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How To Stop Yourself From Impulse Buying During Lockdown

When people are stressed out they’re more likely to shop impulsively. Here’s how you can manage this urge.

With the coronavirus, even the most resilient and savings conscious person is struggling to keep their online shopping habits in check. Despite the fact that we’re all facing uncertainty in the workplace and in our lives, different industries have reported sharp increases in sales, ranging from clothing companies to home goods, kids toys and more.

According to a study, people tend to shop more when faced with times of crisis and stress. It’s a coping method that distracts us from our boredom, provides an easy way of making ourselves feel good and also gives us a semblance of control over our lives.

Here’s how you can curb your impulse buying:

Try to spend less time online

Marijuana Use Reaches All-Time High Under Coronavirus Pandemic
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The pandemic has influenced our already charged relationship with the internet. People who used to enforce parameters with their social media usage have understandably cut back on these boundaries. This is good, since social media provides a way of staying social, but spending all of this time online exposes you to more shopping options than ever, whether you’re scrolling through Instagram or Amazon.

Look for different ways of rewarding yourself

How To Stop Yourself From Impulse Buying
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Since quarantine started you might have completed several puzzles and baked a bunch of stuff that you’d normally never try. As time passes, these activities become less rewarding and it’s easier to turn to shopping as a way of activating your rewards system.

Try to find fulfillment in other activities aside from shopping, whether they’re organizing your bookshelf or closet, or simply sitting down to watch a TV series. Monitor your feelings and try to stay busy with other things that aren’t shopping or browsing online stores.

Ask yourself if you need or even want what you’re looking at

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One of the most helpful approaches you can take is asking yourself if what you’re considering buying is something you actually need or want. A lot of people buy stuff impulsively only to realize that they have no use for whatever it is they bought once the package arrives.

Think of the consequences of your actions. Aside from spending your money, you’re also using up someone else’s time and resources. Delivery services are one of the things that are keeping the country running, and we should all do our part to ensure that we’re being considerate to others.

Now Is The Time To Experiment With Marijuana And Mangoes

Mangoes and many marijuana strains contain a shared plant chemical that helps boost your cannabinoid absorption.

How do you make your marijuana supply last longer? A friend recently asked that question and I imagine it’s a question on multiple minds at the moment. Maybe your next cannabis delivery isn’t scheduled for another week, or maybe you can’t afford any purchases except what is necessary. Or maybe you want to increase your marijuana high without decreasing your provisions.

All constitute valid reasons to experiment with a food combination old-school hippies have known for decades: marijuana and mangoes. It may seem an oddly specific fruit pairing, but the biological makeup of the two fit like a glove. It all has to do with something called terpenes.

What are terpenes?

Terpenes can be found in tons of plant populations, including marijuana, and stipulate a plant’s aromatic qualities. Out in the wild, terpene produce aromas that either attract pollinators or dissuade passing animals form chomping away. They can also serve as plant’s immune system from germ infections. However, they also present multiple health benefits to the human body.

For example, the myrcene terpene is anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and can help in the treatment of spasms. One fruit that has an abundance of myrcene? Mangoes.

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You also find myrcene in wild thyme, hops, and many strains of marijuana. A 1997 Swiss study examined 16 marijuana strains and determined myrcene was the most abundant terpene found in cannabis. If you have ever smelled that clove-like, earthy scent from your marijuana flower, you’re smelling myrcene terpenes.

Experiment with Marijuana and Mangoes Under Quarantine
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Why this matters?

By eating a mango before marijuana consumption, you introduce a whole bunch of myrcene into your body. Myrcene enacts this interesting effect to your blood-brain barrier—essentially it lowers the BBB’s resistance to letting certain compounds or “foreign substances” pass through. Usually, this is something you want — except if you are trying to increase your cannabinoid absorption.

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Myrcene bonds well with THC. According to research, it basically opens the door for more of the cannabinoid to enter your system. Reports also indicate it increases the CB1 receptor in your endocannabinoid system, meaning you’re able to experience more of a “high” than is typical. Researchers found absorbing myrcenes approximately 45 minutes before inhaling marijuana produces the best effects.

None of this is an exact science, by the way. You can boost your chances of this effect by producing myrcene-rich marijuana strains, but maybe that isn’t an easy process at this time. Also, mangoes you purchase in the supermarket don’t all contain the same levels of myrcene. But it’s still worth a shot.

