When we think about self-care, we tend to think about spa days, massages, vacations or taking an entire day to ourselves. And while all of those things are great, self-care can also be something much simpler.
Sometimes it’s just making a cup of tea and giving yourself a few minutes to slow down.
That’s one of the things I love about tea. There’s already a little ritual built into the process. You choose your tea, measure it out, heat your water and let it steep. It naturally gives you a reason to slow down, even if it’s only for a few minutes.
And depending on what you need that day, your tea ritual can look completely different.
Start With What You Need
Before choosing your tea, think about what you need from that moment.
Maybe you’re starting your morning and want something bold and energizing. Maybe it’s the middle of the afternoon and you need a break from your computer. Or maybe the day is finally over and you’re ready for something warm and caffeine-free while you settle in for the evening.
There really isn’t one tea that works for every moment, and that’s part of what makes creating a tea ritual fun. You can choose your tea based on your mood, your routine and even the time of day.
A black or green tea might be what you reach for in the morning. Something light and fruity can make a great afternoon tea, especially over ice. And an herbal, rooibos or honeybush blend can be a nice option when you want something caffeine-free later in the day.
If you're not quite sure what tea fits you, take our Tea Quiz. It’s a quick way to explore different teas based on the flavors you enjoy and what you’re looking for.
The Process Is Part of the Experience
One thing I hear pretty often is that people are interested in loose-leaf tea but think it’s going to be complicated.
It really isn’t.
Once you have an infuser, your tea and hot water, you have everything you need.
But there is something different about preparing loose-leaf tea. You can see and smell the ingredients. You measure the tea yourself. You watch the leaves, flowers and herbs open as they steep.
You’re actually involved in the process instead of just grabbing something and moving on with your day.
That little bit of extra time can become a natural pause.
You can use those few minutes however you want. Sit somewhere quiet. Read a few pages of a book. Journal. Put your phone down. Step outside. Or just sit and enjoy your tea without trying to do five other things at the same time.
It doesn’t need to be complicated to be intentional.
Create Different Rituals Throughout Your Day
Your tea ritual doesn’t have to happen at the same time every day. I actually like the idea of having different teas for different parts of your day.
Your Morning Ritual
If mornings are busy, your tea can be one small thing you do before everything gets started.
Choose something you really enjoy, make your cup and give yourself a few minutes before jumping into emails, work or whatever else is waiting for you.
If you enjoy caffeine, this may be when you reach for a black, green or oolong tea. The point isn’t to create a whole new morning routine. It’s just to give yourself a little time before the day gets going.
Your Afternoon Reset
The afternoon is probably one of the easiest times to create a tea ritual because most of us could use a break by then.
Instead of sitting at your computer straight through the afternoon, make a cup of tea and actually step away for a few minutes.
And your afternoon tea doesn’t always have to be hot. A cold-brew or iced loose-leaf tea can be just as much of a ritual, especially when you want something refreshing.
It can be as simple as making your tea, stepping away from whatever you’re working on and giving yourself ten or fifteen minutes before getting back to your day.
Your Evening Wind-Down
Evenings are probably one of my favorite times for a tea ritual. There’s something about making a warm cup of tea when the day is finally winding down that just feels different.
This is also a good time to reach for a caffeine-free blend.
Our new Midnight Bloom herbal blend is one I created specifically with those slower evenings in mind. It’s a botanical blend of blue lotus, catnip, linden, blue mallow and marshmallow root, created to be a soft, calming tea for your nighttime routine.
Make a cup while you read, journal, watch your favorite show or just enjoy having a little quiet time before bed.
The point isn’t to create some perfect nighttime routine. It’s simply about having something that helps you shift out of the busyness of the day and into a slower evening.
Make It Something You Look Forward To
Your tea ritual should feel like something you enjoy, not another thing you’re supposed to be doing.
Use a mug you love. Try a tea you’ve never had before. Add honey or lemon if that’s how you like your tea. Sit somewhere comfortable.
You can make it as simple or as special as you want.
This is also one of the reasons I love having different teas at home. I don’t necessarily want the same thing every day. Sometimes I want something fruity. Sometimes I want something bold. Sometimes I want something warm and cozy.
Part of the ritual is simply choosing what sounds good in that moment.
Tea Doesn’t Always Have to Be a Solo Ritual
Tea can absolutely be your quiet time, but it can also be something you share.
That’s a big part of what we see during our tea blending workshops and other tea experiences. People come in to learn about tea and create their own blends, but they also end up sitting together, talking, laughing and trying things they may not have tried before.
That’s one of my favorite things about what we do.
Tea naturally gives people a reason to slow down and connect.
Your ritual could be having tea by yourself in the morning, meeting a friend for tea once a month or making a pot to share when someone comes over.
There isn’t one right way to do it.
Keep It Simple
If you want to create your own tea ritual, don’t overthink it.
Start with one part of your day where you could use a little more time for yourself. Maybe that’s ten quiet minutes in the morning, an afternoon tea break or a warm cup after dinner.
Choose a tea you actually enjoy. Make it the way you like it. And give yourself enough time to sit down and enjoy it.
Your tea ritual doesn’t need to completely change your routine. Sometimes it’s simply a good cup of tea and a few minutes you decided to keep for yourself.
And really, that can be enough.