It’s a busy world! You make dinner while keeping one eye on the kids playing, and another on the television. You plan out your day while drinking a takeaway cuppa, listening to the radio and commuting to work, and then plan your weekend around kids sports, birthday parties, and social events. But in the rush to accomplish the necessary everyday tasks, you may find yourself losing your connection with the present moment.
This may not be super obvious… but did you know that mindfulness and tea time go hand in hand?
Whether you’re an ‘on-the-go’ tea drinker, or someone who likes to take the time to really enjoy the experience of your daily cuppa, there’s always an opportunity to PAUSE (if you MAKE the time to do so).
So, what is mindfulness?
According to Oxford Dictionary, Mindfulness refers to the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. It’s a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. It can be used as a therapeutic technique.
Tea time is the perfect opportunity to practice mindfulness; whether it’s while your tea is steeping, or while you’re enjoying your hot brew.
Simply sitting in silence, breathing in the aromas, no distractions, enjoying the sensation and flavours of your cuppa - it’s an opportunity to truly be ‘in the moment’. You’ll easily walk away feeling refreshed and ready to carry on with the day.
Key Benefits of Mindfulness
There are many benefits of mindfulness that bring improvements in health, attitudes, and behaviours such as:
- Increased Emotional Regulation
- Reduced Anxiety and Stress
- Improve Sleep
- Better Memory
- Cognitive Improvements
- Stronger Relationships
- Better Physical Health
- Improves overall mental health
Meditation & Tea Time
If you’re someone who loves to include meditation in your daily routine, we recommend brewing a hot cuppa before getting into your breathing exercises - or enjoying a hot cuppa during your session.
Our favourite app for guided meditation is Headspace - itoffers hundreds of guided meditations that cover things like cravings, finding focus, dealing with regret and difficult conversations, and even creative writing. Being busy business-owners and mums, we like to choose the 5 minute sessions while our tea is steeping. It’s the perfect length of time to reset.
Podcasts & Tea Time
If Meditation isn’t your cup of tea, there are certainly other ways that you can gain a similar mindfulness experience. It could be through music, or inspirational podcasts. Here are our favorite Spotify Podcasts to inspire your tea time.
The Science of Success
Science meets psychology in this weekly podcast. Guests onThe Science of Success range from neuropsychologists and entrepreneurs to FBI hostage negotiators and mindfulness gurus. The goal of the show is to get you thinking about your potential for success and learn ways to become a better version of yourself.
The Verywell Mind Podcast
This podcast offers great tips on how to improve your psychological health and mental strength. It features inspirational speakers as well as a weekly "Friday Fix" segment focused on specific issues and quick mental health tips.
Being Boss
While geared towards freelancers and entrepreneurs, theBeing Boss podcast is actually a good listen for anyone looking to gain knowledge about the mindset, habits, and routines that are either helping you or preventing you from making money doing what you love. Co-hosts, Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon, take on career and work-related topics like setting boundaries, marketing, productivity, self-limiting beliefs, and goal setting.
Music & Tea Time
Mindful music listening can be a wonderful way to reduce your stress and reconnect with your body and breath. It’s one of our favorite ways to enjoy tea time, especially when our tea time is spent amongst friends & family. We’ve done some research and found a few of our favorite Spotify playlists that are perfect for a relaxing tea time.
Classic Acoustic by Spotify - Think Eagles, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac
Ambient Relaxation by Spotify - It’s like a 16 hour trip to the day spa
Creamy by Spotify - warm vocals, a sprinkle of bass and dreamy dance music
Tea Time Cafe Music by BCMC Records - top choice for cafe music
Headspace by Headspace - relaxing tracks, you’ll want to close your eyes
HELPFUL HINT Choose your favorite 3-5 minute track to be your tea timer. You can enjoy your favorite song, while steeping your favorite tea. When the song ends, your tea is ready to drink.
We’re always on the lookout for new ways to improve our mental health (especially when it includes drinking tea!) so if you have any other tips and tricks for us, please get in touch!
