The Vice of Energy

My name is Emmy Null, and I have an energy drink addiction. It’s not that serious, I wouldn’t even really categorize it as an addiction. I’ve been told someday they will kill me, and I have a hard time not saying “Good” in response. Not that I hope they do kill me someday; I’d simply rather have the joy of them now than live forever.

I don’t think drinking energy drinks are going to kill me. On the contrary, I’ve done quite a bit of research about the effects energy drinks have on my body and mind. It’s true, energy drinks are not good for you, especially if you are under the age of eighteen. As a healthy, twenty-five-year-old I am allowed, healthily, to consume 200 mg of caffeine a day. Most normal size energy drinks have exactly 200 mg in them. I only ingest one energy drink every few days, more often than I would like to admit, but not every day. 

There were several years of my life where I existed without caffeine at all. My sophomore year of high school, I decided to quit drinking pop. At first, I drank mostly kool aid and Gatorade, but then I transitioned to drinking mostly water. Not knowing then how much water our bodies need, I’m sure I didn’t drink enough of it, but it was all I drank. I’ve come to love water and the different natural flavors it has. Nothing is more refreshing than a glass of room temperature water, but it’s not a very exciting drink by any means. 

I had my first energy drink in college. I was a full time student and I worked at least 35 hours a week at Buffalo Wild Wings. Many of these hours I accumulated on Saturdays during the University of Iowa football games.

 I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how crazy game days could get at Buffalo Wild Wings on a Hawkeye game day, especially when the restaurant was only a short walk from the infamous Kinnick Stadium. I would often start my Saturdays before nine a.m. and end them well after one in the morning. I had a great manager who kept his staff working doubles well fed and hyped up on enough caffeine to keep them going for the long work day. It was during one of these shifts that I had my first energy drink. I only had to drink one to keep me going the whole day, it was like a secret serum that kept me peppy and enjoyable throughout the often grueling work day.  

Xyience was my favorite. It’s a carbonated energy drink that boasts high levels of B12 vitamins on the side of the can. I think it was also my manager’s favorite because he always brought an armful of them into work with him on game days; Xyience and purple Skittles. 

Recently, I’ve been drinking Accelerator by Ashoc. My favorite flavor is the Starberry one, but they never have it at the QuikTrip I stop at on my way to work. Accelerator is one of the only energy drinks I can drink now that doesn’t make me feel sick. A lot of the drinks make my stomach hurt, so I waste a lot of my energy from the drink running between work and the bathroom. Occasionally, I’ll circle back to Xyience, it just depends on what’s cheapest when I’m looking for an extra little bit of energy.

Everyone has a vice, something they do to make the week feel a little less shitty. Admittedly, I have a couple, energy drinks just being one of two or three I allow myself. I don’t drink coffee, I don’t smoke cigarettes or vapes, I don’t drink excessively, and I don’t eat a lot of junk food. I allow myself to have my energy drinks, because trying to go through the day without caffeine as a twenty-five year old, working a stressful job some days feels impossible.

Many of my friends have their own vices, and at this point in life they have struggled categorizing their behaviors as vices or addictions. It’s important to know the difference, to know when a behavior is a crutch rather than a treat to get through the week. I don’t think any of my vices are quite addictions. I’m confident I could stop drinking energy drinks whenever I want. But why should I? 

Things are difficult right now, for everyone. Prices are going up, the election is coming, tensions are high everywhere in the world right now. Not only that, but there are personal tensions in everyone’s lives as well. I have a very stressful job where I do a lot of standing and people are often rude. Jacob and I are still doing a lot of work on our house that can often be physically taxing and exhausting. Having energy really helps me make it through the workday; caffeine helps me feel less tired from waking up early and puts me in a better mood to deal with customers. It also helps when working on projects so I’m able to function after working all day. 

The other day, one of my coworkers said:  “I’m all about vices if they make you feel good about the day,”. I wish more people felt this way. People are too quick to judge others for the little things, and they focus too much on the bad rather than the good. So what if someone likes to buy themselves a little coffee drink from Starbucks a couple mornings a week? So what if someone goes home and has a glass of wine at the end of the workday? As long as they are in control of their vices versus the vice being in control of them, then it shouldn’t matter what they do in the privacy of their own home.

At the end of the day, what other people do to relax or find a little joy, is no one else’s business. If it’s not hurting them or anyone else, then it’s no one’s business but their own. Let people enjoy things and don’t make them feel bad for just living.  

Disclaimer: This does not apply to you if you’re doing hard drugs. I do not judge you, but I do not encourage you to continue. 

This month I am thankful for the sunshine and nice weather we’ve been having. I’m thankful for caffeine, because I’ve really needed it after daylight savings time. I’m thankful for my body, even though my hips have been aching lately. Let me know something you’re thankful for this month, and if you’d like, let me know one of your vices.