Journaling Practices to Pair With Your Morning Matcha and Evening Cacao

There are rituals that anchor us, and then there are rituals that elevate us. At DIRTEA, we believe in both. Whether it’s a morning cup of Matcha or a calming sip of Cacao as the day unwinds, pairing your mushroom-powered moment with journaling can transform a daily habit into a deeply nourishing ritual.

Journaling is one of those deceptively simple practices. Pen meets paper, and suddenly, thoughts have form. When combined with the functional, grounding properties of mushrooms, this act becomes even more potent - it becomes a ritual that doesn’t just serve your mind, but your whole self.

In this guide, we’ll explore accessible journaling practices designed to complement the energising focus of DIRTEA Matcha and the grounding calm of DIRTEA Cacao –  and why this pairing may be more powerful than it seems. 

Prefer coffee? No problem. Swap in DIRTEA Mushroom Coffee. 

Why Pair Journaling With Mushroom-Powered Rituals?

Both journaling and functional mushrooms work best with consistency. They may not provide a dramatic shift overnight, but when practised daily, they can gently reshape your mindset, sharpen your awareness, and support emotional resilience.

Journaling offers a moment of stillness. A place to check in, process, reflect or simply notice. In an age of constant input, taking a few quiet minutes to write can act as a nervous system reset.

When you pair this mindful pause with functional mushrooms like Lion’s Mane or Reishi, you layer in additional support for your brain and body. Lion’s Mane may support cognitive function and focus (1), while Reishi has been shown to help modulate stress and support sleep (2). These mushrooms don’t work like caffeine or sleeping pills. Instead, their benefits build gradually, often subtly, over time.

Journaling creates space; the mushrooms support clarity within that space. This combination invites a simple but potent question: how do I want to feel today? 

Morning Matcha: Clarity, Intention & Creativity

DIRTEA Matcha Super Blend is designed for calm energy and focus - thanks to the inclusion of Lion’s Mane and Tremella alongside ceremonial-grade Matcha. It’s the perfect companion for intention-setting, creative flow, and mindful goal tracking.

Try these journaling practices to tap into that morning momentum:

Today I Intend To...

Write one clear, purposeful intention for the day. Keep it simple: "Stay curious", "Listen more than I speak", "Take breaks". Intentions help create a roadmap for your energy.

Micro-Wins

Jot down small wins from yesterday. This builds self-trust and reinforces progress — even if it's just "I drank water instead of reaching for coffee at 3pm." Recognising micro-wins helps you notice momentum and stay grounded in your efforts.

Stream of Consciousness

Set a timer for 5 minutes and write whatever comes out. No editing. Just let your thoughts spill. This helps declutter the mind and often sparks unexpected insights, creativity, and emotional clarity.

Why it matters: Mornings are our launchpad. Pairing Matcha with purposeful journaling can set the tone for the entire day, helping you move from reactivity to intention. Plus, with Lion’s Mane to support cognitive clarity you're setting yourself up for a pretty successful day.

Evening Cacao: Reflection, Gratitude & Letting Go

DIRTEA Cacao Super Blend is formulated with Reishi to help the body wind down and the mind soften. That’s not to mention its healthy dose of Lion’s Mane and Tremella too. As the day slows, this is your invitation to exhale -  and journaling can support that release.

Evening prompts to try:

Three Things I’m Grateful For

Specificity is key. Rather than "my job", try "a kind message from my colleague that made me feel seen". Gratitude journaling has been shown to support better sleep and emotional balance by shifting focus from what's lacking to what's present.

Emotional Check-In

What’s one emotion you felt today? What triggered it? What did it teach you? This helps you build emotional literacy and notice patterns over time.

Let It Go List

Write down what you don’t want to carry into tomorrow. Petty annoyances, spiralling thoughts, digital overwhelm -  all of it can go on the page. The act of writing creates a release, helping the nervous system recognise that the day is done.

Why it matters: Night-time is integration time. As the body prepares to rest, a gentle journaling practice helps process the day with kindness. Reishi supports this by potentially lowering cortisol levels and promoting relaxation (2). Together, they create space for better sleep and emotional clarity

Why These Practices Are More Powerful Than They Seem

At a glance, these might seem like gentle, even trivial, exercises. But there's growing evidence that journaling can support emotional regulation, improve memory, reduce stress and even strengthen the immune response (3).

Writing helps externalise thoughts and feelings that might otherwise loop internally. It can reduce mental clutter, clarify priorities, and improve self-awareness. When this is layered with the adaptogenic effects of functional mushrooms, you're not just managing your day – you're rewriting your relationship with it.

Combined with functional mushrooms, which also support stress regulation, cognitive clarity and overall wellbeing, you create a synergistic practice that nourishes both mind and body. The mushrooms tend to the inner systems, while journaling offers space for reflection, intention and emotional digestion.

You can become more aware of your inner world. You can create space between thought and reaction. You can start living with more presence, more intention, more ease. And that’s what a ritual is, really. A consistent, quiet devotion to your wellbeing.

Start Small, Stay Curious

You don’t need to write a novel. Some days, a single sentence is enough. The power lies in the showing up. Think of journaling as a low-pressure conversation with yourself. You’re not trying to be profound – you’re just making space. Space to notice. To feel. To breathe.

So tomorrow morning, when you wrap your hands around a warm mug of DIRTEA Matcha, ask yourself how you want to feel. And this evening, when you sip your Cacao and settle into stillness, give your thoughts a place to land.

You might be surprised what rises to the surface.

DIRTEA Functional Mushrooms

Level up your rituals with the natural power of functional mushrooms. Whether you're seeking clarity at sunrise or calm at sundown, DIRTEA Super Blends are designed to support your state of mind. 

Explore the complete DIRTEA collection today.

References

• Zhang, C., et al. (2016). Neurotrophic properties of Hericium erinaceus in central nervous system. International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms. [Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26853960/ 

• Wachtel-Galor, S., Yuen, J., Buswell, J.A., Benzie, I.F.F. (2011). Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi), a Medicinal Mushroom. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92757/ 

• Smyth, J.M., et al. (1999). Effects of writing about stressful experiences on symptom reduction in patients with asthma or rheumatoid arthritis. JAMA. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10435616/