Do You Need More Coffee or More Rest?

Drink Coffee—Do Stupid Things Faster with More Energy.

The first time I saw this sign I almost snorted coffee out of my nose. Although I found it hilarious, coffee doesn’t really do that to me. I drank regular coffee for 10 years—after all, teachers tend to mainline it—until a friend introduced me to lattes. For another five years I had to have my morning and afternoon latte in order to make it through the day.

The coffee didn’t give me more energy, or make me do stupid things faster. It simply provided a break in my day. I thought it had no control over me, until I discovered that missing my espresso with foamed milk gave me a headache and made me grumpy. And so, I slowly switched to decaf.

Now I have my morning and afternoon latte with decaf and a dash of cayenne. I enjoy the ritual of making the latte, and sitting down for at least 15 minutes as I enjoy it. It gives me a tiny island of rest in which to catch my breath before I plow through my afternoon activities.

When I travel and need toothpicks to prop my eyelids open, I’ll drink the occasional caffeinated latte. But now that I’ve weaned myself, it seems to give me low blood sugar—which does make me do stupid things.

Sitting Problems

Lately I’ve had problems sitting still. As in, if I sit still, I can’t keep my eyes open. I don’t need more coffee, though, I need more rest.

One of my goals this year is to get more sleep each night, more exercise each day, and to eat more good things. God gave us sleep and Sabbath rest so that we could rejuvenate and have more energy to serve him.

I kind of see Sabbath rest as a heavenly latte (decaf, of course). We need to schedule it into our lives and seek it weekly if we want the full effect. When we practice holistic self-care, we make time for Sabbath rest.

We can only live on more coffee for so long before we crash and burn. Likewise, we can only live without Sabbath rest for so long before we crash and burn.

I invite you to sit down with a latte (decaf, of course) and contemplate what Sabbath rest really means. Try it. You’ll like it. You’ll have more energy without the threat of doing stupid things!

This post is part of the Five-Minute Friday quick write hosted by Kate Moutang. Join us each Thursday night on Twitter (#FMFParty) for fun and fellowship, then grab a pen and start writing when the prompt goes live!