In this soul-refreshing solo episode, Erica invites us to reconnect with one of the most underrated and powerful tools for wellbeing: play. Not play for productivity. Not play to impress. But the kind of spontaneous, joyful, unapologetic fun that reminds us what it means to feel alive.

She shares two vivid personal stories, from racing down a sunlit hill on the Isle of Wight to turning a petrol station mishap into an unforgettable family night filled with trolley races and bargain flowers. These stories serve as gentle reminders that some of the most joyful moments in life are unplanned and unpolished.

You’ll also be guided through a simple Tea Routine designed to reintroduce playfulness into your daily ritual. This episode is your permission slip to let go, laugh more, move freely, and rediscover what lights you up, no justification required.

In this episode, you'll discover:

* Why adults often forget how to play

* How play impacts burnout, creativity and connection

* A personal story that sparked Erica’s belief in joyful spontaneity

* A light-hearted Tea Routine to bring more play into your day

* A powerful mindset shift: play as presence, not performance

Tea Routine Mentioned:

While the kettle boils, put on a song that makes you want to move. Let your body sway or bounce. As your tea brews, breathe in the aroma and ask, “What would feel playful today?” Sip slowly. Let your thoughts drift into possibility.

Resources & Links:

* Sign up to our free newsletters:→ The Tea Mind – weekly Tea Routines for reflection and joy→ eteaket – tea blends and recipes for seasonal inspiration

Join the Conversation:

What does play look like for you this week? When did you last feel that lightness? Share your story in the comments or tag us on socials. Talking about joy helps create more of it.

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching. Find out more about my tea business, eteaket, here: https://www.eteaket.co.uk/

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

When was the last time you truly paused?Not a scroll break. Not a flick through your to-do list.A real pause.One where your shoulders drop, your breath slows and you are fully present.

In this episode, Erica explores why we confuse distraction with rest and how a simple tea ritual can bring you back to yourself.You’ll learn how to create a short pause that calms your nervous system and resets your focus using your kettle and your breath.

This isn't about more time. It's about deeper moments. Presence is possible in three minutes.

What You'll Learn

* Why we confuse stimulation with rest

* The cost of staying in go-mode

* A simple Tea Pause ritual for calm and clarity

* The science behind box breathing and L-theanine in tea

* How small moments shift how you show up in life

Mentioned in This Episode

* The Tea Mind Practice

* Box Breathing Technique (4-4-4-4)

Try This

Pause with your tea. Just three minutes.No screens. No multitasking.Let your breath and a warm mug bring you back.

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching. Find out more about my tea business, eteaket, here: https://www.eteaket.co.uk/

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

If your brain feels like it has 47 open tabs and they’re all playing different music - this one’s for you.

In this episode, we dive into the mental chaos that comes from carrying too much in our heads. From forgotten to-do lists to emotional voicemail replays from years ago, we explore how overwhelm isn’t caused by having too much to do, but by trying to hold it all.

You’ll learn about the power of a 3-minute Tea Mind Clear-Out - a simple brain-dump practice paired with the calming ritual of making tea. You don’t need more time. You need more space. And that starts here.

What We Cover:

* Why your brain is not a storage unit (and never was)

* How mental clutter drains your energy, focus, and calm

* A simple Tea Routine to offload overwhelm in 3 minutes

* The surprising science behind "cognitive offloading"

* The difference between presence and productivity

* Three powerful journal prompts to deepen your clarity

Journal Prompts to Try:

* What thoughts or emotions need to be released today to make space for something better?

* What’s occupying your mental space that hasn’t earned the right to be there?

* Of everything swirling around, what’s one small, kind step you can take next?

Your Tea Mind Clear-Out Routine:

* Put the kettle on.

* Grab pen and paper (scrap is fine).

* Set a timer for 3 minutes.

* Write down everything in your head - unfiltered, unedited, unjudged.

* Burn it, bin it, or just let it go.

By the time your tea’s brewed, your mind will be lighter.

Resources:

* “The Organized Mind” by Daniel J. Levitin – Explores how externalising information helps our brain function better.

