Nicole Bensen

the Tea Time blog

Welcome to

Use this journaling page to reflect on three good things from 2021 and imagine your best possible 2022.

In this podcast interview, Heidi asked me to share my top 3 tips for developing happiness and joy, and I couldn’t help but over-deliver and share 5 simple, fun ways to get happier TODAY. We demonstrated what it would feel like to fill out one of the prompts in my mood-boosting journal, and Heidi said, […]

Below is a quote from an attendee of my corporate wellbeing workshop, “Increasing happiness, resilience, and success.” This. This is one reason I love what I do! “The easiest and at the same time most inspirational and useful session I’ve ever attended.” I led 6 sessions for an organization’s management team, and being able to […]

4 steps to a meaningful thank you note

Tip 6 from the 10-week Fall Joy List is, “Do one kind thing for someone else that takes fewer than 10 minutes.” Here are 4 steps to a meaningful thank you note.

“I will be kind to myself by [Fill in the blank].”  Ideas: Saying no to something I don’t want to do. Taking a nap. Taking a bath. Going for a walk.  That’s your idea for week 5 of the 10-week Fall Joy List. (In case you missed last week’s “30-second fall meditation” I recorded a soothing video […]

Hello and happy fall! I have been HEADS-DOWN creating a digital version of my signature wellbeing program “Next Level You: happier, more resilient, confident, and calm” the past few weeks, and I’m excited to share it with you all soon. Traditionally I’ve run this program live, where I’m teaching for 2 hours a week for […]

It’s week 4 of the 10-week Fall Joy List, and today’s prompt falls in the “so, so, ridiculously-easy” designation. It takes all of 30 seconds. Ready for it? 1. Sit or lay in a comfortable position and close your eyes. 2. Take a deep breath in and out, and think about the smell of a freshly-baked […]

It’s week 3 of the 10-week Fall Joy List, and today’s prompt is “Make a fall treat. Whether it’s making candy apples or s’mores, carving a pumpkin, or assembling a craft with glue, choose something to create.” Want to know how this helps? Check out this excerpt from the Greater Good Science Center article titled, […]

Wellbeing energy prompt: what is something simple and joyful you can do to give yourself a boost of energy today? Here are some ideas.

Woman thinking

✨ If you could go back in time and tell your 17-year-old self one thing, what would it be?✨ If your 80-year-old self came to visit you today, what do you think they would tell present-day you?