Matcha is an excellent drink for enhanced focus and calm. A state of mind ideal for intense work or study sessions. Drinking a cup of matcha at the right moment will help you boost productivity and get things done!
But when is it the best time to drink matcha? Is there a matcha drinking routine that can achieve optimum focus and concentration?
Yes, there is!
The goal of our matcha routine is to keep you feeling refreshed and energized all day. Let's dive deep into the perfect matcha drinking routine to boost your productivity and physical workouts.
Crafting the Perfect Daily Matcha Routine
Setting up a proper routine is essential if you genuinely want to get the most out of matcha. Our perfect matcha routine below will help you get started:
- Importance of Starting the Day With Matcha
- Mid-Morning Matcha for Sustained Energy
- Incorporating Matcha into Your Afternoon Routine
- Matcha as a Pre-Workout Booster
- Evening Wind-Down with Matcha
- A Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Matcha Tea
NB. This matcha routine is simply a guide. You can choose to alter it to suit your requirements or lifestyle better. You should also consult with a health professional or dietician before consuming large amounts of matcha daily.
Importance of Starting the Day With Matcha
Only some people's favorite part of the day is waking up in the morning. Trying to shake off the sleepiness and grogginess can be an insufferable task. That's why we first jump in the shower to wash away the sleep.
Imagine if you could start your day with a healthier alternative. What if you replaced your morning coffee with matcha? How would it benefit you to drink matcha in the morning? This simple switch could be the key to a more energized and focused start to your day.
Sleep inertia is a part of our circadian rhythm that modulates mood and alertness when waking. After a long night of deep sleep, coming off a heightened state of sleep inertia can be challenging. This is why drinking something that promotes energy and alertness is essential.
Click here to learn more about the benefits of drinking matcha in the morning.
As we mentioned before, coffee gives you a massive burst of energy and focus. However, this quick energy release is soon followed by a sudden crash. Drinking more coffee may help your case here, but more caffeine leads to that jittery sensation that negatively impacts your concentration, focus, and mood.
Matcha, on the other hand, can help alter mood and alertness in a positive way. After a deep state of sleep inertia, poor mood and alertness is inevitable in the mornings. Matcha, with its proven ability to increase energy and focus, while improving alertness and mood, can leave you feeling refreshed and revitalized.
Mid-Morning Matcha for Sustained Energy
A mid-morning tea break is compulsory in some workspaces globally. Staff tend to have a short 15-minute tea break after the morning rush. This break is crucial in preparing oneself for the next few work hours before lunch.
You can benefit from adopting this routine to enjoy a mid-morning cup of matcha quickly. Benefits include:
- Energy top-up.
- A short break after a 2-hour morning work stint.
- Mental focus and concentration reset.
Knowing you will have a short break mid-morning will also motivate you to be more productive in the morning. Also, knowing that you will have a cup of matcha mid-morning is something extraordinary to look forward to!
Incorporating Matcha into Your Afternoon Routine
There’s nothing like a comforting cup of matcha after a satisfying lunch! Feel accomplished and enriched as you sip down lunchtime matcha after a busy and productive morning.
Our energy levels usually peak at lunchtime, which is why a cup of matcha is ideal for maintaining that energy and focus. Lunchtime matcha is perfect for avoiding the afternoon slump.
If you already feel cheerful and energetic and know you can last the rest of the day, then perhaps you can avoid matcha at lunch. Or, if you are not looking to down another cup of matcha, you can instead try a healthy matcha snack.
Examples of available matcha-flavored snacks:
- Matcha-infused yogurt
- Energy balls
- Kit Kat
- Rice crispy treats
- Biscuits
- Pancakes
Matcha cookies make for excellent treats. Learn how to make Strawberry Kitkat Matcha Cookies here.
Matcha as a Pre-Workout Booster
Caffeine can help deliver much-needed fuel for a workout. That burst of energy you get from coffee and pre-workout drinks can help you achieve incredible results in the gym. However, it can take a while to cool down from such a high, especially when consuming large amounts of caffeine.
