivity? With legalization inching across the country, more 65+ citizens are taking a second look at the plant and starting to use it for chronic pain, intimacy and sleep.

Both the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians agree cannabis has medical benefits. Not surprising since the majority of older cannabis consumers report using the plant for medicinal reasons rather than for recreational usage. Marijuana can help older people physically and mentally be more productive to enjoy well rounded later years.

new study confirms that seniors love to spread fake news — Photo by PICNIC_Fotografie via Pixabay

While Boomers still primarily use cannabis for a medical benefits, there are more who are slowly seeing it as an alternative to alcohol, which is more harmful. Medical marijuana’s anti-inflammation and ability to help with pain makes movement easier allowing for a more physical life. A good night’s sleep and helping with anxiety and depression are another to key factors to have a clear mind to make the most of the day ahead.

Millennials make up the most of the full-time workforce with 49.5 million workers followed by Gen X at 42.8 million, Baby Boomers and Gen Z are tied at a little over 17 million. But Boomers are seasoned workers and adding a few years can make a difference in a strong economy. And while many companies are dealing with transitions from changing technology and trends. They can be a key factor in the economy.

A large marjority of Boomers who consume cannabis believe it relieves pain and has medical benefits. Boomers also have a highly favorable opinion if it can help a sick loved one, with 97% supporting its use in such cases. So the generation who continued the drug wars are now seeing value and are using it to make the most of their senior years.

What is interesting, this generation entered adulthood when weed was the thing in the free love era, but we scared away by the Drug Wars. As they drift back to marijuana, they are staying true their roots. Boomers tend to purchase flower or bud and go the traditional routes of consumption by smoking or vaping.

Life Of Seniors — Photo by joyce huis via Unsplash

Can Marijuana Help Gen Z’s Fertility Concerns

Amy Hansen

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August 12, 2024

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Can Marijuana Help Gen Z’s Fertility Concerns

Gen Z has become worried about fertility – can marijuana help?

Each generation has a variety of concerns, but a big surprise is the amount of Gen Z’ers who are now worried about fertility. According to surveys, nearly half of Gen Z is worried about their fertility despite not currently trying to conceive. The Centers for Disease Control defines infertility as “not being able to get pregnant after one+ year of unprotected sex.” According to a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), “Around 17.5% of the adult population experience infertility.”

Previous generations worried about fertility when it came time to have children, Gen Z sees it part of their future path. They are fretting about becoming pregnant at 35 when they are 25. When deciding to have kids later, they want to know what to do now so they can have what they want then. Can marijuana help Gen Z’s fertility concerns?

Photo by Anastasiia Chepinska via Unsplash

With alcohol it is clear chronic alcohol exposure can cause problems with fertility in both men and women. For men, it can lead to damaged sperm and for women, it may affect the ability to conceive. While actively receiving medical treatments to get pregnant, alcohol can reduce a woman’s chance.

For women, frequent use of marijuana can cause issues which could tamp down fertility. Consuming as often as three times per week may have impacts says a report published in Fertility & Sterility Science. Evidence suggests marijuana can reduce female fertility by disrupting hypothalamic release of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), leading to reduced estrogen and progesterone production and anovulatory menstrual cycles. It can also delay or inhibit ovulation. For men, data showed current or past marijuana users had more damaged sperm, lower sperm counts and reduced semen volume.

But can worrying and the constant anxiety around it affect the outcome? While it’s unlikely stress alone cause infertility, stress interferes with a woman’s ability to get pregnant. Research has shown that women with a history of depression are twice as likely to experience infertility. Anxiety also can prolong the time needed to achieve pregnancy.

While more research needs to be done, managing stress may improve fertility.

Help For You To Keep Kids From Social Media Danger

Amy Hansen

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August 12, 2024

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Help For You To Keep Kids From Social Media Danger

The first part of the week can be a bit rough…but here are some tips to make it better.

Another generation is coming of age in a world of mobile phones and social media…the first who grew up learning “phone” like a language. And the language is something most parents do not understand or speak fluently. In a  New York Times opinion piece, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy  confirmed there is growing evidence showing a connection between social media use and teen and kids’ deteriorating mental health, so much so social media platforms should carry a mental health warning, similar to the health risk label on cigarettes. Today’s parents need support. Here is some help for your kids to keep them from social media dangers.

Teen mental health studies have shown extended time on social media platforms can lead to depression, anxiety, and a disconnect in when “feelings of self-worth are being formed between 10 years-old and 19 years-old”. What can a parent do to mitigate the damage and possible effects of social media on tween and teen brains? Here is help for you to keep your kids from social media danger.

