This Ritual Has Impacted My Life

Every day at 5:00 p.m., I pull out my favorite mug and a favorite tea. I've had this ritual for quite a few years now. Before it used to be tea to enjoy while I worked, or it was to take some time to sip and think. When I recently added some reading time to accompany my tea, I found it so therapeutic, it's become a ritual. I'm not a fast reader at all. I wish I was one to devour books, however, I truly savor each book and I research at length the next book I'll read. This is also part of my ritual.

Lately, reading fiction has been like a healing tonic. I am so happy to enjoy and absorb beautiful and fun writing from others, while I sip my tea and feel the stress melt away.
Having moments to de-stress is so fundamentally important for health. Especially for hormone health and having better hormone balance for women. Our hormones are sensitive to stress. The benefits I have found from reading daily with my tea time has been profound. It has been a beneficial, daily pause, that I look forward to. The busyness, and the overwhelm will always be there on the outside. This daily pause, helps me take stock of how I'm feeling in the moment, to slow down, to tune in to the inside of my mind and body. Even if it's a short while, when I serve myself some tea, and read a bit, or think a bit, it can change how the rest of my day goes.

Instead of being rushed and overwhelmed, I can take the time to get centered and back into balance; calm, peaceful, and focused. I'm able to approach what I need to do from that mindful state. It feels good, so this habit is definitely staying for 2023! I even found a podcast episode about the benefit of a tea ritual, and I'm sharing it with you. If you want to learn more you can check this podcast episode out. 

How could you include a daily pause in your day to get back into balance and de-stress?What helps you get centered, calm, and focused?