my big beautiful blue mug - 2026/02/12
This winter, I've been getting sick way more frequently than I normally would. I think it's a mix of getting poor sleep, -10 to -20 celsius weather, a partner who works in child care, and of course the new york metro <3
While my workplace has a pretty generous sick day policy, the reality is that I don't want to be taking 1-2 sick days every week. As a result, I've been on a heavy hot water kick. When your throat is sore, body has chills, and nose is congested, a hot glass of plain water both feels great AND is actually good for you!
At home, I have no issues accommodating the surge in hot water consumption. I have a fancy electric kettle that holds my water a perfect 160f, and given how tiny my apartment is, the quick trip to the kitchen to refill the mug constantly is relatively hassle-free. However, I can't say the same about the office…
The issue here is that the hot water dispenser is so far away from my desk; I often find myself finishing a mug of hot water faster than I'm willing to get back up to refill (~2-5 mins). As a result, I either have to drink less hot water OR I have to get up every 10 minutes, which also sucks when you're sick, unwilling to get up, and just trying to complete your work at half speed.
After about a month of this loop, I decided I would break free from the shackles of the company provided mugs and buy myself a big ol' mug so I don't have to refill as often.
It just arrived today, and it's been the best thing since sliced bread.
here she is:
It's a whopping 24oz of blue ceramic greatness, quite a bit of an improvement from the pathetic datadog mug. And something about the deep blue color makes the mug feel very regal to hold. My water breaks are now timed with my brain breaks, and that's a beautiful thing.
Even if $15 is not cheap for a plain mug, the happiness it has brought me throughout the day is more than worth it. Not only does it bring real quality of life improvements, but every sip also reminds me that I'm the master of my reality, and that I can take real action to kill active pain points in my life (even if that looks like spending $15 on Amazon).
I love my big beautiful blue mug, and I highly recommend you all buy one too.