The Evening Tea as a Boundary

Ritualized Transitions

For those of us who work where we live, the boundaries between “author” and “human” can become dangerously thin. At 5:00 PM, my mind is often still looping through a difficult scene, even as I walk into the kitchen to prepare dinner.

To combat this, I have instituted the ritual of the evening tea. The process of boiling the water, choosing the leaves, and holding the warm ceramic mug serves as a sensory “airlock.” It signals to my brain that the time for output has ended and the time for reflection has begun. Without these small gates, we eventually lose our ability to rest.

The Monroe Minute
Create a simple, five-minute ritual (a drink, a specific song, a walk to the mailbox) to mark the end of your work day.

Until the next page,
Sloane S. Monroe

Sloane Shay Monroe

I don’t write to idealize love, but to explore it honestly, with emotional precision and depth.