Cory Booker Says Federally Legalize Marijuana

“We need to end this federal prohibition,” Cory Booker said about marijuana legalization in a new Facebook video.

Every legal state except Massachusetts has pegged marijuana as an “essential business” amid the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers have loosened restriction around cannabis delivery and curbside pickup. Put simply, states have prioritized enabling marijuana access to residents.

So why has the federal government ignored legislation that would end cannabis prohibition? A Facebook user posed that question to Sen. Cory Booker, who called current federal marijuana law “woefully outdated.”

“I cannot tell you how much I agree with you, Tom,” Booker said. “There are people throughout this country right now who have PTSD from their military service, children falling into seizures with things like Dravet syndrome, not able to access what is a lifesaving drug for some people.

“Enough is enough,” he added. “We need to end this federal prohibition.”

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Last year, Booker introduced the Marijuana Justice Act along with Rep. Barbara Lee. The bill would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances act, as well as provide social equity programs like expunging the majority of marijuana-related arrest records. Booker also ran on a pro-marijuana platform during his 2020 presidential candidacy, calling out presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden for his statements on cannabis.

cory booker
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It’s something I’m going to fight for,” Booker continued in the above video. “This hypocrisy, these drug laws that we have that archaic and cruel—they must end. I’m going to fight to make sure right now that this ugliness is over in our country and we do the right thing on the federal level. And our momentum is building by the way.”

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Many marijuana companies, particularly those that touched the plant, did not qualify for coronavirus-related loans or aid in the first round of Small Business Administration (SBA) relief funds. With another round of funding expected soon, lawmakers have filed legislation that would open COVID-19 relief aid to cannabis companies, such as the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans. Along with ten other Senators, Booker signed a letter imploring the Appropriations Committee to include cannabis companies in COVID-19 financial aid.

4 Ways To Save Money During The Pandemic

COVID-19 has created a lot of instability across the globe, including finances. Here are some tips that can help you save money.

The coronavirus has altered our lives in every possible way, dealing a tough blow to our health and economic systems. In the U.S., around 26 million jobs have been lost since the start of the pandemic. Almost everyone who remains employed is coping with some sort of workplace uncertainty.

While quarantine should make it easier for all of us to spend less money, there are ways of cutting back on more significant costs. Here are 5 ways that can help you save money during the pandemic.

Focus on cash

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As the pandemic develops you should go against your savings instincts and focus on keeping money on your checking account. Pause contributions to your retirement funds and other savings account and keep that money someplace you can use it. This is a helpful strategy until you’re experiencing a more stable moment in your life.

Clean out your subscriptions

New digital subscriptions like Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV+, and more, make it easy for us to lose track of what we’re paying for and actually using. While right now is the time when you feel like you need the most TV, plenty of premium channels and streaming services are offering free trials or seasons of their most successful shows and movies. Make a list of all the subscriptions you’re currently enrolled in and prioritize, eliminating the channels you don’t use.

Be mindful of your grocery shopping

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Now that we’re spending most of our time at home, it’s natural to be spending more money on groceries. Still, the more organized you are with your meals and your needs, the less likely it is for you to waste food and the easier it is to keep track of your expenses.

Call your cellphone and insurance providers

New and improved insurance plans are always something you should be on the lookout for, with many competing companies offering up new deals on a yearly basis. Now’s a great time to make calls and ask around for new plans, especially ones that provide what you need for a better price. Talk to your car insurance and ask around for a cheaper policy now that you’re driving less. Calling your cell phone provider is also a good idea since you’re spending most of your time at home with WiFi and don’t really need an unlimited plan.

How To Know If You’re Buying High Quality Marijuana

When it comes to finding good quality marijuana flower, there’s a lot more to focus on than just THC levels and strain.

Smoking weed and having fun is easy. It’s only once you get to know the plant and have had different experiences with it that you start to grow interested in the details and how it can produce different effects. Although we don’t normally think about it, there’s more to weed than the strain and THC content.

Buying marijuana can be an intimidating experience if you don’t have the right knowledge, but there are ways of making more informed purchases.

Use your senses

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High quality flower, no matter what it’s made of, should have a strong and pleasant smell. The buds should also look fresh and healthy, with the best products showing off different kinds of colors. The feel of the bud should be spongy, with stems that snap when cracked and that don’t crumble when touched. Something that might be easier to notice is low quality flower, which shouldn’t look as bright and might have brown spots. Poor quality flower shouldn’t smell as ripe and should feel dusty or almost wet to the touch.

