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Stoned N’ Social – COVID-19 Dreams + Seaweed

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Join Natali and Sophia in this week’s podcast as we discuss the growing phenomenon of vivid dreams during stressful times and tips to selfless slumber. Plus a question about paranoia and cannabis is answered. If you like tangents, plus thoughtful ramblings, the coveted title of ‘Munchie of The Week’ (MoTW) and of course, a lot of laughs, then listen here.

Listen here for the latest Stoned N’ Social episode!

Show Sophia’s podcast Queer Yet Smiling some love!

Send us your questions, comments, memes, and munchie recommendations via Instagram or old school email us at stonednsocial@gmail.com

We support the use of cannabis for mental expansion and inner growth, also as way to broach a variety of topics and only condone its usage in a legal capacity according to your local governing laws.

Every Wednesday @ 12:00 am ET via iTunes

Note To Self: Quiet in The City

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If I am being completely honest, I know I should not be out this late. New York City is known as the city that never sleeps, and I truly believe it does not know how to.

I say this as I watch a splash of activity happen on numerous street corners at once. To my right there is a hooded man trying to hawk his wares to any passerby that dares cross his path. To my left, I watch as a couple huddle together in a broken down bus stop waiting patiently for their scheduled ride. When I turn my eyes straight ahead I can see other late night lurkers still watching their televisions, an argument appearing to move from one room to another in a nearby building, and even just sleepy faces looking as weary as I feel.

I wanted to live here. This place that has become a consciousness of its own. A messy, beautiful, puddle of what NYC really embodies.

‘The city that never sleeps…’

It also means it’s hard for me to get to sleep. I’ve been in New York for a few years now and I still haven’t quite shaken my need for muffled silence for sleep. I’m the kind of girl who if she had her way would sleep in a soundproof coffin-like device with a door. I covet my sleep. It revives me. It nourishes me for the next busy day. It’s the ultimate ‘me’ time.

The quietest place I’ve found is where I sit curled up now, in a beat up lawn chair — on my rooftop. After I’ve done my nightly routine of no electronics, meditation, skin regime, and reading, I still don’t feel quite ready to close my eyes. It’s well past midnight and I have work tomorrow but the Big Apple doesn’t care. I stumbled upon this city-escape, as I call it, after living in my building for two years and my slice of soulrenity.

Here just above the skyline, I can take all of my city in, all of its commotions, backfiring cabs, and shouts from the street and see it front and center. My Mother loves to ask me how the heck I get any sleep. The one and only time she visited she couldn’t get a night’s wink the whole week she was here. I know it’s not a city for everyone, heck, sometimes I still ask is it even for me when I’ve got my earplugs tucked away in my hands. It’s a question I like to toy with but I know now, this is my home. In all its vibrancy I just don’t wanna miss a thing.

But then I remember, the city never sleeps, it’ll be here in the morning…

The Simple Nighttime Routine

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You are getting very sleepy…okay maybe not and you need a little help getting to that place we call ‘Dreamland’. I can’t remember a time I fell asleep without a routine but it wasn’t always this way for me. A good night’s sleep can be hard to come by but creating a consistent, easy-to-maintain evening routine can help get one ‘Z‘ closer to a full night of Zzzs.

Wanna rest your eyes? Listen to this via the MySoulrenity + Beyond podcast!

Is this really important?

Absolutely! My boyfriend used to make fun of me when I started my slumber routine each night (even when at his place) but over time he has adopted one himself. I say with confidence that nighttime routines can benefit everyone.

Healthy sleep habits can make a big difference in the quality of life.

The National Sleep Foundation

Most of us can benefit from improving at least one aspect of our sleep habit. If you’re waking up unrested each morning, wake up frequently during the night, feel tired during the day, or have trouble falling asleep at night, there’s a very good chance that you have bad sleep hygiene that’s messing with your sleep.

Sleep hygiene

We have lots of ways we stay healthy in our daily lives but we often forget our sleep hygiene. If you wash your hands when they’re dirty, consume medicine when you’re sick, then you definitely owe yourself the same level of sleep hygiene. It is this nighttime routine that will help your mind and body recognize that it’s bedtime.

