How a specialty coffee place helped me start journaling consistently

Instead of struggling or forgetting every day

I picked up the habit of journaling long before I knew what the word “journal” meant. I remember my dadi had gotten me a diary with a 2 number lock, after her trip to Pakistan. So, in grade 3, I was writing about my best friend coming over and how it was the best day ever.

Over time, I’d periodically write in it. Not consistently enough though. I knew I enjoyed writing though and often looking back at what I’d written. That was always fun. Over the years I’ve had multiple diaries, notebooks, and journals. My life’s writing is sprawled across blogs, note pads, and a mix of all my stationery.

Fast forward to end of 2019, someone gifted me a journal. It was a leather bound spiral notebook. I didn’t open it for a few weeks after I’d gotten it, but one random day I opened it up and started writing in it.

My beloved journal.

I fell in love with the paper. It was plain, and the size and feel of it felt perfect. It felt perfect for writing. So, I started writing in it. The habit somewhat stayed as 2020 progressed. And, over the year, I started sporadically journaling. Discovering my love for it again was so helpful because I had a lot going on mentally, and in my life. Thank God for having this easy, accessible outlet to myself. Without access to therapy or knowing things like deep breathing- this was a very doable outlet. To vent, to plan, to reflect, and to have private conversations at the end of the day.

As I switched to 2021, I’d actually finished one whole journal. I felt really proud. Pure joy at knowing I’d actively journaled. Of course the inner trophy child in me wants acknowledgement so this was my version of it. I ordered a second one and decided to stick to the habit. Of course, as my days started getting busier, I’d often forget and life kept getting in the way.

My journals from the first one to the current one.

That was until a specialty coffee place opened up below my building. Some things are divine. God sent. I think this place opening up where it did was one of those things. The barista who worked at this place helped me discover my love for coffee and taught me almost everything I know about specialty coffee. What started as paying for seemingly overly priced coffee quickly became a daily ritual. I’ll go into my love for coffee another day, but I started bringing my journal to my coffee breaks.

Pour over coffee makes your day slow down, because there really isn’t a way to quicken up the process. It’s slow, and it’s fulfilling. Over time, as I’ve learnt to appreciate the coffee I drink, it’s almost become a ritual of appreciating everything, of mindfulness, and of reflecting and journaling.

This is a Chemex coffee. On busier days, I drink it in a to-go cup.

It’s often my favorite part of the day. It’s a part of my day that now feels automatically engrained into my schedule. There have been days where my coffee break is all I’ve looked forward to. Most important of all, it’s taught me consistency. Because good or bad, regardless of the flow of my day, my coffee break is punctual and consistent. And, making my journal a part of it has made me consistent at journaling too.

The coffee tastes better when the cup is warmed so what Mark does is he’ll add hot water and throw it away before adding the coffee.

I’ve read bits of Atomic Habits and all these productivity readings on habits et all much later. Reflecting over this part of my day, I’ve got to say - it works. Take one part of your day you enjoy (no matter the duration), and make it a habit. Then, start associating it with something you’d like to do. Do it enough times and it becomes a habit. Where you don’t have to actively think to do it, to do it. It worked for me. It may work for you too.

And, that’s my story of how a specialty coffee place helped me in becoming consistent with my journaling.

Best part of my day.