Money date No. 42: Juiced
Standing up to a client, adjusting commitments and bringing caffeine back
I had caffeine this morning.
I’ve been off the juice since 2016 and happy about it. But a few weeks ago (watch out; this story gets a bit wild…), I had a Smart Water that I later realized contained some caffeine. 🤪 I was surprised by my good mood all afternoon and realized it was the stimulant. At such a low dose, it let me focus and get through work but didn’t trigger the jitters, anxiety or dependence I used to get from coffee.
So I’m bringing caffeine back. Just a little, only every once in a while. I’ve tried it as an antidote to light depression, and that’s been nice. And it’s wonderful for a Sunday when I’m facing a long list of writing and business tasks I really want to do but couldn’t otherwise focus on.
This is no revelation, obviously! But it doesn’t have to be. I’m not here to give advice.1 This is a snapshot of my experience, and reintroducing a drug I’ve been off of for 10 years is having a significant impact on my mindset today. Also to say: After some recent mental health challenges, it’s nice to have this little tool to help steer the ship in the right direction once in a while.
💡 A money date is an exercise I crafted for You Don’t Need a Budget. Subscribers can follow along in a private space after the paywall, and I encourage you to steal my questions to guide your own reflections!
