There is something rather strange about modern life. We have more ways than ever to save time, yet somehow many of us seem to have less of it. Our phones are always within reach, messages arrive instantly, work can follow us home, and even our free time can become another opportunity to be productive or improve ourselves.

Wellness has become part of this conversation too. We are encouraged to sleep better, exercise more, eat perfectly, meditate, take supplements, track our habits and constantly work towards becoming a healthier version of ourselves. While there is certainly value in looking after our health, sometimes wellness itself can begin to feel like another item on an already very long to-do list.

Perhaps what many of us really need is not another thing to do, but permission to slow down.

When did slowing down become so difficult?

There is growing interest in the idea of nervous system regulation, rest and creating a greater sense of balance in everyday life. Rather than constantly trying to optimise ourselves, people are increasingly looking for ways to feel grounded, present and connected. Conversations around wellbeing are also expanding beyond physical health to include emotional, psychological, spiritual and social wellbeing.

This feels like a natural response to the pace of modern life. After spending so much time surrounded by screens, notifications, deadlines and information, it is hardly surprising that we are beginning to crave quiet. This is one of the places where herbalism has something rather beautiful to offer.

Herbalism is not simply about finding a plant for a particular problem. At its heart, it can encourage us to develop a relationship with plants and with the natural world around us. It asks us to notice the seasons, learn what grows locally, spend time in the garden and take a little more care over the things we prepare for ourselves. Even something as simple as making a cup of herbal tea can become an opportunity to pause.

The simple pleasure of herbal tea

Think about what happens when you make a cup of herbal tea. You have to stop what you’re doing for a moment. You boil the kettle, choose your herbs, pour the water and wait while the infusion develops. You notice the aroma, the warmth of the cup and perhaps the changing colour of the water. None of this is complicated, but it creates a natural pause in the day.

Chamomile, lemon balm, lavender and oat preparations have all been used traditionally in herbal practice as part of calming or evening routines. Of course, traditional use isn’t the same thing as a guarantee of a medical effect, and herbs aren’t suitable for everyone. They can interact with medicines and may not be appropriate during pregnancy, breastfeeding or with certain health conditions, so it’s always important to seek suitable advice when using herbs medicinally. But herbalism doesn’t have to begin with using herbs as medicine. It can begin simply with getting to know them.

Nature has its own pace

One of the things I love most about spending time with plants is that they completely ignore our modern obsession with speed.

A seed doesn’t suddenly decide it should grow faster because someone else is ahead of it. An oak tree doesn’t worry that it isn’t producing leaves quickly enough. Plants follow their own rhythms, responding to light, temperature, rainfall and the changing seasons. There is something very grounding about spending time in that environment.

A walk through the countryside, sitting in the garden, tending a few pots of herbs or simply noticing what is growing along a hedgerow can help us step outside the constant stream of information and return our attention to what is immediately around us.

You don’t need to turn it into a formal mindfulness practice. You don’t need an app or a complicated technique. Sometimes simply looking at the plants around you is enough.

Creating a small evening ritual

If life has been particularly busy, try creating a very simple evening ritual. Make yourself a cup of herbal tea and, for ten or fifteen minutes, put your phone somewhere out of reach. Sit somewhere comfortable and allow yourself to do absolutely nothing productive.

Perhaps you might light a candle, read a few pages of a book or write down a few thoughts from the day. Or you might simply sit quietly and enjoy your tea.

The important thing isn’t the ritual itself. It’s the intention behind it. You’re creating a small boundary between the busyness of the day and the quieter part of your evening.

Over time, these little moments can become something we genuinely look forward to.

Sometimes we need less, not more

Perhaps one of the most valuable things herbalism can teach us is that wellbeing doesn’t always mean adding something else to our lives. Sometimes we need to remove something.

We might need to put the phone down. We might need to say no to another commitment. We might need to spend an afternoon without trying to achieve anything. We might simply need to sit outside with a cup of tea and watch the world go by.

There is nothing particularly impressive about that, and perhaps that’s precisely the point. We don’t always have to be improving ourselves. Sometimes we are allowed to rest.

Finding our way back to balance

Balance isn’t necessarily about getting every part of life perfectly organised. Life will always have busy periods, difficult days and unexpected challenges. What matters is having ways to come back to ourselves when things become overwhelming.

For some people, that might be walking in nature. For others, it might be gardening, making herbal preparations, journalling, meditation or simply sitting quietly with a cup of tea.

There is no single right way.

Perhaps the important thing is to find the practices that help you feel more present in your own life. So the next time you find yourself asking, “What else should I be doing?”, perhaps ask a different question instead:

“What could I let go of?”

You might be surprised by how much space that creates.

The information in this article is for general wellbeing and educational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. Always seek appropriate professional advice before using herbs medicinally, particularly if you take medication or have an existing health condition.