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If we were to have our coffee intake regulated to one cup per day nationwide, I would probably have to reset my whole reality to find another routine and coping mechanism that would replace coffee in my life. Luckily, I am not a caffeine addict as I do not get any migraine or the strong urge to have coffee to function like a normal being, but I have normalised to indulge in coffee especially if I have a long day ahead or a busy schedule. I am still in denial that I could be using coffee even for comfort and to spike my dopamine when I feel like the day is too hectic to manage.

It is crazy that I even have different ways of indulging in my coffee and the choice depends on my mood, plans for the day and circumstances. Nope, I am not a coffee addict at all, I just have a therapeutic relationship with coffee. I have those moments when I would be sluggish or do not have much motivation to do anything before my first cup of coffee. I have found myself drinking at least two cups of coffee per day during the week and could substitute the second cup with tea on weekends. On hectic days when I have deadlines and late nights, I can max to 3 cups with a minimum of four-hour intervals.

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I have also normalised grabbing coffee before each virtual meeting and this just helps to keep sipping to maintain a focused non-sleepy look, meanwhile, my head is thinking about hive content. Lol. Admittedly, there are days when I easily start daydreaming if the meetings start dragging and holding on to my coffee mug to sip coffee while nodding my head helps to motivate the speaker that I am focused. I am also the type that walks along the corridor saying "good morning" to anyone who happens to have their office door wide open. I can say I know people around those corridors who would just keep a straight face and not smile if they had not had their first cup of coffee in the morning.

Some probably think, "This girl ain't right"! I still greet them to acknowledge their existence especially when I look forward to having my first cup of coffee. These same people also lack zeal in any activity if they do not refuel with coffee after lunch. I can bet that having coffee intake regulated to 1 cup a day would also affect the social interaction with these people. Unfortunately, I have also adjusted my habits and I find myself rather in a good position to socialize over coffee. I am better off sipping my coffee while listening to an acquaintance than having to focus much on their body language and eyes which can sometimes make the conversation a bit awkward.

There are friends I would better catch up with over coffee and caramel Pecanbon than sit for lunch, especially those who always bring in a "Wearisome" vibe - complaining about everything. Sitting down to be served lunch and eat while listening to them complain and not being open to embracing positivity can be draining. Now, imagine having to decide if I should have my 1 cup of coffee for the day in the morning to max my zeal and productivity or save it for later while catching up with that friend? or for a virtual meeting scheduled for later in the day? These two scenarios feel like some sort of oppression from having to limit coffee unwillingly.

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How is one expected to cope with just one cup of coffee per day when attending conferences and workshops that last the whole day? I have witnessed people dosing off after lunch during workshops, hence, the agenda is always planned to have at least tea/coffee breaks for attendees to keep up. So this would mean all those who had their coffee in the morning would not be allowed to have it when they need it the most. Surely most will be dosing off by the time we get to the last session.

Having coffee regulated to one cup will do more harm to social life too and I know few people including myself who might lose their glow for a while. I do get a bit of comfort knowing that I could still manage to sleep late at night and boost my energy the following day with just coffee. I am not a fan of energy-boosting drinks, so having to only rely on just 1 cup of coffee will be a challenge on hectic days. But one thing I love about humans is that we can adapt to change. I will eventually have to adjust my routine and my therapeutic relationship with coffee.

_{All images used here belong to the author and first was edited in Canva.}

Check the STB Coffee Prompt Week 43 here