Poetic Earth

Let me set the scene: New job, juggling babysitters until school starts, two kids going to daycare and one entering kindergarten, and me—caught somewhere between excitement, exhaustion, and a very deep relationship with caffeine.

This past month, I drank more energy drinks than I care to admit. Actually, scratch that—I’ll admit it. It was a lot. The kind of “a lot” where you stop counting because the empty cans in the recycling bin start to feel a little too revealing. I told myself it was just a phase. A necessary boost. A survival tactic. And honestly? For a while, it worked.

The 5 a.m. wake-ups. The lunches to pack. The morning meetings. The drop-offs where one kid is crying and the other won’t let go of my leg. Then, straight into a workday that demands 100% of me when I’m running on… maybe 43%. Energy drinks became my go-to fix. I needed that quick hit of motivation—just to stay functional.

But somewhere around week three, I started noticing a shift. My sleep was getting worse. I felt jittery instead of just “awake.” My focus was off. My mood? Definitely off. The boost I was chasing started to turn on me.

And that’s when I realized: I wasn’t just reaching for caffeine. I was reaching for ease. For control. For the illusion of having it all together when everything was spinning. And as much as I wanted to believe the answer came in a 12oz can, deep down, I knew I was overdue for a reset.

I’m not here to demonize energy drinks or caffeine—trust me, I still love my coffee and always will. But I am learning to ask myself: What am I really running on? And what do I actually need?

Maybe it’s more hydration. More rest. A bit more prep the night before. Or even just five quiet minutes to breathe before the day crashes in.

So here I am, gently pulling back. Swapping one energy drink for herbal tea. Drinking more water. Taking short walks when I can. Giving myself grace when I can’t. This season is wild—but it’s also full of growth. We can get back on track together.

And if you’re reading this in the middle of your own caffeine-fueled chaos, just know: you’re not alone. You’re doing a lot. And maybe, just maybe, you deserve more support than what’s written on the side of a can.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, wired-but-tired, or just need someone to talk things through with, you don’t have to carry it all alone. I offer one-on-one support sessions—by phone or virtually—where we can talk through the stress, the habits, and the behavioral patterns behind the burnout. Sometimes, having a safe space to vent, reflect, or reset can make all the difference. You can book a session with me online anytime—it’s judgment-free and made just for you.