I have been thinking I need to cut back on coffee. I haven’t been sleeping well and feel better when I watch my caffeine intake.
It’s Not Just About the Coffee
It is a no-brainer; just drink less. But I can’t quite do it. I really want to find a substitute. Tea? Well, that gives me heartburn. Milo? Full of sugar. Drinking chocolate? Back to the sugar problem. Then I go around in circles, having not solved my problem, generally with a cup of coffee in hand.
I wanted to figure out why this was such a thing for me. My sleep significantly improves, and my health is better when I do not drink excessive amounts of caffeine. Stop drinking coffee and drink water instead. Easy right? It suddenly occurred to me that it’s not about the coffee.
The Pause That Matters
It’s about the experience. The smell triggers associations in my mind with taking time out of my day. There is something about taking the first sip of a hot coffee that I associate with just letting the world stop for a second. I love just breathing in, with my hands around the mug, watching the steam rise. I know that coffee means pausing in the middle of a chaotic workday. In that moment, I don’t have to solve it all.
In Sweden, there is a term for this. The word is Fika. Fika functions as both a verb and a noun for the Swedes. It is about slowing down and taking a break from your work. It’s not just about having a coffee but the whole experience of making time to take a break. Fika is ingrained in Swedish culture; you can take it with friends or alone, and it generally involves some baked goods. More than anything, Fika is intentional, purposeful, and a restful pause in the day.
It’s not the coffee I need, it’s the whole experience. The small, purposeful moments of pausing in my day are restful in the middle of chaos. I may need to embrace something completely new as part of the experience because it’s not just about the coffee.
Do you have a routine for taking small moments to rest in your day?
Article supplied with thanks to Lorrene McClymont.
About the Author: Lorrene McClymont is a writer and photographer from Hope Images. On her blog ‘Moments to Rest’, she shares about rest, faith, and family.
Feature image: Canva