The Slow Cup

She wrapped her hands around the mug and waited for the heat to settle. Warm beverages have been shown to promote feelings of comfort and relaxation, partly through thermal sensation and its connection to emotional regulation (Williams and Bargh 608).

The act of pausing to drink slowly also supports parasympathetic nervous system activation, which helps the body shift out of stress response (Thayer and Lane 83). She did not rush the last sip. Rest, she realized, was not wasted time. It was preparation.

Works Cited (MLA)
Thayer, Julian F., and Richard D. Lane. “A Model of Neurovisceral Integration in Emotion Regulation.” Journal of Affective Disorders, vol. 61, no. 3, 2000, pp. 201–216.
Williams, Lawrence E., and John A. Bargh. “Experiencing Physical Warmth Promotes Interpersonal Warmth.” Science, vol. 322, no. 5901, 2008, pp. 606–607.