There comes a time in most people’s lives when they evaluate their relationship with their physical and mental health and make a move to modify their lifestyle to enhance their well-being. One of the biggest ways to do that is to press pause on alcohol consumption. Alcohol, in general, has been declining in popularity among younger generations, and we love that. There’s even a name for this new lifestyle: Cali Sober. Find out what it means and see if you’re called to give it a whirl.
What Does it Mean to Be Cali Sober?
California sober, or Cali sober, is a relatively new concept with a few definitions. The one key component of adopting a Cali sober lifestyle is that you give up all alcohol and harmful substances. For some people, it stops there. But for others, there are allowances for cannabis and some psychedelics, like LSD or psilocybin mushrooms.
For most people, the idea of going Cali sober means that you quit alcohol in favor of weed. This offers people a way to relax and unwind, enjoy the social lubricant of a good buzz, but not encounter the adverse effects associated with drinking.
How to Know if Cali Sober Is Right for You
If you’re considering switching to Cali sober, you must first assess your relationship with alcohol. Are you drinking too much? Are you struggling with addiction or alcoholism? If so, it’s important to seek professional help before making any changes.
On the other hand, if you’re simply looking for a healthier alternative to alcohol, Cali sober might be a great fit. Just keep in mind that this might not be the right solution for someone who has never smoked weed or is not interested in trying it. But if you enjoy smoking weed already, it’s worth considering whether or not this might be an interesting experiment. If you find yourself wanting to increase your cannabis consumption but not get overly stoned, try rolling up a joint with a few other smokable herbs.
Benefits of Going Cali Sober
If you want extra motivation to move to a Cali sober lifestyle, consider all the incredible benefits of trading booze for weed.
Say Goodbye to Hangovers
Perhaps the biggest benefit of switching to weed from alcohol is the obliteration of the hangover. Of course, no one is safe from hangovers after a night of heavy drinking, but it gets particularly worse with age. Post-college years it seems like a simple happy hour after work can lead to a couple days of just not feeling yourself.
Cannabis, on the other hand, is hangover-free! The worst thing that can happen the next day is that you might feel a little drowsy if you over-consume. This brings us to our next point!
Improved Sleep Quality
Alcohol is the destroyer of good sleep. That is just a fact, and despite feeling like you “passed out” after a few glasses of wine, you never truly enter that good, deep REM sleep. However, cannabis helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, so you wake up feeling refreshed in the morning!
The only instance where this might not be the case is when you go a bit too hard on something like THC edibles, which offer a prolonged high that might make you feel a bit drowsy in the morning. Yet, sticking with a finely rolled pre-roll will make you sleep like a baby and feel great the next day.
Reduced Anxiety
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, which slows down the brain’s activity. While this can make you feel relaxed and less anxious in the moment, it can also cause imbalances in the chemicals in your brain that regulate mood, leading to feelings of anxiety later on.
Alcohol can sometimes make people feel anxious in social situations, especially if they feel like they need to drink to fit in or relax. This can lead to a vicious cycle of drinking to relieve anxiety, which only makes the anxiety worse. Cannabis does not have the same effect, and most people report that a little good weed reduces their anxiety in the moment and doesn’t cause it to spike later on.
Obvious Health Benefits
Alcohol is known to have a number of negative effects on the body, including liver damage, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of certain cancers. In contrast, weed has been shown to have a number of health benefits, including reducing pain and inflammation, improving sleep, and even reducing the risk of certain diseases.
Of course, we need more research on the definitive health benefits of weed, but there is loads of anecdotal evidence, and we bet you have some of your own! We know for certain that, generally speaking, cannabis is a healthier way to unwind than alcohol.
Better Social Connections
Sure, sometimes a few drinks with friends can lead to a really great time. Many people have fond memories of shared experiences where alcohol was involved, but we challenge you to consider how a Cali sober lifestyle can provide the same amazing experiences.
Cannabis helps us tap into a moment and share time intentionally. It doesn’t lead to a rapid spike in mood or behavior like alcohol can, so there tends to be less of a rollercoaster of social interaction. That means more meaningful connections with your loved ones and we could all use more of that. Invite your pals over for a cozy home sesh, sans alcohol!
For Sippin’ and Sober Pals Alike
No matter what taking care of yourself looks like, your friends here at Old Pal have weed covered! We have pre-ground flower to roll your own joints, pre-rolls ready to rock at your convenience, and blunts to share at your next gathering with your friends. Or, find a few new fun things to do while high with your friends and you won’t even miss the bar scene.
Cheers to better physical, mental, and emotional health and a new way of taking care of yourself. You deserve it.
