For many people, the New Year is associated with a list of resolutions, pressure to change and an attempt to speed up. Meanwhile, there is increasing talk of information overload, decision fatigue and difficulty in maintaining concentration. In such a reality, the true value lies not in intensifying our activities, but in consciously pausing. One of the simplest ways to regain balance is through daily practices that calm the mind and organise emotions.

Dr Sylwia Mokrysz, a manager with a PhD in Economics, co-creator of the development strategy for the family-owned Mokate Group, founder and president of the Coffee and Tea Market Research Institute, involved in developing the high-quality tea segment for many years, talks about such practices not as a trend, but as a personal experience. For her, they are not just theory, but something she has developed through her daily life in the dynamic world of business.

– ‘We live in a world of sensory overload: information, messaging apps, decisions, the pressure to perform. The brain is in a constant state of alertness. That is why moments that allow us to pause and gather our thoughts are so important. For me, such a moment is tea – not as a ‘background’ drink, but as a moment of conscious pause,’ emphasises Sylwia Mokrysz.

Mindfulness in simple actions

Psychologists have pointed out that calm, repetitive activities reduce tension and support emotional regulation. It is not about spectacular ceremonies, but simple actions performed mindfully.

– ‘The pause begins long before the first sip. It’s choosing the leaves, smelling the dried tea, checking the water temperature, watching the brew change colour. When we perform these actions without haste, we enter a state of focus similar to meditation. It’s a moment when the brain stops processing an excess of stimuli,’ she explains.

Matcha, a powdered green tea that is prepared by whisking with a bamboo whisk, holds a special place in her daily routine. For her, the preparation process itself has become one of the most vivid examples of mindfulness practice.

Whisking tea – concentration in motion

– ‘When I first tried whisking tea in the Song dynasty style, I was surprised at how much the experience resembled meditation. The movements are repetitive, yet they require concentration and smoothness. You calm your thoughts down almost immediately,’ says Sylwia Mokrysz.

The dian cha tradition, which developed in China during the Song dynasty, involved whisking powdered tea in shallow bowls. Although this method has faded away, its echoes survive in Japan in the form of the matcha ceremony, chanoyu, which was developed based on the same idea of harmony and focus.

– ‘In a world where everything is accelerating, such a practice allows you to slow down. It’s a moment to focus on taste, smell and harmony. Whisking tea is a lesson in mindfulness – the art of pausing,’ she says.

Sylwia Mokrysz emphasises that she has performed this activity many times herself, both while learning and later as a conscious, private practice. The rhythmic movement of the wrist requires full presence of mind. If you become distracted, the brew will lose its ideal consistency.

The process takes just a few minutes, but it clearly alters one’s inner state. Breathing deepens and tension in the body subsides. From a neurobiological perspective, such activities promote the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for regeneration. Green tea contains L-theanine, which improves concentration and relieves tension. However, as she points out, context remains key.

‘If we drink tea while checking emails, for example, the effect will be minimal. True calm comes when we take a moment to switch off from the rush.

Today, more and more people are turning to the ritual of whisking tea as a kind of ‘mindful tea experience’ – an experience akin to meditation or yoga. Such practices are readily embraced by the contemporary wellness culture and the slow life movement as a way to regain inner balance.

Kericho – a lesson in patience from the tea plantations

The practice of mindfulness goes beyond simply brewing tea. An important stage in Sylwia Mokrysz’s journey was visiting the tea plantations in the Kericho region in Kenya, one of the world’s key tea-producing areas.

– ‘Kericho teaches humility in the face of nature. The rhythm of work there is dictated by the weather, the ripening of the leaves and the time of day. Nothing can be rushed without compromising quality,’ she says.

Watching the delicate leaves being harvested by hand was a formative experience for her.

– ‘This repetitive gesture, performed with great precision, shows that quality always requires time and focus. When I drink tea later, I know that it is the result of someone’s careful work. It changes your perspective,’ she explains.

The Beskid Mountains – a natural space for calming down

She finds a similar sense of rhythm and proportion in the mountains. She has a personal connection to the Beskids, which have become a natural space for her to recharge.

‘The Beskids teach mindfulness through simplicity. The soft line of the horizon, the changing light, the silence. Walking without headphones or phone calls helps me to organise my thoughts,’ she says.

The rhythm of her steps and her connection with nature help to reduce tension. But for her, it is also an exercise in perspective.

‘In the mountains, it’s easier to gain some distance. Work matters cease to be absolute. There’s room for reflection,’ she explains.

Her passion for photography is intertwined with her hiking, providing her with another way to practise mindfulness.

‘Photography is an exercise in mindfulness. To capture the light at dawn, you must first see it. And to see it, you must stop. You cannot speed up the sunrise over the Beskids.

Photography is therefore a natural extension of the calm preparation of tea – an exercise in patience and attention to detail.

New Year’s practice of simplicity

In the context of the New Year, Sylwia Mokrysz suggests adopting a new perspective.

‘Instead of making a long list of resolutions, I suggest making just one: taking a few minutes each day to pause mindfully. Tea prepared in silence. A walk. A moment without a phone. Regularity is more important than the spectacular nature of the activity.

Such moments help us feel stable in a world of sensory overload. They are spaces that we can fully control. Tea has many facets, from an everyday cup to sophisticated ceremonies dating back a thousand years, but they all lead to the same mindful experience.

‘They all teach us one thing: that drinking tea is about more than just quenching our thirst. It is a way to connect with culture, nature and ourselves. This is why, whether we reach for our daily cup of tea or take part in elaborate ceremonies, every cup reminds us of the same thing: that this moment is just for us,’ concludes Sylwia Mokrysz.

So, the New Year can begin not with acceleration, but with a focus on quality. On mindfulness. On repetitive, calm activities that bring order to our inner world step by step – and it is from there that real change begins.