Yutori: The Japanese Art of Slowing Down. A conversation with Dragonfly Tea

As the festive season approaches, life often begins to move at a dizzying pace. Between last-minute shopping, overwhelming Black Friday messages, planning family gatherings, and the general hustle of year-end activities, it’s easy to feel stressed.

During this chaos, there’s a Japanese concept that reminds us to slow down, reflect, and find balance: Yutori. Yutori is more than just relaxation. It’s a conscious act of slowing down to appreciate the world around you, enjoy nature and to create space for reflection and inner peace.

Read on to learn how you can practice Yutori and embrace moments of stillness and mindfulness with both houseplants and a good cup of tea. And, as a special treat, enjoy a free sample of Dragonfly's Golden Breakfast Tea with every House of Kojo order this month, with no minimum spend required. Let’s explore how the principles of Yutori can be incorporated into your daily routine with tea, houseplants, and moments of pause.

What is Yutori?

Yutori encourages us to find balance in a busy world, allowing ourselves to experience the spaciousness of the soul. Whether it’s lingering over a cup of tea, tending to an indoor plant collection, or simply taking a deep breath, Yutori is a practice of mindfulness that can transform the way we approach our everyday lives.

In a season where schedules are packed and demands are high, practising Yutori can be an antidote to holiday stress. Through the ritual of caring for houseplants and mindfully enjoying a cup of tea, you can cultivate moments of peace and clarity.

Growing Houseplants for a Calm Connection

One of the easiest ways to practice Yutori is by engaging with the natural world through houseplant care. Houseplants not only add beauty and life to your home but also provide a sense of calm, inviting you to slow down and focus on the present moment. When we care for plants, we create an opportunity to pause and nurture something living, which, in turn, nurtures our own well-being.

Here’s how houseplants can help you embrace Yutori:

🤍Mindful interactions: Caring for houseplants requires patience and attention. Watering, pruning, and repotting plants are all activities that encourage you to be present and mindful.

🤍 Creating a positive space: Houseplants create a sense of spaciousness in your home. Their presence invites you to appreciate the simplicity of nature and find calm amidst the busyness of life.

🤍 Connecting to nature: In a world increasingly dominated by screens and technology, houseplants offer a way to reconnect with the natural world, which is central to the practice of Yutori.

And, if you pair your plant care routine with a soothing cup of Dragonfly Tea, you can elevate this practice to a whole new level of mindfulness.

A Mindful Tea Ritual with Dragonfly Tea