It used to hit like clockwork.
Sometime around 3 PM — after a productive morning and a rushed lunch — I’d feel it creeping in: the slump. That hazy, sluggish lull where your brain still has a to-do list, but your body just wants to lie on the couch and scroll aimlessly.
My instinct? Another cup of coffee.
But here’s the thing. While I love coffee (still do), I started noticing that my second cup in the afternoon left me feeling wired but tired. My heart raced, my focus scattered, and later, when I tried to sleep, my mind wouldn't settle. I needed a new kind of reset. One that didn’t cost me my evening peace.
That’s when I stumbled into herbal tea rituals.
Why Coffee Alone Wasn’t Cutting It
I used to think herbal teas were only for when you were sick, bloated, or pretending to be healthy. But as I got more into wellness - real, sustainable wellness - I started paying attention to how I wanted to feel, not just what I wanted to get done.
I didn’t want to push through the day anymore. I wanted to reset.
The First Afternoon I Made the Switch
Instead of pouring another coffee, I boiled water and steeped a sachet of herbal tea I had lying around - the kind with ashwagandha, tulsi, moringa. I sat by the window, phone face-down, and sipped. I didn’t expect much, but something clicked.
No crash.
No anxiety.
Just a warm, centered alertness — like my body took a deep breath.
That one cup became a habit. And now, my afternoon tea ritual is something I protect like gold.
What I Use Now: A Blend That Works as Hard as I Do
Not all herbal teas are created equal. I wanted something that felt indulgent but was actually doing the heavy lifting — calming my nervous system, supporting digestion, and gently boosting clarity.
That’s when I found Astiry.
Their blend called Harmony Zest became my go-to. It has tulsi (known for stress relief), brahmi (for mental clarity), spearmint (soothing but fresh), and passionflower (helps unwind without sedating). No sugar, no additives — just whole, organic herbs I can feel good about.
Sometimes I switch it up with Vitality Infusion when I need a bit more uplift — it has moringa, amla, hibiscus, and adaptogens like ashwagandha and eleuthero. Think calm energy, not buzz.
The Mini-Ritual That Changed My Afternoons
Now my afternoons look like this:
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I close my laptop for 10 minutes
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I brew a cup of tea (sometimes iced if it’s hot)
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I take a few deep breaths, stretch, maybe write a thought or two down
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I return to work or parenting or whatever’s next — feeling reset, not rundown
It’s the simplest shift I’ve made this year, and it’s had a ripple effect on everything — from how I sleep, to how I handle stress, to how I actually look forward to that 3 PM moment.
Herbal Tea Isn’t a Replacement — It’s a Companion
I still drink coffee in the morning. But now, I use herbal tea as my way to balance the day - to support my body instead of pushing it.
If you’re tired of feeling tired - especially after lunch — and you want a gentle, nourishing reset without more caffeine, this might be the ritual you didn’t know you needed.
Want to Try the Blends I Use?
Check out Astiry’s Daily Wellness Ritual Bundle — it has all three of their core blends in a to support gut health, energy and stress relief. Perfect for starting your own afternoon reset habit.