Sunday Relaxation - Tea

Fancy a brew?

This week it’s all about Britain’s favourite drink...tea! Research has shown that a cup of tea reduces stress and even turning the kettle on helps. Having a cuppa is a British tradition & is perfect to drink when you are by yourself & want to relax, or with company. Drinking tea with a friend, partner, family member, or even a stranger, encourages talking. You are unable to drink piping hot tea quickly so you have time to engage in conversation & share a nice, relaxing moment together.

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Making tea a relaxing process

If you’re used to popping the kettle on, making your brew quickly & then leaving it somewhere to go cold, try & follow this process to really enjoy & savour it. It is designed to make you really think about everything that you are doing & keeping you in the moment.

FILL YOUR KETTLE WITH WATER

Listen to the sound of the water & feel the kettle becoming heavier & heavier

PLACE THE KETTLE ON ITS BASE & CLICK THE ON SWITCH

Listen, & notice the click of the switch

GRAB YOUR FAVOURITE CUP OR MUG

Think about why you chose this mug. Does it remind you of a certain event? Did somebody special buy it for you? Did you get it at a bargain price?!

PUT IN THE TEA BAG

What type of tea have you chosen? How does it smell?

Watch the steam from the kettle, hear the water boiling

Watch the steam rise, feel the warmth

FILL THE MUG WITH WATER

Hear the water filling the mug, & see the colour of the water changing

ALLOW THE TEA TO STEEP FOR AS LONG AS YOU WISH

Take this time to get the milk & sugar

TAKE OUT THE TEA BAG, ADD MILK & SUGAR (IF YOU SO WISH)

Listen to the clink of the spoon as you stir & notice the water spinning round & eventually slowing down. Feel the heat rising up & warming your face

NOW THE TEA IS READY, SIT DOWN IN YOUR FAVOURITE CHAIR & ENJOY THE MOMENT

Wrap your hands around the mug & feel the warmth radiating through the mug (please be careful not to burn your hands!)

CLOSE YOUR EYES & SMELL THE TEA

What do you notice about the smell? How does the warmth make you feel? Relaxed? Soothed? Safe?

WHEN THE TEA IS COOL ENOUGH FOR YOU, TAKE A SIP

Feel the warmth in your mouth & going down your throat. How does it taste? Is it bitter? Sweet? Floral? Fruity?

NOW ENJOY IT TO THE LAST DROP

This process may not work for everyone but I’d encourage you to give it a try. It’s all about being in the moment & noticing everything about the actions you are doing using all five senses.

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Relaxing Teas

PEPPERMINT TEA

Peppermint tea has a refreshing, minty taste, an intoxicatingly strong, menthol aroma & is great for a variety of ailments. It is said to reduce stress & anxiety, contains menthol which is a natural muscle relaxant, & can help with sinus problems. It may also help headaches & it can keep you more mentally alert. Peppermint tea is great for issues such as stomach aches & pains, heartburn & IBS. And here’s a great reason for us ladies to drink this minty brew...it can help with menstrual cramps, yay!

CHAMOMILE TEA

Chamomile tea relaxes muscles & irritability, & can also reduce the severity of anxiety. It is the first thing my Grandma used to suggest when I was feeling ill, & I can see why. Studies have shown that chamomile tea can help digestive health, including sickness & diarrhoea, & is soothing for a painful sore throat. If you struggle to sleep, chamomile tea could be good for you as it contains apigenin which is an antioxidant that promotes sleepiness. Try a cup just before bed.

LEMON BALM

This minty tea has a hint of lemon & has relaxing & sedative qualities, making it great for anxiety sufferers. It reduces cortisol, the stress hormone, & elevates your mood. Lemon balm tea is soothing so is good for colds & coughs. And ladies, here’s another tea that helps with menstrual cramps!

GREEN TEA

I LOVE green tea. So much so that my friends have started buying in green tea just for me! It’s a super healthy tea that's loaded with antioxidants, & studies have shown that green tea drinkers have a lower risk of getting various types of cancer. It contains an amino acid called theanine which promotes relaxation & is good for mental health problems such as anxiety. A ‘downside’ to green tea is that it contains caffeine, but don’t panic, there’s not as much as in coffee so you won’t get the jitters!

A ‘PROPER’ BRITISH CUPPA

aka a Builders Brew

So, I’ve covered a few ‘fancy’ teas but I couldn’t neglect a builders brew. This strong cuppa has plenty of milk & as many sugars as you fancy. Often served in a polystyrene cup alongside a bacon or sausage butty, it really can’t be beaten. If herbal teas aren’t for you, then a ‘proper’ British cuppa is the one for you.

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So, take time to think about your cup of tea, brew, or cuppa, & make it a real time of relaxation. Savour every moment & use all your senses to focus on the whole process, from filling the kettle to drinking the last drop in your mug.

Let me know;

How did you find the process?

Did you find it helpful or a bit too much?

What teas would you recommend?

Thank you for reading, & have a positively relaxing day!