Our column Ladies of Leisure is an interview series with interesting and inspiring women, where we talk about their morning routines, advice they have for other female entrepreneurs and their favorite way to spend leisure time.
Meet Bianka Downs, real estate broker, team leader, new mom and newly wed. As a Las Vegas native and expert in the Vegas Valley, Bianka's specialty is her creative take on real estate. She is deeply motivated to help others and believes good things come to those who hustle.
What is your company and what do you do?
I mentor brand new realtors and work with home buyers, sellers, investors and also help investors launch their airbnbs. I also own a tax office and a baby gear rental business.
How do you start your morning? Give us a play by play-- time you get up, 3-5 things you do to start your day.
5:22 alarm goes off Face routine Brush teeth etc Feed dog’s
6 am tea and toast and journal
6:20 ish spin bike and audio book or podcasts Shower (and still listen to podcasts) Review and finalize/edit to do check list for the day
7am wake up baby Get baby ready
8am leave house
What advice do you have for other female entrepreneurs looking to create healthier and invigorating morning routines and habits?
I suggest writing down a 2 week commitment and then hold yourself to that routine for just 2 weeks. Start small, things like always make your bed, get moving by a certain time, etc. Also keep in mind that a night routine can be just as vital as morning routine. If the routine feels good during that 2 week time frame, you are more likely to keep it up!
What are some of your favorite leisure activities?
Researching , reading, self development , enjoying a cocktail at a nice lounge
Share a favorite affirmation that other female entrepreneurs could benefit from.
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
Ladies of Leisure | Bianka Downs, Real Estate Broker
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There's a reason your afternoon coffee no longer feels optional. Caffeinated products are among the most widely consumed substances on earth — in the US alone, roughly 89% of adults consume caffeine regularly. We've built entire rituals around it: the morning cup, the midday pick-me-up, the 3pm rescue. But more and more people are starting to ask a different question — not how do I get more energy, but why am I so dependent on this in the first place?The low-caffeine lifestyle isn't about deprivation. It's about returning to a version of your day that doesn't run on a stimulant clock. Here's how to start — without the headache spiral.Why People Are Rethinking CaffeineThe case for caffeine is real. It sharpens focus, lifts mood, and for many people, genuinely improves mornings. But there's a cost that builds quietly over time.Caffeine stimulates cortisol — the stress hormone — which keeps your body in a state of heightened alertness, making it harder to relax. It also blocks adenosine, a brain chemical that promotes relaxation and sleep. The result: you feel wired when you want to wind down, and exhausted when you need to be on.A 2023 review found that drinking caffeine during the day could reduce total sleep and affect sleep quality, causing restless sleep and daytime drowsiness — especially when caffeine is consumed less than 8.8 hours before bedtime. That afternoon latte at 3pm? For many people, it's still active in their system at midnight.Data from roughly 160,000 Sleep Foundation profiles shows that roughly 88% of people who regularly consume caffeine in the afternoon have also reported at least one sleep problem. That's not a coincidence.The Problem with Going Cold TurkeyThe reason most people fail when they try to cut back isn't willpower — it's withdrawal. Common withdrawal symptoms include headaches or migraines, fatigue, and brain fog. When your body is accustomed to daily caffeine, removing it abruptly sends it into protest mode.The smarter path is a gradual one.How to Actually Cut Back (Without Misery)1. Taper slowly, not dramatically. Reduce your intake by about 10–25% each week rather than eliminating it overnight. If you're drinking three cups of coffee a day, start by dropping to two and a half. Your nervous system adjusts better when the change is incremental.2. Know your cut-off time. Limiting caffeine to the morning and early afternoon — before 2pm — aligns with natural cortisol rhythms and reduces the risk of sleep onset delay. Make the rule simple: after lunch, switch to something else.3. Replace the ritual, not just the drink. This is the part most caffeine-reduction advice misses entirely. The craving for coffee is often not about caffeine — it's about the warmth, the pause, the moment of intention in your day. Replacing it with a herbal tea you actually love keeps the ritual alive while the dependency fades.4. Stay hydrated. Sometimes we reach for caffeine when we're actually just dehydrated. Drinking enough water throughout the day can naturally boost energy levels.5. Don't go it alone in the afternoon. The 3pm slump is real — but it's made worse by caffeine dependency. Replacing coffee with lower-caffeine options that contain L-theanine (like green tea or green maté) can offer a smoother energy curve and reduce jitteriness. Over time, the slump itself diminishes as your sleep improves.What a Low-Caffeine Day Actually Looks LikeYou don't have to go caffeine-free to feel the shift. For many people, simply reducing intake and moving it earlier in the day is enough to notice better sleep, lower baseline anxiety, and a more even energy curve throughout the day.A low-caffeine day might look like: a morning cup of something with a gentle lift (green maté has roughly 30–40mg of caffeine versus coffee's 80–100mg), a midday herbal tea with bold enough flavor to feel like a real drink, and an evening ritual that signals the end of the workday without wiring your nervous system for another few hours.The goal isn't zero. The goal is intentional — choosing what you put in your body and when, rather than defaulting to whatever keeps the dependency loop running.The Bigger PictureDrinking less caffeine can help reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality, and reduce headaches, among several other benefits. But beyond the physical, there's something subtler: when you're not dependent on a stimulant to feel functional, you start to trust your own energy more. You sleep better, which means you wake up more rested, which means you need less caffeine to get through the day. It's a virtuous cycle — and it starts with one intentional swap.At Leaves of Leisure, we believe the ritual of tea should feel like a choice, not a crutch. That's why every blend we make is herbal or low-caffeine by design — bold enough to be satisfying, gentle enough to drink any time of day.Sources: Healthline, Sleep Foundation, Calgary Mental Health & Wellness Centre, Cleveland Clinic, FDA
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Everything You Need to Know About Hibiscus Tea
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NutritionFacts.org Hibiscus tea contains potent antioxidants called anthocyanins — the same compounds that give it its rich red color. These are believed to support healthy blood vessel function and overall cardiovascular health. Buddha's Cup On the blood pressure front, the research is notable. A study from Tufts University showed that three daily cups of hibiscus tea significantly lowered blood pressure in prehypertensive adults compared to placebo, with a drop in systolic blood pressure by six points over the control group. And a 2015 review of five studies found that hibiscus tea decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure by an average of 7.58 mmHg and 3.53 mmHg, respectively. NutritionFacts.orghealthline Worth noting: hibiscus and other herbal remedies only modestly lower blood pressure and can't replace medications for those diagnosed with hypertension. But as part of a balanced lifestyle, the data is encouraging. Cleveland Clinic The Caffeine-Free Advantage Pure hibiscus tea is naturally calorie and caffeine-free. This makes it genuinely versatile in a way that most teas aren't — you can drink it in the morning, with lunch, after dinner, or right before bed without any of the sleep disruption that comes with caffeinated beverages. Medical News Today For anyone working on reducing their caffeine intake, hibiscus is a particularly good ally because it doesn't feel like a compromise. The flavor is assertive enough to feel like a real drink, the color is visually satisfying, and hot or iced, it holds its own. How We Use Hibiscus at Leaves of Leisure Hibiscus is the backbone of many of our blends — Apple Picking, Sun Soaked and Picnic in the Park — and it's there for a reason beyond just flavor. It gives the blends a deep ruby color that looks as good in a glass as it tastes. In Sun Soaked, it's paired with rosehip and green maté for a blend that's bright and slightly energizing. 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