Wake up, make coffee and get ready for the day. That was my three-step morning routine since I was 14.
Every day, I would have at least one coffee, and most days, it was actually three, if not more. Coffee was something I looked forward to and relied on. Coffee was a main character in my life — until it wasn’t.
Two weeks ago, I got pretty sick — like laying in bed barely awake for eight days kind of sick. If you’ve had mononucleosis, a contagious viral infection with symptoms including fatigue, fever and swollen lymph nodes, you can relate. You probably know the fatigue can’t be fixed with even the most delicious pumpkin spice latte since you can’t even drink water.
While I was recovering, I was in no state to have any iced chai tea lattes with cold foam, caramel lattes with extra caramel drizzle or even my favorite — a Dunkin’ iced coffee with French vanilla swirl and cream. I knew that my beloved coffee and I were going to need a break because I couldn’t even stomach a plain old cup of joe.
But then, as I recovered, I realized those caffeine headaches that usually set in by noon and reminded me I hadn’t had enough caffeine were gone.
For almost three weeks now, I haven’t had my daily coffee. And sure, I miss walking to class with a fall-themed latte in hand or having something cold to sip on while I do my never-ending homework.
But the dull caffeine withdrawal headaches I used to get weren’t the only thing that I noticed changed for the better.
Suddenly, I’m saving time in the morning, drinking more water and spending a lot less money.
Each morning, instead of brewing a fresh pot of coffee or running to Dunkin because I’m already late for my 8 a.m. class, I wake up later with a shorter morning routine. My once always-running Keurig sits in my room unplugged and collects dust, except for when I brew an occasional herbal tea.
In reality, not sitting down and drinking my coffee probably only saves me 10 minutes each morning, but those 10 minutes add up over the week. Most times, it means I get to take advantage of one more snooze button before I have to get out of bed.
And instead of reaching for a classic caffeinated beverage as I rush out the door, I reach for my water bottle. The effects are twofold. First, I’m no longer dehydrated from the caffeine side effects. Second, I’m drinking more water because I have given myself no other choice. I noticed that I started drinking water with my breakfast, something I’d previously reserved for lunch and dinner.
Probably my favorite impact of this three-week stint is the money saving I’ve done. Let’s do some quick math to see just how much, on average, I spent on coffee alone.
Typically, I would buy coffee around five times a week. Usually, my coffees, whether that was an iced coffee with French vanilla swirl from Dunkin or a pumpkin spice latte from Saxby’s, ranged anywhere from $4 to $7. So if we multiply the cost of the coffees by the number of days, that’s $20 to $35 I spent each week.
And while you may be thinking that’s not a lot of money, let’s put it into a larger perspective. If I spent $20 to $35 for one week, each month I’d spend $80 to $140. Each year I’d spend $1,040 to $1,820 on coffee alone. And if I’m really honest with myself, it was probably more than five coffees bought each week, not to mention the Keurig pods and creamer I went through.
As a broke college student and a former coffee lover, that math hurt.
But as with any long-term relationship break-up, even though I’ve found benefits in my day-to-day life between saving money, extra sleep and better hydration, I do sometimes miss a nice cup of coffee.
It was reliable. It was consistent. It was a part of my day I genuinely looked forward to.
At the same time, it could also be a bit toxic. I don’t miss the headaches when my brain decided I hadn’t had enough coffee. I don’t miss the jitters that would follow when I drank a little too much caffeine a little too quickly. And I definitely could do without the insomnia I’d almost inevitably experience after a latte way too late in the day.
So while coffee and I may not be broken up forever, we’re definitely on a much-needed break. And for the next few weeks, I think I’ll stick to my herbal teas, occasional decaf lattes and of course, my water bottle that travels with me everywhere.