In our busy lives, taking the time to relax and reset ourselves can make all the difference in keeping us happy and healthy. For some people, this self-care might be taking a walk, going to the gym or reading a book. Others find joy in carving out small moments in their day to enjoy their favourite food or indulge in warm beverages like tea.
Brewing a cup of tea is fast becoming a favourite wellness pastime, and for good reason. Here are some ways drinking tea can help refresh and reset your mind.
H2: It gives you a (short) break from the daily grind
Taking the time to prepare and enjoy a cup of tea is the perfect opportunity to take a break – whether it’s from your desk at work, screen at home or your busy to-do list. It might seem simple, but giving yourself some time – even five minutes – can help provide a small respite in your busy day.
There are many benefits that come with taking a break – from increasing your productivity to restoring your focus and preventing fatigue. Making a cup of tea doesn’t just provide you with a warm, delicious beverage to drink, it also provides you with an easy but focused activity to do during your break. This way you can have a productive break that doesn’t drain your energy further.
H2: It can help you practice mindfulness or meditation
Mindfulness and meditation are becoming increasingly popular as people try to combat busy schedules and stress. Simple acts, like making and drinking a cup of tea, is one way to help you relax. By bringing awareness to the simple act, your mind is focusing on the now, rather than thinking about your to-do list.
You can practice mindfulness or meditation step-by-step as you both make and drink your tea.
- Start by choosing what tea you’ll drink, based on your current mood. You might opt for a classic, like an Earl Grey, or match your mood with a stress reliever or energy-boosting tea.
- Take some slow, deep breaths as the water boils.
- Carefully pour the water into the cup, watch it change colour, and then savour your sips.
- Whether you pair this by listening to a mindfulness or meditation app is up to you, but this step-by-step process is a great way to start making mindfulness or meditation a habit.
H2: It may help reduce stress
While the act of drinking a hot or warm cup of tea in itself can be relaxing and a great opportunity to practice mindfulness and meditation, tea can reduce stress in other ways.
If you go with an herbal or floral tea, you can treat yourself to some quick and easy aromatherapy by breathing in the alluring fumes of peppermint, chamomile, or bergamot. If you’re thinking of using tea as a form of quick and easy aromatherapy, peppermint teas may help boost energy and digestion, whereas chamomile teas may help with relaxation, and bergamot teas may help reduce stress and ease symptoms of skin conditions.
H2: It may put your mind at ease about your overall health
As well as helping reduce stress and maintain optimal mental health, tea is known for the many benefits it may provide with maintaining your physical health. The antioxidants and amino acid, L-Theanine, present in teas may help with reducing the risks of heart disease, boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation, and may even help with controlling weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar.
While your daily cup of tea may help you with maintaining optimal physical health both in the short and long term, it should also be paired with a balanced diet and regular exercise.
H2: It can help you connect with others
While most of us make and drink a cup of tea by ourselves, that doesn’t mean you can’t be social with your tea drinking. Whether it’s a daily tea break with your workmates, a weekly tea session with your friends, or a virtual tea party with loved ones who live elsewhere, making your tea habit a bit more social not only provides you with the benefits you already reap from regularly drinking tea, you also get the mental and physical benefits of socialising.
As well as reducing stress and enabling some much-needed time for fun, socialising over tea can also decrease the risk of depression, increase confidence and self-esteem, and may even decrease the risk of developing degenerative diseases, like dementia.
Not only that, but you may even get some suggestions for new teas to try.
These are just some of the ways that drinking tea can help refresh and reset your mind on those busy days. By giving you the chance to take a short break or meditate, reducing your stress levels, helping you on your journey to optimal health, and letting you connect with loved ones, tea isn’t just a hot beverage, it’s a little slice of heaven for your body and soul, as well as your mind.