While staying home with my 5-year-old and husband since March, I've gradually gotten in the habit of pouring myself a glass of wine [1] as soon as 5 p.m. rolls around. It started as a small glass to help me unwind while preparing dinner, but over the course of a few months, it has turned into a crutch to help me relax after another bonkers day of juggling the responsibilities that come with working from home while being a full-time mom.
Yes, drinking a daily glass of wine can have some health benefits [2]. But it can also contribute to some not so great side effects, from feeling dehydrated to not getting quality sleep [3]. For me, the effects of a daily drink were starting to show. Additionally, I didn't love having my daughter see her mom needing a glass of wine to make it through the day. Being a mom during COVID-19 has been challenging, but I could feel myself creating a habit that I knew wasn't great for my body long-term. I was starting to fall into a cycle of not sleeping well, caffeinating in the morning to make up for it, and then needing a glass of wine to help undo the coffee stimulation. Wash, rinse, repeat.
To break the pattern, I tried to find an alternative to alcohol to help me relax. My mocktail creations [4] weren't doing the trick, and midday breathing exercises helped me chill for maybe five minutes max. When I finally discovered Sunwink Hibiscus Mint Unwind Tonic [5] ($48 for 12), I was skeptical at first. I'll be honest — I'm a sucker for pretty packaging and mostly tried it because I wanted to drink from such an Instagram-worthy bottle. My expectations were otherwise pretty low.
The product is made with natural adaptogens [7], or herbs that help the body adapt to stress. I was certain that something with herbal ingredients would taste like medicine, but I'm always willing to try something at least once. With my wine already poured as a backup plan, I took a taste.
My first sip was met with an effervescent, slightly minty, and super-refreshing surprise. This tonic actually tasted good. Not like wine, but good. But the selling point came after I finished the bottle. Gradually, I started to feel like the edge was taken off. Not as much as if I downed a huge glass of wine, but enough to make me feel relaxed and able to make it through dinnertime, bath time, bedtime, cleanup time, and all of the other "times" that I had to look forward to.
I've now replaced my evening glass of wine completely with a bottle of Hibiscus Mint Unwind Tonic. I made the switch cold turkey and never looked back. Not only do I have a booze-free drink that helps me unwind, but I'm also finding that I feel more hydrated and get better quality sleep at night. The coffee-wine cycle has stopped, and overall, I feel much better. I'm officially a convert.