It’s not all about THC

The best type of cannabis isn’t the one with the highest percentage of THC. Cannabis is a complex plant, made up of different elements, all of which play a part on your high. A cannabis batch where there’s high THC content and not much else might lead to highs that are one dimensional or paranoid and anxious.

Harvest dates and packaging matter

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While the quality, texture, smell and feel of marijuana might be hard to grasp when visiting a dispensary, there are other factors that are easier to spot and that indicate whether a product is high quality or not. Harvest dates and product packaging matter. Always check the printed date since marijuana tends to lose it’s effect the more that time passes, losing most of their terpenes within a period of six months. Packaging should also be accounted for, with plastic bags tending to destroy the trichomes on the outer surface of the plant. Glass jars tend to preserve the quality of the flower.

Keep trying

At the end of the day, what matters most is your experience with the plant. If you have had a great experience with a particular kind of cannabis flower, write down the name of it and the effects it produced, whether the high was uplifting or creative. The more you do this, the more you can talk it out with your budtender, explore similar types of cannabis and return to products that have worked for you in the past.

How CBD Can Treat Symptoms of Depression

Research shows CBD adjusts the brain’s serotonin levels, helping those with depression stabilize mood, attention, and other symptoms.

Depression doesn’t confront its patients. Often, it sneaks up, surprises, or stuns. Depression makes it difficult to work, focus on relationships, and enjoy social activities. Those with depression typically receive antidepressant prescriptions from doctors, but unpredictable side effects and personal preference means these drugs aren’t for everyone.

What about cannabidiol (CBD)? Because some channels promote CBD as a cure-all for every ailment under the sun, using it to treat mental illness seems dubious. But as research explains, there is scientific explanations for how CBD can positively impact patients with depression.

A study published earlier this year in the journal Neuropsychiatrie, focused on a 16-year-old male patient with multiple substance abuse disorder, and was diagnosed with “severe depression, social phobia and narcissistic personality disorder.” The patient told doctors he consumed THC daily and used cocaine, ecstasy, and MDMA about once a week. He presented symptoms like social withdrawal, attention deficit, and losing touch with reality as well.

This patient had been received various treatment for about two years and hadn’t responded to antidepressants for over six months. Doctors proposed CBD as an alternative solution, and the patient, along with his legal guardians, consented. They administered CBD capsule forms with different dosages (starting at 100 mg up to 600mg over eight weeks) and the patient requested stopping the antidepressant after three weeks of CBD treatment.

Doctors found symptoms related to depression and anxiety decreased, and the patient quit abusing illicit drugs (he underwent urine drug tests throughout the study). Furthermore, the patient didn’t exhibit typical withdrawal associated with quitting drugs.

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“CBD was a safe and well tolerated medication for this patient,” the study’s authors wrote. “Upon treatment with CBD and cessation of the antidepressant medication, the patient improved regarding depressive as well as anxiety symptoms including simple phobias and symptoms of paranoia and dissociation.”

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The observational study didn’t tackle exactly why CBD proved effective, but a 2014 review could provide answers. CBD interacts with serotonin receptors in your brain, which causes the cannabinoid’s anti-depressive and anti-anxiety qualities. Serotonin affects various functions of the mind and body, including your emotion state, and patients with mental illnesses often struggle with maintaining proper serotonin levels.

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CBD works without direct interaction to your brain’s endocannabinoid system, researchers noted, meaning it’s less habit forming over time. As a 2018 review adds, this is why CBD is promoted for patients treating a wide range of symptoms.

“It is particularly important, since different from anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs such as benzodiazepines and SSRIs, acute administration of an anxiolytic dose of CBD is a safe and appear to preserve the sleep architecture,” the review’s authors wrote. “Thus, CBD may be potentially useful therapeutic option for a wide range of disorders.”

Debunking Cannabis Consumer Stereotypes With Research

The amount of successful cannabis-using parents in the population defeats the idea that cannabis users are irresponsible and unable to take care of others if they use cannabis.

Green Horizons, a consumer insights firm for the cannabis space, released a detailed 42-page report exploring the “attitudes, usage, and market potential for cannabis and cannabis products.”

The study revealed that many of the stereotypes commonly associated with cannabis users are not as true as society once believed. The firm followed 1,100 U.S. adults over the age of 18, with an oversample of cannabis users to match their true proportion in the population.

