I KNOW what you are thinking…. “What?? You quit Starbucks for an ENTIRE month??”
Or maybe it’s…. “You’re a Health Coach… Shouldn’t you have it ALL under control??”
Here’s the thing, yep I did quit Starbucks for an entire month & it was hard BUT I learned a lot in the process. And yes, I am a bit obsessed with Starbucks but I don’t even like coffee! It’s that crazy? I am OBSESSED with tea mistos.
So here’s what I learned….
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It’s not you Starbucks, it’s me — I wasn’t going to Starbucks because Starbucks is the most amazing place ever or because the coffee is the best coffee ever (because I don’t even like coffee). In taking a break I figured out WHY I was going to Starbucks. I was actually going to Starbucks because I was trying to fulfill a need to be taken care of. As a working mom, I have a lot of responsibilities & I just needed to feel comforted and taken care of. Starbucks has completely fulfilled that need. Not just for me but for all of their loyal followers. That’s why WE are willing to pay $3-$5++ for a drink EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
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My bad habits show up in my kids EXPONENTIALLY — I was really with how much my kids were bugging me to take them to Starbucks while I was on my hiatus. And let me tell you it was tempting to just quit on myself and take them because then I could get my fix too. That being said, it made me realize how much what I do rubs off on them. I mean I know we try to be the best role models for our kids but even little missteps show up big in our kids. I’m not trying to scare you because I know I am not perfect at raising kids. Is anyone? But, it made me take a second look at what healthy habits & unhealthy habits I had that were rubbing off on my kids
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My good habits ALSO show up in my kids EXPONENTIALLY — Here’s the other side of the coin… I almost quit on my commitment & myself about 10 days into the month of January and my oldest said to me (she’s 8), “Momma, wasn’t your New Year’s Resolution to not go to Starbucks for a month?” Ahh! She got me. I have to say, I was a proud momma at that moment.I
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It’s EASY to quit on yourself, but not so easy when other people are watching — If I hadn’t told my entire family I was quitting Starbucks for a month & they weren’t holding me accountable, I would have quit 10 days in. Just like that. But because I knew I had to model integrity to them, I stuck to my word. Every time I wanted to quit, I thought, nope. They need to know that I do what I say I’m going to do because that’s how who I am and that’s how we raise people of integrity. And I know they will remember that lesson.
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You can do anything as long as you know there is an end in sight — Because I knew that once February 1st hit, I could go back to my Starbucks routine if I wanted to, it wasn’t as bad as it would have been if I said NEVER AGAIN. My goal however, was to replace the habit, get down to why I was really going to Starbucks everyday & maybe have it as a treat a couple times a week. If I had told myself, I could NEVER had Starbucks again. It would have been excruciating & I would be setting myself up for failure. That’s one reason why I’m such a proponent of having a nutrition plan that allows for all kinds of food in the long-run. A nutrition plan that is flexible & sustainable.
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Once I gave up my Starbucks habit & figured out why I had it in the first place, I realized I actually didn’t need it at all — My habit was, 1 – I leave the house, 2 – I go to Starbucks 3 – I feel comforted & taken care of. I realized that those feelings of being comforted and taken care of can come from somewhere completely different. It can come from jamming out to a good song in my car, it can come from tea in my hot mug I make at home, it can come from a good conversation with a friend.
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Sometimes, you just actually want that exact thing & it’s OK! — Sometimes, we give something up and realize we actually do want that exact thing. For example, for me when I gave up dairy, I realized I didn’t care for most dairy but really good aged cheese, ummm…. yeah once in a while I just needed that. But that’s like once a month at most. I don’t need it everyday and I can certainly live without it. Now I have rules, I don’t eat cheese just because, I eat it when there is an awesome cheese plate. Same with Starbucks. No Starbucks everyday anymore BUT if I’m meeting a friend or going to the grocery store. Ok. Get it girl!
