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.

In this quietly reflective episode, I share a story about how I went from being the person known for killing every plant in sight to someone who now starts the day with tea, birdsong, and a gentle check-in with the garden. No, I haven’t become a gardening expert overnight, but I’ve found something better.

This isn’t really a story about plants. It’s about noticing. About slowing down enough to see what’s growing (and what’s not). It’s about how one small morning habit can change the rhythm of your day, and maybe your mindset too.

What You’ll Hear:

* Why I used to avoid gardening altogether

* The small, quiet shift that changed everything

* How tea became a mindfulness practice (without the pressure)

* The joy of noticing what needs care: in plants, and in yourself

* An invitation to build your own simple tea routine

Why It Matters:

We often think transformation has to be big and bold. But sometimes, it starts with a kettle, a quiet moment, and a plant that somehow stayed alive.

Do you have a ritual that helps you feel more grounded? What’s something small you’ve started to notice lately?

Resources:

* Functional Tea blends:

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 explore a surprising truth: your feet might be the key to mental clarity, not your meditation cushion. Drawing from personal experience, mindfulness teachings, and expert foot care guidance, Erica shares why paying attention to your feet can be more grounding than traditional meditation.

Discover the hidden tension we hold in our feet, the power of walking meditation, and how small daily routines can unlock presence and ease. This is an invitation to reconnect with your body from the ground up.

What You’ll Learn

* Why feet are the most overlooked part of self-care

* How neglecting your feet affects your whole body and mind

* Erica’s personal story of back pain, law life, and barefoot recovery

* How walking meditation can help you feel more grounded

* A mindful Tea & Feet Routine you can do in 3–5 minutes

* Practical tips for healthy feet

* The importance of grounding and barefoot walking

Try This Tea Mind Routine Tonight

* Step one: Brew a calming herbal tea

* Step two: While your tea steeps, journal your answers to these prompts:

* What went well today?

* What challenged me?

* What am I grateful for?

* What do I want to put down for the night?

* Step three: Sip slowly. No screens. No distractions. Just presence.

Resources:

* NHS Foot Health Guide: nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/preventing-falls/keeping-well/looking-after-your-feet

* Age UK Fitter Feet Tips: ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/exercise/fitter-feet

* Headspace Walking Meditation Guide: headspace.com/meditation/walking-meditation

* Mindful.org Walking Practice: mindful.org/daily-mindful-walking-practice

* Functional Tea blends:

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.