Bedtime rituals and nightly habits are collectively, these behaviors are known as sleep hygiene. Whether you practice good or bad sleep hygiene is up to you. But if you want to get a better night’s sleep, the answer often begins with improving your sleep hygiene.

1. Get your bed/room ready

This sounds like a simple one but sometimes we underestimate this step. Prepare your pillows in an arrangement you prefer. Put fresh sheets on the bed or spray some lavender scented oil to start the association process in your brain. Lavender is said to promote calmness and relaxation and soon, when you smell it, your mind will start associating it with winding down.

Most people don’t give much thought to the aesthetics of their snoozing space, but you’d be surprised how big of a difference it makes. Research shows that things like fresh sheets can easily make your slumbering experience better, and 71% of people surveyed said they sleep better when their sheets are clean. More importantly keep it dark, the darkness convinces your brain that it’s still night time.

2. Journal (even if only mentally)

If you’re like me, stress hits me right before bedtime! Your brain immediately starts zeroing in and mentally cataloging everything you have to do the next day—even though there’s nothing you can do about it in the moment.

Take a few minutes to pick out an outfit, plan what you want for breakfast, prepare your work bag, and loosely plan out your day. If you have to write a short to-do list of the things you need to accomplish before you head to the office. Don’t let more mindless TV zap your need to take a mental (or physical) account of your next day’s actions. Studies have shown that journaling reduces stress and helps boost your EQ. And don’t forget to write or think about a couple of things you did well that day and what a couple of things are that you can improve upon tomorrow.

3. Read

Research shows that just six minutes of reading per day can reduce stress levels by 68%. It’s nice to unplug and read a good old fashioned paper book (or at least put on ‘Airplane mode’ while you do so it’s uninterrupted) and slip into a new state of mind. And if you have to read on a tablet, try to use one that doesn’t have blue light (which keeps you awake).

Did you know reading helps put your consciousness on another plane, which will induce sleep? Think about how children adore stories before bedtime…this helps them to get a great night’s sleep. What a pity it is that so many of us lose this habit as adults.

Other things to keep in mind

Among above, you can also

  • Get your bedroom to the perfect temperature (the cooler the better).
  • Make sure you have it quiet, or turn on your white noise machine if you need something playing over your thoughts.
  • Have a snack. Some people sleep better if they have a small snack before bed, but you want to avoid large meals late at night. 
  • Limit other substances, too. Caffeine and alcohol both disrupt sleep. While alcohol may make you drowsy and induce sleep initially, it disrupts your sleep in the latter part of the night – preventing you from getting essential amounts of REM and deep sleep.

The right way to sleep is different for different people, and it may change for you over time. Keep doing them every night, but feel free to change them whenever needed.

This may seem like a lot to prepare for but it only takes about 20 minutes from start to slumber. By taking 20 minutes per evening to unwind, you’ll be setting yourself up for success every day.

Co-authored by Natali

5 Ways Night Owls Soar

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The results are in! According to a recent poll on our Facebook Page, voters decided that being a night owl was far better than catching the morning worm.

Let me guess…it’s way past a “normal” bedtime and you’ve found yourself up and wide awake. Maybe you’re like myself and in the middle of a late night kitchen creation, re-decorating frenzy, midnight grocery shopping, or just hard at work.

Wanna rest your eyes? Listen to this via the MySoulrenity + Beyond podcast!

It’s night time and you feel wide awake.

A tendency towards being a night owl can actually run in families (my family enjoys being up late too!) and when presented with the typical 9-to-5 setup can manifest into a very stressful cycle.

Wake up by 7 A.M.
Start work by 9 A.M.
Leave work at 5 P.M.
Second wind before 11 P.M.
Sleep by 1 A.M. or later

For me, this has been a way of life since I was a teenager. Depending on what projects I am working on or if my mind is busy I can often find myself up until dawn. I stopped asking why I was a night person a long time ago when I found contentment in the benefits of my late night lifestyle. So, what is beneficial by staying up late?

1. Higher intelligence

Researchers in 2006 and 2009 confirmed via the science journal Personality and Individual Differences noted night owls scored higher on a series of IQ tests versus regular schedule participants.

