My Burnout Ritual: The Drink That Helped Me Come Back to Myself

A few years ago, I hit a wall.
It wasn’t just stress — it was full-on burnout. My mind was racing even when I tried to rest, and my body felt like it was constantly in “go” mode. I remember sitting on the couch one night, exhausted but wired, thinking, something has to change.

That’s when I started experimenting with mushrooms — not the trendy kind, but the kind that actually help your nervous system recover. Chaga and Reishi became my daily anchors. I began making this warm, earthy drink every night before bed. It became my ritual — I’d sip slowly, open my journal, and just breathe again.

It wasn’t an overnight fix, but over time, this little moment became sacred.
It grounded me when everything felt too much. It gave me a sense of calm that caffeine and productivity hacks never could.

Forward years later, I still drink this almost every evening. It’s my signal to unwind, reflect, and reconnect with myself. I even bring it with me when we go away on vacation or travel for business. It's my must have. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin or running on empty, this is a beautiful place to start.

Recipe: 

Ingredients:

• ½ dropper Chaga tincture

• ½ dropper Reishi tincture

• 8 oz almond, cashew or oat milk (I prefer cashew)

• ½ tsp honey or maple syrup or agave

• ¼ tsp cinnamon or a pinch of cocoa

Instructions:

1. Warm milk gently on the stove or with a frother (avoid boiling)

2. Stir in Chaga and Reishi tinctures.

3. Add honey, spices, or cocoa to taste.

4. Froth slightly if desired for a latte texture.

5. Sip slowly — pair with 3 deep breaths or a short journaling moment for a full stress-relief ritual.

Perfect for your nightly ritual, this blend helps regulate your nervous system and prepare for deep, restorative sleep.

sleep.

If you think of your tinctures as part of a “mindful system”:

• Reishi → calm & emotional regulation

• Lion’s Mane → clarity & focus

• Chaga → grounding & resilience

They’d make a powerhouse trio for stress, mood, and balance.

How Chaga Helps with Stress:

Balances the Stress Response (Adaptogenic Support)

Chaga is an adaptogen, which means it helps your body adapt to stress — whether physical, emotional, or environmental. It doesn’t sedate you like some calming herbs; instead, it builds a buffer against stress over time by supporting the adrenal system.

Think of it as “stress armor”, it makes your body less reactive to daily pressure.

Reduces Inflammation (a Hidden Stress Driver)

Chronic inflammation keeps your stress hormones elevated.
Chaga is rich in antioxidants, betulinic acid, and polyphenols, which help reduce systemic inflammation — lowering the body’s overall stress load.

Supports Immune Health

When your nervous system is overactivated, your immune system weakens. Have you noticed, you tend to get sick easily. (all those colds coming in) Chaga helps modulate immunity, which brings balance to both the body and mind, essential if stress tends to make you run down or sick.

Grounding Energy

Unlike Lion’s Mane (clarity) or Cordyceps (energy), Chaga gives a deep, earthy calm. Many people describe it as helping them feel anchored, alert but centered.
It’s great for people who are burnt out, anxious, or overstimulated.

Hope you enjoy!