According to the report, cannabis users typically make as much money as non-users, with $59.7k representing users and $57.5k for non-users. This demolishes the myth that cannabis users are automatically lazy, with no drive or motivation to be successful.

Cannabis users are also more likely to have children in the home, with 63% of users having children compared to 53% of non-users. Many people who responsibly use cannabis say it helps them to be more relaxed, and cannabis users say this translates into their parenting allowing them to have more patience with their children. The amount of successful cannabis-using parents in the population defeats the idea that cannabis users are irresponsible and unable to take care of others if they use cannabis.

Most cannabis consumption is done alone, despite the “pass the joint, let’s party” stereotype. Six in 10 cannabis users consume cannabis by themselves frequently and 87% at least occasionally by themselves. 62% of medical cannabis users frequently consume cannabis alone and 45% consume cannabis alone frequently for recreational purposes.

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The report found that those who use cannabis tend to be more health-conscious than those who don’t use cannabis. This comes as no surprise for those who use cannabis and are involved in the cannabis community, but it may come as a shock to the general public. This point especially holds weight when it comes to medicinal cannabis users, who “are more likely than recreational users to say that seeking/using natural or holistic remedies and staying informed about topics related to health and wellness play a big role in their life.”

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The data says 42% of cannabis users say staying in shape and exercising are important to them, compared to 36% of non-users. Only 22% of non-cannabis users incorporate natural or organic foods into their diet compared to 31% of cannabis users. The report notes, “This is consistent with findings from another study, conducted at the University of Colorado – Boulder, which found that cannabis users were exceeding the recommended amount of physical activity in comparison to non-users.”

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Cannabis users are also “more likely than non-users to say that they are trying to be a force for positive change in the world, that they make an effort to be environmentally conscious, that they support local businesses, rather than big corporations, and that they are actively involved in social/political issues.”

This report also tackles other important points of the cannabis user culture like finding dispensaries and sourcing the perfect product.

This article originally appeared on Green Market Report.

5 Ways To Schedule Your Day When Working From Home

Keeping a strict schedule is hard when working from home. Here’s how you can increase productivity.

The benefits of working from home are obvious: you get to dictate your schedule, cook your meals, and work in pajamas if you want to. The catch is that the novelty of working from a home office gets old fast. Plus, if there’s no organization in your day, it’s likely you’re not going to be very productive. And now that we’re in the midst of a lockdown, where every day is just like the last, it’s even more difficult.

Working from home takes some practice, but it can be surprisingly effective if you manage to crack your inner schedule. Here are some tips that can help you make the most out of your work space:

Work with your chronotype

There are mysterious morning people and normal ones who function best after 8 a.m. and after a large cup of coffee. Figure out your preferences and build your schedule around that, trying to find which hours are your most productive. Be aware that if you work from home and are in contact with coworkers, your schedule might not be as lenient.

Get dressed

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Working in your PJs is great, but not a lot of people can commit to that lifestyle. If you’re finding working from home hard and taxing, get dressed even if you’re sitting on your couch. There’s no need to put on jeans — sweatpants can do the trick. This simple change can make you a little more active and help you complete your tasks faster.

Set boundaries

Although it’s cool to have the ability to manipulate your own schedule, it’s also important to have time to do other things. Take time to work out and to nurture your brain in other ways, that way you’ll make the most of your flexible schedule.

Prioritize your tasks

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Make a list, organizing your priorities. The basic set up and order is up to you, but try to prioritize the tasks that demand the most attention and have deadlines. That way you’ll get your work done efficiently and in time.

Take breaks

Freelancing and having a home office is all about balance; you can’t work too much and you can’t take too many breaks. It’s also deceptively easy to fall into patterns, resulting in days where there’s lots of productive work and days when you find yourself incapable of completing tasks. If you find yourself having trouble with work, forgive yourself and play with the variables. Try working at different times, waking up earlier or later, doing something you enjoy first thing in the morning or rediscovering the benefits of short naps.

5 Ways To Create An In-Home Spa Experience, Including CBD

While you can’t replicate the experience of a spa, you can fix up your bathroom and spend a couple of relaxing hours in there.

If there’s an ideal time for a relaxing day spent in the spa, it’s right now. Sadly, with the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing guidelines, it’s gonna be a while before you can scratch that itch with some peace of mind, which is why you’re going to have to settle with the next best thing: a make-do at home spa.

