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I know we all say this every year, but I still can’t believe it’ll be 2021 soon. Although most of us are very much over 2020 and would like to say farewell to it, I’m still astonished to find that the end of the year is not far away now.

One of the things I’ve been more conscious of this year is to make real attempts for self-care. I think a lot of us have really tried to be kinder to ourselves this year, given the global circumstances, but in reality I find that it’s not that easy to achieve. If I factor in time required in my role as a solo parent, plus that of a Ph.D. student, I find myself having very little time for ‘self-care’ and feel very guilty for indulging in it if I am able to fish around for some time for it. I am very blessed to have my mum around at the moment who insists on helping make it possible for me to have a tiny break.

The easiest way to carve out some time for myself is in between the baby’s naps, feeds, walks, play time, bath, and book time, just to sit down with a large mug of hot tea. I’m a very big coffee drinker, the double-shot-short-macchiato kind, and mostly I drink it on the go or at work during meetings, so I guess I associate coffee with rushing and hurrying. For some reason, I associate the opposite with tea. Recently, I’ve made it a point to make time for a cup of tea each day, which is  now a cue for me to take things slow and have a bit of a brain break. 

I’ve put together a short and basic list of the common types of tea that I would drink, their benefits, and when best to drink them. Hope you guys make sure to carve out a bit of a break for yourselves as the semester winds down and final assessments are due. 

Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you. Katie Reed

• Morning:ÌýApparently, black tea is one of the most consumed beverages, which include teas like chai, English breakfast, and Earl Grey. Black tea contains caffeine so I normally have it in the morning to replace a coffee at home. Black tea is also known to reduce inflammation in the body.
• Afternoon:ÌýGreen tea has caffeine in it and so I’ll normally have this in the afternoon. It also contains antioxidants which aids in fat loss, lowering the risk of heart disease, improved brain function, and protecting against cancer.
• Evening:ÌýI used to dislike peppermint tea, but I’ve rediscovered it and have come to really enjoy its flavour. It’s commonly taken after a big meal as it aids digestion and supports a healthy digestive tract. A few other benefits of drinking peppermint tea is that it has antiviral, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties. I find that the peppermint quality also calms stomach pains and dizziness. Chamomile is known for its calming effects and so I normally take it at night, especially when I’ve had a particularly busy day and need some time to wind down before bed.

*Tea in the photo: Hibiscus, apple, carrot, beetroot, sweet blackberry leaves, orange peel and parsley, pomegranate petals, and seeds.