I can't help but feel this task was a first-world accomplishment, but I went 30 days without coffee.
For anyone that knows me, I generally have a cup of coffee in hand each morning. As someone who suffers from having to wake up, coffee was my one and only cure.
Each coffeehouse on campus knew my name, order and time that I would arrive. While I love all of my local baristas, my bank account and caffeine addiction did not. Spending between $2-$5 on a cup of coffee every day added up after a while.
When I decided to take control of my finances and spending habits, I knew that I needed to kick my coffee habit. So, I quit. Cold turkey.
I won't lie — this was not easy. As someone who believes in "treat yourself," coffee was my 'me-time' in the mornings. With a full class schedule, an internship and commitments with different organizations across campus, my energy levels depended on the amount of coffee I drank.
My 30 days without coffee went a little like this...
Days 1-5: Bitch mode
Caffeine is a powerful thing. Quitting cold turkey after drinking at least one cup of coffee every morning for the past 4 years had its serious side-effects.
My head was in an intense amount of pain. My mood was extremely irritable, and my desire to consume just a sip of coffee was at an all-time high. All I could think to myself was, "you can end this misery with one small cup." I went to bed at 8:00 p.m. my first night because my head hurt so badly. My dependency was much stronger than I thought.
Days 6-18: Wow, I need a new hobby
I began to realize that the amount of time I spent each morning going to get coffee or making a cup of coffee was too much. I knew that to distract myself from my temptations, I had to do something else with my time.
So, I created a new routine in the morning. Waking up, stretching, washing my face and going over any homework that I didn't do the night before became my new cup of coffee.
Not surprisingly, I felt more prepared for my day, and not having to worry about waiting in lines out the door for coffee was an added bonus.
Days 19-30: OK, so like, when do the cravings go away?
I kept waiting for my brain to catch up with my body. Every day I passed by multiple coffee shops lusting after my favorite beverage. But alas, I kept walking. While the desire to walk in and order an iced latte never went away, I knew that my goal was close to completion.
Each time I had a craving, I drank my water instead. Not replacing my vice with a new vice was the biggest challenge. Anytime I've decided to give something up, I've switched to a different problem. I couldn't have soda or energy drinks, so I just had to have water.
Day 31: This doesn't taste as good as I remember...
My friends and I went out for coffee in the morning to catch up. Eager, I ordered one of my favorite basic drinks: a grande iced vanilla latte with only two pumps of syrup.
I was ready for my reward. Thirty days without my lifeline. The anticipation was real. I got my drink, sat down and smiled.
And then I took a sip.
I knew this was a well-made latte, but I sat there and I couldn't help but think: "Damn, this doesn't taste the same."
Anyone can kick a habit or vice. I chose to quit coffee to see if I could handle my schedule and existence without it.
Turns out I can. And as I write this, I am taking a sip out of my coffee.
