My Morning Fix

“We become what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” -Will Durant

🫀 Pulse Check

I used to think coffee was just a ritual. A comfort. Something to look forward to as I kicked off a long day of 8:30 to 5:30 lectures.

Ever since I got a real espresso maker, I’d excitedly dial in a perfect iced latte, pour it over ice, and sip it slowly as I settled into the first lecture of the morning.

But somewhere between first semester of PA school and now, that ritual quietly turned into a dependency. I noticed that missing my morning cup wasn’t just annoying anymore, it wrecks my whole mindset. I feel off. Exhausted. Irritable.

I typically walk to class each day since I only live 15 minutes away and it’s a great way to get my steps in and be with my thoughts… One morning, however, my girlfriend graciously gave me a ride on a rainy day before class.

After dropping me off, I regretfully admit that I called and asked my girlfriend to turn the car around that day because I left my coffee in her cupholder… I couldn't imagine getting through the day without it.

In PA school, it's almost expected that you’ll be living off coffee. Caffeine and coffee becomes a staple in surviving long days of classes and studying, however I never would’ve thought I’d become that same student.

With all of this said, I’m not quitting coffee.

But I am realizing I need to take a harder look at what I think gives me energy, and what actually does. Sometimes discipline looks like a nice cold vanilla latte. Other times, it looks like going about the day without it.

🔖 Lessons

1. As humans we need rituals and daily routines to make us happy. Making coffee before class or going with a loved one to a coffee shop on a Saturday morning is a ritual apart of my life that I thoroughly enjoy.
2. Caffeine is addicting. I know that. And because of this, I will be searching alternative methods of starting my day as to not feed into my newfound addiction.Perhaps some green tea? It’s lower in caffeine and rich in L-theanine and other health benefits. Or maybe just cutting the coffee from everyday to every other day? We’ll see.
3. Find what makes you happy, but don’t let external factors be the soul source of your happiness.Making coffee makes me happy, but I shouldn’t let a rushed morning and a missed coffee ruin the rest of my day.

Be well & Keep Pluggin.

-C.