Matcha, on the other hand, has less caffeine than other drinks yet still delivers an excellent amount of energy. It is an ideal pre-workout drink for 45 minutes before hitting the gym. The L-theanine content will allow you to better focus on your workout and cool down.
Source: Teafolly
The L-theanine in matcha not only enhances your focus during the workout but also keeps you calm and relaxed. This calming effect can help promote a restful sleep, making matcha an ideal pre-workout drink for those who prefer evening workouts and need to wind down for a good night's sleep.
Click here to learn more about using matcha as a pre-workout drink.
Performance matcha like Be More Matcha is ideal as a pre-workout drink. Be More Matcha has added ingredients like ginseng and L-citrulline to help increase bloodflow during workouts.
Evening Wind-Down with Matcha
Unlike coffee or other caffeinated energy drinks, matcha is safe to drink before bed at night. It will not keep you awake and restless; it can help reduce stress and improve sleep.
Click here to learn more about how matcha affects sleep.
However, if you have already drank a few cups of matcha throughout the day and still feel energetic, you should avoid matcha or any other caffeinated drink before bedtime.
As with any drink or food, too much can be unhealthy. Drinking too much matcha will increase your caffeine intake, and you may suffer from similar side effects as if you drank too much coffee.
That said, if it was a relaxed day with minimum matcha intake, go ahead and wrap up your evening with a warm cup of matcha!
Understanding Matcha and L-Theanine
Matcha is an ancient drink that originated in Japan. It is known for its green color, unique production process (grown in shade), and numerous health benefits. One of those benefits being matcha's ability to improve mood and focus.
The ingredient responsible for matcha's mood and focus-enhancing benefits is L-theanine. L-theanine is an amino acid that influences our neurochemistry and brain function. It promotes the neurotransmitters responsible for relaxation.
L-theanine also boosts dopamine and serotonin levels, which are neurotransmitters associated with mood regulation, pleasure, and reward. This makes L-theanine an exceptional tool for a calm, relaxing mood. However, the benefits continue.
L-theanine is an amino acid that provides dual functionality. It can help calm the mind and enhance attention, focus, and mental clarity. A calm, yet focused mental state is ideal for those looking to increase productivity, be more creative, and simply deal with daily stressful situations.
Matcha and L-Theanine: A Winning Formula
As mentioned before, matcha offers plenty of benefits. It is rich in antioxidants, increases metabolism, and boosts sustained energy. Matcha does have caffeine, not as much as coffee, but enough to make you feel energized.
The high caffeine content from coffee will give you a more significant energy burst. However, you will crash harder and sooner. This is where the combination of matcha and l-theanine beat coffee.
L-theanine's calm, relaxed, and mood-enhancing properties help regulate the energy boost provided by matcha's caffeine content. This creates a sustained energy release that lasts longer and without the crash.
Coffee drinkers love caffeine to help them complete daily tasks, be it work or home chores. However, high coffee intake creates jittery feelings, making it difficult to focus. Again, L-theanine and caffeine in matcha provide a focus and alert state.
The calmness from L-theanine allows you to handle stress better. This state of mind can help you function better at work, putting your increased energy levels to better use.
TL;DR: Matcha Routine for Enhanced Focus and Calm
- Matcha boosts focus, energy, while keeping you calm and refreshed.
- If you drink matcha at the right times throughout your day, you will stay focused and energized all day. Start by following the steps below.
- Start your morning with matcha to improve mood and alertness.
- Enjoy a mid-morning matcha for sustained energy and focus.
- Incorporate matcha into your afternoon to avoid energy slumps.
- Use matcha as a pre-workout booster for energy without jitters.
- Wind down in the evening with matcha to reduce stress and improve sleep.
- Matcha's L-theanine promotes relaxation, focus, and a balanced mood.
- Follow a step-by-step guide to prepare matcha tea for the best experience.