Tea Between Tasks

The kettle clicked off with a soft snap, and I poured the water slowly over the loose-leaf tea. Steam rose and fogged the kitchen window for a moment before clearing again. Making tea had become a pause I depended on—not an escape, just a reset. The scent alone signaled that I was allowed to slow down.

I chose green tea that morning. Beyond preference, there was a practical reason. Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid associated with increased relaxation without sedation, especially when combined with small amounts of caffeine (Einöther and Martens). I needed calm focus, not sleepiness. I set a timer and let the leaves steep properly, resisting the urge to rush.

Motivation had been thin all week. Not absent, just fragile. Instead of forcing productivity, I structured the morning around short tasks. Behavioral research shows that breaking work into smaller, defined segments increases follow-through and reduces avoidance (Hayes et al.). I decided I would drink the tea first, then do exactly one task.

I sat at the table and took the first sip. Warmth spread through my chest and shoulders. Ritualized hot beverage consumption has been shown to increase perceived comfort and emotional grounding through sensory association (Mennella). The mug anchored my hands. My breathing slowed.

Health was not abstract in that moment. It was posture, hydration, pacing. I drank water alongside the tea, knowing that even mild dehydration can affect attention and mood (Popkin et al.). I noticed how often I forget that when I am stressed. Small corrections matter.

The first task was simple: sort paperwork into three piles. Keep, shred, recycle. Nothing more. Freedom came from limiting the scope. Choice overload can impair decision-making and increase stress, especially during low-energy states (Iyengar and Lepper). By narrowing the options, I made movement possible.

Once the piles were done, I stopped. I made another cup of tea, this time peppermint. Peppermint has been studied for its mild effects on alertness and perceived energy, but I mostly valued the cooling contrast after the warmth of green tea (McKay and Blumberg). The shift marked a transition between tasks without pressure.

Relaxation did not mean inactivity. It meant intentional pacing. I opened the window slightly and let fresh air move through the room. Improved ventilation supports comfort and cognitive clarity during prolonged indoor activity (United States Environmental Protection Agency). I stretched my shoulders and neck, noticing how tension had been sitting there quietly.

The second task came easier. I wiped down the desk and cleared old notes. Environmental order has been associated with reduced cognitive load and improved emotional regulation (Vohs et al.). As the surface cleared, so did the low-level noise in my head.

Freedom showed up again, subtly. I was not chasing productivity for its own sake. I was choosing what mattered today and letting the rest wait. Psychological flexibility—responding to situations based on values rather than pressure—has been linked to improved mental well-being (Hayes et al.). Today’s value was steadiness.

By early afternoon, the light shifted across the floor. I brewed chamomile tea, saving it for later. Chamomile has been associated with mild anxiolytic effects in some studies, though much of its benefit comes from conditioned relaxation responses tied to routine (Amsterdam et al.). I left it to cool while I finished one last small task.

I did not finish everything. That was not the goal. I finished enough to feel capable. Health had been supported through hydration and pacing. Motivation had been built through structure, not force. Relaxation had been woven into action instead of postponed. Tea had marked time without rushing it.

In the evening, I sat by the window with the chamomile tea and watched the sky darken. The day felt complete, not because it was full, but because it was intentional. Freedom, I realized, is often the ability to choose a slower, steadier way forward—and to trust that it is enough.

Works Cited (MLA)

Amsterdam, Jay D., et al. “Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) May Provide Antidepressant Activity in Anxious, Depressed Humans.” Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, vol. 32, no. 5, 2012, pp. 725–729.

Einöther, Suzanne J. L., and Veerle E. Martens. “Acute Effects of Tea Consumption on Attention and Mood.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 98, no. 6, 2013, pp. 1700S–1708S.

Hayes, Steven C., et al. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Guilford Press, 2012.

Iyengar, Sheena S., and Mark R. Lepper. “When Choice Is Demotivating.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 79, no. 6, 2000, pp. 995–1006.

McKay, Diane L., and Jeffrey B. Blumberg. “A Review of the Bioactivity and Potential Health Benefits of Peppermint Tea.” Phytotherapy Research, vol. 20, no. 8, 2006, pp. 619–633.

Mennella, Julie A. “The Chemical Senses and Nutrition.” Nutrition Reviews, vol. 69, suppl. 1, 2011, pp. S8–S20.

Popkin, Barry M., et al. “Water, Hydration, and Health.” Nutrition Reviews, vol. 68, no. 8, 2010, pp. 439–458.

United States Environmental Protection Agency. Introduction to Indoor Air Quality. EPA, 2022.

Vohs, Kathleen D., et al. “Physical Order Produces Healthy Choices, Generosity, and Conventionality.” Psychological Science, vol. 24, no. 9, 2013, pp. 1860–1867.