Why I Need Coffee This Week: Back to Reality (and the Waiting Room)

The beach towels are (mostly) dry, the car still has sand in it, and the sunscreen has officially been replaced by color-coded note tabs in my planner.

Vacation is over—and now it’s time to shift gears.

That mindset shift? It’s no joke. I went from slow mornings and snack breaks by the ocean to a full inbox, a messy house, and a to-do list that keeps giving side-eye. There’s a lot to catch up on this week—laundry, groceries, all the little things I promised I’d “deal with after the trip.”

And Friday? Oh, Friday. I have four appointments stacked back-to-back. I’m already pre-gaming with coffee just thinking about it.

But here’s the thing: I’m choosing to lean into it all. Yes, it’s overwhelming. Yes, I miss vacation brain. But there’s something about the fresh-start feeling of coming home that I kind of love. It’s like clearing the clutter and finding my rhythm again.

There’s fun on the calendar, too—a baby sprinkle this weekend, and one of my favorite people visiting from out of town. It’s busy, yes. But it’s the kind of busy that reminds me life is moving, growing, and full of good things.

So this week, coffee isn’t just a caffeine fix—it’s my bridge from beach mode to real life. From sleepy mornings to planning mode. From chaos to calm (okay, maybe controlled chaos).

Here’s to getting back into it—with a full cup and an open mind.