by Flobo Boyce
Day 15
The average workday is nine hours, give or take. We used to live in an eight-hour workday environment but that seems to be on the way out. Throw in commuting times and winding down, and you could be putting up to 12 hours a day on your job. Well, what if you work a 12 hour shift? That’s what I did today, and because of that today was all about riding out the peeks and valleys. The problem is, there’s a crapload more valleys when you’re not on the Rocket Fuel. The days are long, and the office kitchen always seems to have a brand new pot of coffee on the maker. I started walking around the building and surrounding streets when I began to crash, but not when important people at my job were looking, obviously. I would stand over my chair, and control my breaths. Like a hunger pang, the feeling will eventually pass but not before having me wishing I had a nice little siesta.
Day 16
After working the long shift from yesterday, I promised my friend I would help him out on a little short film he was directing in San Diego. A two-hour drive from Los Angeles, it’s already a challenge despite the fact I was running on three hours of rest. I think today was the hardest day for me, because I was hit with an event that disrupted my routine. With that sort of thing spinning out of control, I tended to lean on caffeine to help me “ride out” the day. I realize that’s the first sign of any addiction, but there is no other way to describe it. The lack of sleep plays with me on the set as the sensitivity to light tends to be rather difficult in patches. I eventually make it through the day, but not before seriously considering “cheating” and grabbing an energy drink. To be honest, this blog was the major reason why I didn’t do it.
“I’ve come this far to start over, dood,” I said to myself.
Day 17
I luckily got some sleep in to offset the past couple of days, but not enough to “satisfy” the Sandman. I’m moving slower, but I’m on the mend. I remember the days when I would have to stay up writing term papers. I came across chocolate covered espresso beans for the first time. Let me just say this, all of my term papers were always handed in on time. Zoooooom!
But alas, they are just a fantasy today.
Day 18
I can see the finish line and in an ironic twist, even though I know there’s only a few days left I didn’t think about the good stuff for the majority of the day. I avoided the big relapse of the weekend by the skin of my teeth, and I am ready to celebrate with a sparkling water. Here Here!
Day 19
Have you seen this quiz that asks “Which has more caffeine?”
http://www.mentalfloss.com/quiz/quiz.php?q=1451&p=1
I think I did pretty well for myself. How do you stack up?
Day 20
Peer Pressure. Today, I met a friend for coffee at the local Starbucks. “Going for Coffee” is a very yuppie thing to do, especially here in Los Angeles. It gives people a chance to catch up out and about the town for cheap. Imagine the odd look I got when I opted to pick a flavored soda from the coffee chains’ small refrigerator. Explaining the 21 Day project I was on was enough for the topic to be dropped, but I couldn’t help feel a bit weird about my selection. It reminds me of a colleague of mine who doesn’t drink, but likes to go to bars “for the atmosphere” and “it’s not a big deal” to him. I used to mock him about that, but now I can’t anymore.
Day 21
That’s all she wrote! This guy has crossed the finish line! And unlike the time when I ran my first half-marathon, I’m not going to have the weird urge to cry. This has been a crazy experience as I went from “Three weeks? No problem.” to “What the hell was I thinking?” to “Things are looking up” to “Need. Rocket Fuel, now!”
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that we are fully entrenched in a caffeine culture; there is no doubt about it. The second thing I learned on the way is that it’s true when they say you have to take things one day at a time.
Now for the juicy stuff: Will I continue and cut caffeine out of my life completely? To be honest, I don’t think that’s the case. I think I am in a stronger position to skip days without the stuff if necessary, however. Progress! I think I put myself in the favorable position to not be that guy who needs three cups of coffee at the start of the day to get going. As for meeting friends at the local black gold watering hole, I say why not? That way I can say that I drink coffee “socially”.
A big thanks goes out to Amanda for allowing me to hijack her blog with my zany exploits. This non-caffeinated sparkling water is for you! This has been a great experience. Imagine how you can change your life in twenty-one days.
Flobo Boyce – Writer. Filmmaker. Polymath. Brooklyn Ambassador. FroYo Addict. Flobo likes to talk and loves to write. Check out his blog, Flobito.com. You may get a FroYo date out of it.
21 Days of Change 