5 ways to transform an everyday cup of tea into an act of self care.

Cuppa Kindness® is focused on introducing bite sized chunks of self care into your day. I founded the company in 2020, after experiencing a very challenging time, which included a cocktail of redundancy, anxiety, family illness and a global pandemic – what a combo!

We sell Mindful Tea with actionable resources which can all be completed in the time it takes to have a cuppa. Since launching, we've built a Kindness-led community where we can share self care successes and enjoy more Mindful Mug Moments™. Follow @cuppa.kindness on Instagram for regular updates and launches.

Below, we've gathered some ideas for integrating more moments of self care into your every day routine:

1.Gra-tea-tude! – Whilst enjoying your morning tea, take a moment to think of 3 things you are grateful for. As you sip on your fresh brew, reflect on those small things in life that you are truly thankful for and perhaps jot them down in a notebook or journal. Daily gratitude practice is scientifically proven to enhance our mood and combined with your first cuppa, it will be a gorgeous way to kick off the day!

2.Make it mindfully – As with so many things in life, we often perform routine tasks on autopilot, not giving much thought to what we are doing. Have you ever needed to make a cup of tea whilst out camping, or by boiling a pan of water on a stove? If so, I bet you paid much more attention on those occasions, because you were in the present moment and connected to what you were doing. Next time you make your cup of tea, pay close attention to each micro step. What does the cool, smooth surface of the mug feel like when you grab it from the cupboard? What smells do you notice as you reach for your chosen teabag? What changes in sound do you notice as the kettle boils your water. Imagine the journey that water has taken to come from your tap with such ease? Notice the difference in the temperature of the mug once it is filled with warm liquid. Feel the steam tickle your nose as you feel the hot liquid meet your lips. This is not just a cup of tea, it is your creation. A unique blend of elements and a few moments of presence and calm.

3. Check in with your heart – When you’ve made your glorious concoction, just as you like it, take a moment to check I with how you are feeling in that moment. As your tea cools, place your hands on your heart, take a couple of deep belly expanding breaths and ask “how am I feeling” or “what do I need to know right now?”. Then, simply listen to what comes from within. Listen for that first, intuitive voice, before the brain kicks in. This might be a strong feeling, a phrase or an instruction that come up. Notice any sensations that come up for you. You might find it useful to write something down, or you may want to take a few more deep breaths. Sometimes your brain will try and take over at this moment, or you may find that nothing obvious comes up. That’s ok. There is no way do do this wrong, just listen to your heart without judgement. The important part is that you are checking in with yourself.

4. Enjoy every sip – So often we multi-task without even realising we are doing it. We drink our tea whilst working, daydreaming, watching TV, chatting on the phone. Sure, we know we are drinking tea, although we may not really pay attention to it. Centuries ago, tea was brewed as a medicine. Imagine that for your next brew, you were to do nothing else apart from drink your self-made cup of medicine. Just drink, and notice. Pay attention to the feeling of the warm mug in your hand, the taste of the warm tea touching your lips and the sensation as it stirs around your tastebuds and warms your throat as you swallow. That comforting sensation as it hits the stomach, and perhaps you may hear a faint gurgle or feel a gentle bubble inside the body. Notice every gulp, imagine it as a healing elixir and just be.

5. The Tea Diaries – Regular journaling is widely acknowledged by professional psychologists to support good mental health. Writing a ‘Tea Diary’ can allow you to take a moment with your cuppa whenever feels good for you, and note down any observations about your day or use the opportunity to free-write anything that comes to mind. There doesn’t need to be any structure for this, like with all of these activities – you can’t do it wrong.

I’d love to hear from you if you try any of these activi-teas (see what I did there?) and share your own tips and ideas on how to share a little more self-care. Xxx