☕ Coffee Makes Mornings Less F*cked
And other ways morning rituals enrich our lives
Good Morning!
Welcome to Tuesday’s edition of Daily Self. I’m so glad you’re here! If you made progress on writing your purpose statement after reading yesterday’s post, I’m super proud of you. You’re taking a huge step in crafting the life that you want for yourself.
In today’s edition…
Morning Microdose: ☕ Coffee Makes Mornings Less F*cked
Myth of the Day: Coffee-themed!
Action Item: How can you adapt your morning rituals when travel?
Let’s get started!
(1) Morning Microdose
☕ Coffee Makes Mornings Less F*cked… and Other Ways Morning Rituals Enrich Our Lives
Coffee should have its own Substack. In fact, it does, and so do the people who make it.
I’ve been drinking morning coffee since college, quit twice when I considered it a vice, restarted twice when I said “screw that,” and have continued drinking it through my 20s, 30s, and now early 40s. Coffee has stuck with me through:
Drink phases like the Starbucks bootleg Peppermint Mocha—3 shots of espresso over ice in a tall cup with 1 pump mocha, 1 pump peppermint, and a splash of half & half
Dental shaming (every single time… “Have you considered whitening strips?”)
Vessel and format experiments like my favorite espresso-making “traditional” Moka pot, 30-second joy-making robot barista, canned nitros, instant powders, freeze-dried, butter-enriched, tea-hybrid, and homemade whipped cream topped with a dusting of coconut sugar
But for me, it’s not really about the drink. Morning coffee is my ritual and the signal to my brain (and my bowels) that it’s business time. Coffee is that calming reminder that the earth is still rotating (YAY), I have a new chance to fully live my purpose, and that it’s time to poop.
The value of morning rituals
Morning rituals like having a cup of coffee (or tea, green juice, or anything else you drink) are meaningful for a variety of reasons.
Morning rituals provide a sense of familiarity when our brains are just coming back online (and thus in a more mentally vulnerable state). You’ve all seen those whimsical signs and mugs from Etsy: “But first, coffee.” Morning rituals also offer a reliable routine that can comfort us in an unpredictable world. “Kid is sick, cat brought in a live mouse, hot water heater broke, car battery is dead… well, at least there’s coffee.”
Rituals like morning coffee can be a form of self-care. Taking a few minutes each morning to enjoy that special drink, hot breakfast, crossword puzzle, 5-minute meditation, 30-minute workout, etc. can provide us with a much-needed break from the stresses of daily life. They can also serve as reminders to prioritize our own well-being and take the time to do something enjoyable for ourselves.
Lastly, morning rituals can serve as a way to connect with others. Having a cup of coffee and eating breakfast with family, or hitting the pickleball courts with our friends can be a social activity that fosters connection and strengthens relationships.
What’s your favorite brew?
For me, morning coffee serves as my ritual of choice. It's an opportunity for me to begin the day with a moment of quiet reflection, and to savor the simple pleasures of life. But morning rituals can take many different forms, and what works for me may not work for you. The key is to find a practice that resonates with you, and that can be easily incorporated into your daily routine.
Whether it's having a cat pitter-paw your face, a morning walk, a few minutes of yoga, or simply taking a few deep breaths before starting your day, the benefits of a morning ritual are clear. By prioritizing this time for yourself each morning, you can set yourself up for a more productive, focused, and fulfilling day ahead.
(2) Myth of the Day
I thought it would be fun to share a couple of coffee-related myths today.
Darker roasts have more caffeine than lighter roasts.
While it's true that darker roasts tend to have a stronger, bolder flavor, this does not necessarily mean that they contain more caffeine. In fact, the opposite is often true. Roasting coffee beans actually reduces their caffeine content, so a darker roast may have less caffeine than a lighter roast.
Coffee can sober you up or reduce the effects of alcohol.
While it's true that caffeine can make you feel more alert and awake, it does not actually decrease your blood alcohol content or make you less impaired. In fact, combining caffeine with alcohol can actually be dangerous, as it can mask the effects of alcohol and make it harder to gauge how intoxicated you are.
(3) Action Item
What’s your favorite morning ritual? Are you able to adapt that ritual when you travel? It’s summer travel season and if you find yourself stressed out about it, try thinking ahead of how you’ll adapt your favorite morning ritual while you’re on the road. That, in itself, could help alleviate some anxiety!
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