* Mel Robbins Podcast: Make Decisions without Overthinking clip

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching. Find out more about my tea business, eteaket, here: https://www.eteaket.co.uk/

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode, we talk with Renée Turner, founder of Renée Turner Interiors in Edinburgh and the Lothians. After 15 years in the corporate world, Renée shifted careers to follow her passion for interior design. Today, she helps clients create spaces that reflect who they truly are.

What we cover:

* The career pivot: How Renée applied her corporate skills to build a successful design business

* Designing with values: Why true style starts with self-awareness

* Small changes, big shifts: The emotional impact of colour, layout and light

* Clearing space, clearing mind: The connection between clutter and clarity

* Mindful design: How intention shapes both our environment and our wellbeing

* Staying inspired: How Renée moves through creative blocks and stress

* Accessible tips: Simple, budget-friendly ways to refresh your home

Discover Renee:

* Website: Renee Turner Interiors

* LinkedIn: Renee Turner

* Instagram: @ReneeTurnerInteriors

* We discussed Your Organised Space.

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching. Find out more about my tea business, eteaket, here: https://www.eteaket.co.uk/

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

We give kindness to others without thinking.But when it comes to ourselves? The words often stick.

In today’s solo episode, Erica invites you to pause with a cup of tea and reflect on a deceptively simple question: When was the last time you told yourself you were proud of you?

Not for what you’ve done.But for who you are.

This episode explores how to soften your inner voice, build emotional resilience through self-kindness, and start a powerful monthly Tea Routine - writing a love letter to yourself.

It might feel awkward.But it's quietly transformational.

What You’ll Hear In This Episode:

* Why we’re so good at encouraging others and so harsh on ourselves

* The real cost of normalising self-criticism

* Erica’s personal journey with writing self-love letters

* A simple but powerful Tea Routine to reconnect with your worth

* How to start your own “Kindness Archive”

* A story from a day rave that sparked a shift in self-talk

* The science behind self-compassion and how it rewires your brain

* Why Brené Brown’s work on worthiness is a must-read

This Week’s Tea Routine: While your tea brews, take three minutes to write yourself a love letter.

Start with:“Dear me, I’m proud of you because…”Write without editing. Save it. Re-read it when your inner critic gets loud.

Even once a month, this tiny act can shift something inside you.

Resources Mentioned:

* The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

* Read more on Psychology Today

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching. Find out more about my tea business, eteaket, here: https://www.eteaket.co.uk/

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

What if your phone isn’t just a tool but a tether? In this episode of The Tea Mind Podcast, Erica explores the invisible cost of constant connectivity. From the first scroll in the morning to the last swipe at night, our attention is being drained, along with our peace of mind. This episode is an invitation to pause, to unplug, and to reconnect with what really matters.

What You’ll Learn

• Why attention is your most precious life asset• The emotional and mental cost of constant connection• How digital distraction fuels anxiety, burnout and disconnection• The science behind short, screen-free breaks• How a simple tea routine can restore clarity, calm and presence

Tea Routine Challenge

This week, try a simple three-minute Tea Pause.Step away from your phone. Brew your tea.Sit quietly and ask yourself:What am I feeling?What do I need right now?Write down three specific things you’re grateful for from the past 24 hours.Repeat daily. Notice what shifts.

Tea Truth from the Episode

You don’t need to be available to everyone all the time. But you do need to be available to yourself some of the time.

Key Insight

Our devices offer connection. But too often they disconnect us from our own lives. When you reclaim your attention, you start to reclaim your joy, your presence, and your peace of mind.

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.– Melody Beattie

Links & Resources

* Impacts of digital social media detox for mental health: National Library of Medicine

* How to Raise a Healthy Gamer, Dr Alok Kanojia - tonnes of useful lessons and tools for everyone

* Follow The Tea Mind on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music

Ways to connect with me 💬

DM me, jump in the subscriber chat, or connect via my website, LinkedIn or Instagram 😁 I offer tea supply, tea training, tea for wellbeing courses and mindset coaching. Find out more about my tea business, eteaket, here: https://www.eteaket.co.uk/

Thanks for joining me on our pause for tea to rebalance and thrive. 🍵 If you enjoyed this post, it would make my day if you’d comment, hit the heart button or share it. Your actions will help me reach more people. 💖 Thanks for your support! ✨ Erica x

The Tea Mind is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.