2. Physical strength

Apparently night owls display a phenomenon called “night strength”. Our strength increases around 9:00 P.M. It was hypothesized that the increase was in the spinal cord and motor cortex excitability. This is the opposite of early risers motor cortex which peaked during daytime hours. If you enjoy working out in the afternoon or nighttime, this could be why.

3. Creativity strikes

The stillness of the night can be the perfect environment for a night owl. With fewer distractions and general quietness, this can facilitate a peaceful time to slip into a reflective state. We will exhibit more conscious thinking, wandering minds stretching further than typical thinking that will beg to birth new ideas. This is when our inner musician, programmer, artist, or writer (I’m writing this at 3 A.M.) decides to come out and play.

4. Flexible personalities

Have you ever shared a space with an early riser? They generally function very well on routine. Waking up happens on a schedule. Going to bed has a specific time. When there’s a slight disruption in those schedules it is more difficult for them to be flexible and adapt accordingly. For us night owls, we are more spontaneous and go-with-the-flow (even during daylight hours) and can adapt more to varying sleeping patterns.

5. You’re part of a tribe

There’s a whole secret society! No, seriously back in 2005 Von Glitschka, an illustrative designer created The Night Owl Society after working for 12 years as a “creative hired gun” for agencies across the globe and noticing that he, and many other designers like him, work so much better at night. If you enjoy the quiet uninterrupted perk of working late at night the group might be for you. Membership is available for anyone and you’ll receive a membership certificate, sketch pad, and more when joining. Check them out on Facebook as well!

Our nocturnal tribe soars at midnight. We are the night owls -– whose pixels, presses, polygons and projects flourish best under obsidian skies.

-Von Glitschka

Day and night

So, there you have it. Morning people and night owls are really two different species when you break it down. I know there’s benefits to both sides of the sleeping wars but often night owls get a bad wrap. Just remember, no matter if you are an early bird or night owl you are unique and special, just like your circadian rhythm.

Don’t stress about changing your natural sleep preference and pattern unless there is a real need to do so. Be who you really are and shift your view of being a night owl as a strength rather than a problem that needs to be solved.

The next time someone gets on you about your late night schedule, just tell em’: Ten percent of the population is up with me!

5 Signs You Need A Recharge

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You did it! You survived the first month of the new year. Did you start all those resolutions you made last month? Pick up that new hobby? Did you start everything with vigor and now have found yourself feeling a bit overwhelmed and worn out? You’re not alone.

Wanna rest your eyes? Listen to this via the MySoulrenity + Beyond podcast!

It’s estimated that 80% of all New Year Resolutions fall by this month. That shouldn’t be shocking considering what you’ve been putting your mind, body, and self through in the months leading up to making them. It’s why we at MySoulrenity didn’t bother to reel you in with yet another thing to read last month, we knew you were swamped.

So first, let’s take a big breath in…did you do that? Good, now let it out. Feel that little release in your body? You probably need recharging not resolutions. Read ahead to see if you recognize the signs saying you need rest and restoration.

Your sleep schedule is off

Some of us are early risers (not me!) and some is thrive at night. For some of us a nightly rest consists of just a measly 4 hours! That’s a part time shift of sleep! Even if you aren’t dipping into the low single digits of dream time you still might feel a bit lacking with what you are getting. Sleep is the biggest boost we can give our entire selves and what will affect all the other signs that you need more.

When we skip out on slumber we are literally depriving ourselves the chance to work on all those “little” things in the background. That’s what is keeping the machine, that is your body running smoothly. Regulation of blood helps keep the heart healthy. Your immune system will run at its peak and a good night’s sleep can even help regulate your appetite, and more.

If you’ve been giving yourself less than 7 hours of sleep you’ve been missing out on the basic foundation to feeling full of energy. You owe to yourself to put down the electronics after a certain hour, tuck in and plug out to a good night’s sleep.

You are craving “bad” foods

It all started when someone (no finger pointing) decided to bring candy in the office for Halloween and it never stopped. Candy, cookies, cold leftovers, jams, jellies, eggnog, and probably lots of cheese has been consumed since then. Were you like many and overindulged? “It’s just one candy cane”, or was “The last piece of fruitcake”? Don’t fret, even if you think you’ve put on a little extra surrounding the holidays it is probably not as bad as you think.

