The Waiting Is The Hardest Part: Why To Delay Your Morning Coffee
Cheers (or not) to moderation, friends with kids, and postponing coffee joy
2 LEGIT 2 QUIT
Fall often marks a chance to reset post-summer and pre-holidays by skipping the booze, but #soberoctober is not everyone's cup of tee(totaling). If the goal is simply to cut back without going cold turkey, Sober-ish October can be a less extreme approach, with an emphasis on intention and awareness. Suggestions range from alternating with a few non-alc options-thankfully there are WAY better choices these days- to practicing mindful drinking by setting weekly goals with the help of support apps. Moderation in everything, including moderation.
WHAT I CHUCKLED AT
“It's weird how we can unintentionally make people, but not dessert.” - bathroom graffiti, via Caitlin Cook and her fierce one-woman show that should not be missed next time it comes around.
AUNTIE-HERO
Speaking of the choice (or not) to procreate, required reading for non-moms and their mom friends: this moving NY Mag piece by Allison P. Davis sheds new light on the experience of women who have opted out of parenthood. Along with flexible schedules and quieter mornings, perks of membership in the childfree-by-choice club include the plight to feel seen as embodied members of our gender, the need to explain or justify our choices, and the increased risk of alienation from lifelong friends. It’s a decision that is neither casual nor careless, and faces its own implications down the road. So for the health of our friendships, it’s important that the voices of those like Davis, Ruby Warrington, and yes- me, are heard. It’s easy (and hurtful) to paint us as “baby haters," but as this story beautifully illustrates, it’s not about hating kids— it’s a much more delicate dance, worthy of attention. And re: dancing aunties, I haven’t been to enough churches to be a Godmom but I can definitely be a Dancemom. And I will always have gum…IYKYK.
HERE'S A TIP, MAKE THAT CHANGE
As your Friend, I need you to slow your roll to Central Perk while I serve up a truth bomb: drinking coffee as soon as you wake up is not helping you stay alert, and plays a huge role in the 3pm crash. Throughout the day, your body produces adenosine, a chemical that controls the sleep-wake cycle among other functions, and accumulates overnight. Upon waking, it takes 90 minutes for the adenosine to clear your system. But caffeine blocks that process and keeps it hanging around, and also inhibits the natural rise in cortisol that helps us feel alert. By waiting 90 minutes for this process to level out, the caffeine can work more efficiently, keeping you alert and cruising through the day. Torture, I know. But part of what you love may just be the ritual, so try starting with some herbal tea or even decaf to kill the time. It’s worth the wait.
Be well, and also have fun,
xo,
Erica