While the experience of being pampered by professionals is not one that can be easily replicated, there are ways of making your bathroom more comfortable for a relaxing couple of hours.

Here’s what you can do to create an in-home spa experience. Just remember to put a scrunchie or sock on the door so that your roommates, kids or partners don’t come barreling in.

Set the mood

Gather all of the tools you need. Speakers, nice candles, oil diffusers, towels, etc., moving them to your bathroom. Before you get started, make sure to clean everything and to make it look as nice as possible, since this will affect your mood and relaxed state. You also don’t want to lay down on a dirty bathtub, because now’s not the time for some kind of infection.

Try to engage most of your senses, playing a relaxing playlist, lighting a delicious smelling candle, dimming the lights and having cucumber water at hand. It’s all about the little details.

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CBD

CBD is a big relaxation tool in all of its shapes and forms. Take a couple of drops of your favorite CBD oil ahead of time or use a CBD massage oil and start working on your arms, legs and back. If you have any joint or muscle aches, get CBD cream or lotion ahead of time.

Prepare some hot towels

Hot towels open up your pores and make you feel sleepy. Instead of having to leave the bathroom to heat up towels, stock up on a couple of them and keep them in the bathroom, submerging them in hot water and wringing them until they’re damp. Use these to clean your face, arms, whatever you need. To make this process better, use aromatic oils in the water, that way the towels will smell amazing and you can just put them on your face and nap away.

Play with water temperatures

shower
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Alternating between hot and cold water can provide different benefits, such as improving your circulation, reducing muscle soreness and more. The change in temperature can also be a jolt to the system, making you feel more awake and relaxed once you’re done with your pampering. Change the temperature of your shower as your about to leave or keep a bucket of iced water around, dipping a towel in and placing it on your face as a way of preventing wrinkles.

Make a DIY face mask

There are plenty of face mask recipes out there, using simple items that could be in your pantry right now, like honey, vinegar, cucumbers, and more. Prepare something nice and simple ahead of time and use it maximize your in-home spa experience.

Infusion Pumps: What The FDA’s New Mandates Mean

The downloadable guide offers key insights while giving flexibility to front-line workers using the medical technology.

“Patients infected with COVID-19 may require continuous infusion of medications, nutrition, and/or other fluids. As such, FDA recognizes the need to help increase access to an adequate supply of devices to treat patients who need these therapies and to help foster technologies that maintain a safer physical distance between the health care provider and patient affected by COVID-19.” (FDA) 

In early April, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a new Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or mandate and guidance around infusion pumps and accessories due to COVID-19. Created specifically during the pandemic to keep healthcare professionals up-to-date on best practices, the mandate both expanded the availability and capabilities of infusion pumps and helped educate practitioners. Additionally, the FDA has called on pump manufacturers to send information regarding pumps and the EUA mandate to CDRH-COVID19-InfusionPumps@fda.hhs.gov

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Breaking down guidance by classification, device type, product code, and class, the downloadable guide offers key insights while giving flexibility to front-line workers using the medical technology. According to the FDA:

“This policy will create more flexibility for manufacturers that make device modifications to address manufacturing limitations or supply shortages related to the public health emergency. Examples may include: 

  • Changes to the infusion pump motor to allow an alternate supplier to meet the required design specifications, or 
  • Enabling an alternate supplier of infusion pump accessories to meet the established performance of the FDA-cleared device.”
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To best understand the mandate, here are three key points to remember:

  • The FDA states, “wherever possible, health care facilities should use FDA-cleared infusion pumps to treat patients who require continuous infusion therapy.” A list of approved devices can be found on the FDA’s Premarket Approval (PMA) site.
  • More information around infusion pumps (including failures and guidance around safety,) can be found at the FDA Infusion Pump Improvement Initiative page.  
  • During the COVID-19 crisis, the FDA has greenlit the ability make modifications to the device including remote monitoring, increases in battery capacity, modifications to hardware and software, and material changes to tubing. 

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Not updated since 2010 when the FDA addressed infusion pump safety by increasing user awareness, facilitating device improvements and publishing new guidelines, the newest mandate offers direction with actionable plans for hospitals and clinics to follow. 

In the fight against COVID-19, the FDA is actively working to be proactive and allow healthcare facilities and workers to have information in a relevant, timely manner. One of many EUA’s put out since late March, the newest rules only apply during the current pandemic. One the situation has passed; the FDA will be issuing more guidance around infusion pumps and their accessories.

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