It was well believed that we gained 5 pounds in the weeks surrounding the end of the year. Now we know it’s mostly bloat from all the carbs and sugar. Our body stores much of it as glycogen, a fast-acting energy source, explains registered dietitian Wesley Delbridge, a spokesman for the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. Every glycogen molecule hoards water, thus “the bloat” begins.

Certain foods can increase your metabolism

Step away from mindless munching, immediate seconds, unnecessary sugary cocktails, and really savor your meals. Resist the urge to grab them to go, take the time to enjoy them.

The higher your metabolism, the more calories you burn. This means the easier you maintain your ideal body whatever size that may be. So think protein rich foods: fish and seafood, nuts, and eggs. There’s also metabolic boosters: fruits and veggies, green tea, ginger and cayenne pepper, and my favorite, just plain ol’ water.

You are re-watching/re-reading things

Are you finding all your favorite television and movie apps just aren’t keeping you interested? Are you on a rerun binge? Keep picking up the same book but not making any noticeable progress? That’s probably because as I mentioned earlier your sleep cycle is off but even if it isn’t, it could be a sign your mind is ready for a rest. The end of the year in our minds is often thought of as our “last chance” to do things and tie up the loose ends before entering a new year.

It’s no wonder brain fog sets in

Aside from parties, work functions, family interactions, gift giving, to-do list making and more we still have to do our normal routine. But this isn’t anything new so here’s how to combat it: minimize the stress in your life (bye bye crazy Aunt Sally), drink less (yes you’re noticing a theme here), eat healthier options (see above), don’t give in to sleeping more, trust us, it’ll mess with your cycle (see above) and above all else, take real breaks from things. Find a few minutes to sit in a low stimulation environment to center yourself and focus only on your controlled breathing and not what emails you need to read or what other tedious things you need to do.

You have been unusually moody

It’s not just that the weather is shifting into the next season it’s more than that. I don’t mean to sound like a broken record but your sleep hygiene and what you put into your body really matters! Your body is always detoxing; so when you overeat certain foods and drinks (holiday punches, sweets, Grandma’s pie) it could overload your system and make you more moody.

That’s why eating better will help your body release itself of metabolic toxins and connected with environmental exposure and processed foods and beverages. Don’t skip meals and choose healthy snacks to keep your blood sugar regulated. If you identify certain situations cause you to more quickly reach the end of your rope step back, allow the feelings to happen, reach out for support if you need it and then resume back to the healthier choices.

Express yourself

Chinese Medicine says that different emotions are actually related to different organs (i.e. liver to anger). Did you ever notice how your breath quickens when you’re in fear, or how your heart begins pounding when you’re angry? Emotions certainly are expressed physically, and they can be stored as well, that’s why it’s important to not let your ‘storage’ get too full.

Your body is not cooperating

Feeling sluggish? Noticing dry skin? Unusually achy? When you’re very exhausted, it can be tempting to just sit in front of the TV after a long day. But that usually just makes you feel more tired.

Instead of sitting down to recharge, try getting up and moving around. Walking or biking — even just for 20 minutes — can leave you feeling energized for hours. The more we give into the voice that says “I’ll do it tomorrow” the further away tomorrow gets. Start stretching even only for 5 minutes a day to get your body feeling recharged. If you can, join a weekly yoga or fitness class.

Treat the outside just as good

You could slip into a simple bath with a couple of tablespoons Epsom salt which is often used as as a home treatment for aches, pain and swelling. If you want to get really fancy, you can add few drops of lavender or  sage oil. These both are believed to be particularly relaxing to those under stress. You can even just massage a tiny amount directly onto the body, rubbed on the wrists or diffused into the air.

Holidays aside we each need recharging and refueling with what’s good for us on a regular basis. Often we get stuck in our routines, put things off, and in general back burner the most important thing we have to do, self care. These signs may crop up often or only at certain times but it’s important you can identify them as soon as you experience them to get yourself back on the road to your centered journey.

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