Preeti Davidson of the Unloveables Podcast has teamed up with Curt Dalton to start Maya4Life, an extensive 8-to-12-week program that works with teens on self-confidence, self-esteem, and learning the different between external validation and internal validation. The program works one-on-one with teens to develop a new sense of self-worth not based on social media validation symbols like hearts, thumbs-ups, and likes.

“For parents that can’t stand their kid’s social media account, then Maya is for you” says Preeti Davidson. “So many parents don’t know what to do when their teen starts posting racy pictures or unhealthy pictures online in order to gain attention or external validation”.

Preeti Davidson graduated from Colombia University and has worked in the education field and recovery fields for over 20 years now. “One thing teens need is self-esteem and self-confidence so that they don’t become prone to the dopamine rush from seeing likes and hearts on their social media posts. With Maya4Life, teens develop their own “brand” that they want to be and present to the world going forward.”

“Rasing 3 teen boys and having edited over 7,000 cannabis-based articles in the past 8 years gives me a unique perspective on the social pressures today’s teens are facing with vaping, smoking, underage drinking, and advanced dating activity” says Curt Dalton, U Chicago graduate and director at Cannabis.net . “Talking to teens about their current world they live in right now and the social pressures they face, not our adult world and pressures we face, is a big paradigm shift. They face constant pressure to drink, smoke, vape nicotine, vape cannabis, and do things we may not have had access to 30 years ago” says Curt Dalton.”

Maya4Life covers parenting topics, too, like how to get your kids to clean up there room, what signs to look for around possible self-harm, and a what drug should parents of teens worry the most about right now. Maya also works with parents on role-modeling and how to set your child up for success in life even if there are issues to deal with like generational traumas or personal challenges at the parent or child level.

“Maya4Life gets teens to create the life they want and love in conjunction with their parents, not despite there parents” says Preeti. “Once you heal some of those wounds and have a loving relationship with your teen or tween, you feel so much joy and abundance being a parent again!”

For more information check out Maya4Life.com and their YouTube channel.

Best Ways To Make The First Part Of The Week Positive

Sarah Johns

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August 12, 2024

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Best Ways To Make The First Part Of The Week Positive

The first part of the week can be a bit rough…but here are some tips to make it better.

The first part of the is filled with work, to-do things and prepping for 5 days of jobs stuff. Going into the work week, some people experience sadness, anxiety, or lack of motivation which can be a routine, which is not healthy. While Boomers and Gen X were raised in a world with fewer life options and work was just a thing you had to do, younger Millennials and Gen Z’ers were given a somewhat different take. Gap Years, working abroad, flex schedules and work at home gave them an option to craft a work environment suited to their needs. But as that falls away, stress and anxiety have increased. Some 39% of Gen Z feel regular anxiety. And roughly half of Gen Zs (52%) and millennials (49%) feel burned out by their job. So what are the best ways to make the first part of the week positive?

Food

Weekends are made for fun, indulgences and treats. Each week decide Monday or Tuesday will be fun or favorite food night. It can be something easy like Sloppy Joes, a speciality salad, a great steak, but something to look forward to and enjoy. Also, make it something easy but transforms Tuesday into something special. Food also releases mood-boosting serotonin and dopamine, which can brighten the earlier part of the week. Food especially rich in those two include fish, grains, lean meats, olive oil and fruits and vegetables.

Swap beer for marijuana

All studies show marijuana is healthier for the body than beer. Fewer calories, less boating, no hangover. While California Sober has become a thing, more people are drinking less beer Monday-Wednesday and just having a couple of hits of a vape or a gummy. They get the chill without the extra weight or hangover. Canada did a study on the trend, but ultimately it helps you maintain energy for the rest of the week.

Plan something fun

Everyone looks forward to the weekend as a chance to relax and do fun things. Why not put Monday or Tuesday night as a special activity night. Anything from bing watch 3 favorite shows, trying a new video game, a long soak in the tub, or an early dinner with friend. Transform Monday or Tuesday into “Fun Day” by either planning or spontaneously doing something enjoyable for 1-3 hours?

Sleep

Think about reversing the weekend sleeping in to sleeping early. Think about listening to calming music, read a book and just soak up snuggling in the bed. Avoid your phone and just relax and allow your body to unwind for a solid night’s rest.

Hopefully these tips will transform the first part of the week into a self care enjoyable time…and give you the energy and a positive outlook for the rest of the week.

The Fresh ToastThe most trusted name in cannabis

Marijuana Pop Tarts For The Perfect Weekend Wake And Bake

Treat yourself to a nostalgic breakfast favorite with a little something extra!