Home-Made Coffee Changed my Life
Every time I wake up and start my day, I can’t help but feel that my morning routine is more a series of mandatory tasks that I have to drag myself through half asleep rather than some luxurious expression of self-love.
Despite my idolization of all the chipper, plush robe-wearing, aesthetic skin care-using girls featured in “get ready with me” videos online preaching about the relaxation they find from this morning ritual of self-care, I can’t bring myself to feel the same. I have a plush robe. I have serums and lotions. I even have special pink French toothpaste.
Despite my constant attempts at making myself enjoy my morning care, it still feels like I'm being forced to do a mandatory assignment presented to me by the universe that I must spend my time completing before rushing out of the house and into my day. What's enjoyable about that?
It wasn’t until recently that I began to feel a little joy in my morning routine, a sparkling glimmer of excitement to jump out of bed. How this change came to be was immensely simple.
As someone who drives a long commute to work and school daily, it is essential for me to be caffeinated lest I find myself drowsy behind the wheel. Due to this, I would usually stop somewhere for an exceedingly overpriced latte or tea, shelling out about seven dollars daily, sometimes for a drink I didn’t even particularly enjoy. In an attempt to fix this all-consuming vacuum in my budget, I decided to save money and gas and just make my coffee at home. And let me tell you, it was the best decision I’ve made in a long long time.
I’ve found that making my coffee at home is a failsafe way to ensure a delicious start to the day. I never have to worry that what I am craving won’t come out how I want it to or that my matcha will have to be a dreaded brownish green. I can simply tweak it how I like. I can taste it and alter it a million times, adding spices such as cinnamon and flavors such as vanilla extract. It allows me to get creative and try new recipes. It also saves me boatloads of money.
But most importantly, ever since I’ve started making my own beverages at home in the morning, I’ve noticed that I go to bed excited to wake up in the morning. I am excited to make myself my drink because I have finally found a way to take care of myself that I like. In those seemingly innocuous 10 minutes it takes to stir together my morning drink, I get to sit with myself, a small reprieve from the whirlwind of life where I get to focus on making something that tastes good and makes me happy. Such a small, simple pleasure has turned my perspectives on morning routines upside down, revolutionizing how I see self-care. Sometimes taking care of yourself doesn't mean expensive products and skincare routines. Sometimes all it is is a little instant coffee and a pinch of nutmeg served to go.
Strike out,
Alara Ataman
Boca Raton
Alara Ataman is a Content Writer for Strike Magazine. An avid fan of fashion, this Pisces can be found scrolling through Depop or elbows deep in a thrift store looking for the perfect piece. If you can’t find her doing this, you may find her browsing numerous cafes in her endless quest for the perfect iced coffee. You can reach her at @leopard_fawn on most social media platforms.
