Coffee, Matcha, and the Myth of the Indispensable Employee

4 min read

A few years ago, I (ambitiously) tried to start a habit of documenting what I was learning each week: small reflections on life, work, and everything in between.

It didn’t quite stick. Between personal and professional commitments, and the emotional weight of living through the pandemic, the habit faded after the first post.

But recently, I’ve found myself returning to that idea, writing as a way to pause, reflect, and make sense of what I’m learning.

So here we are, four years later.

​Better late than never.

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​The Nine-Year Grind

This month, I hit a pretty big milestone, my ninth anniversary at work. Looking back, it’s been a wild ride. I started as a marketing coordinator and worked my way up to head of the department. Along the way, I’ve watched the organisation grow, and I’ve grown with it.

For much of my career, I was focused on getting ahead. Pushing through late nights, keeping up with emails even on weekends, and sacrificing personal time to meet professional goals.

There’s a certain pride that comes from hard work. I gave my all in every role, constantly trying to improve processes, elevate design work, and achieve something better than the year before.

I measured success by the usual markers. Promotions, recognition, financial milestones. And for a long time, those were enough. But in recent months, I’ve started to see success differently.
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​In the Quiet

I’ve always been a coffee person. Growing up, mornings meant sitting beside my grandfather, having coffee together before the day started. It was a kind of calm I didn’t fully appreciate then.​

Over time, that habit evolved. I eventually got into matcha after a trip to Kyoto, and those moments became small pauses in the day where I could slow down and think more clearly. And in those quiet moments, I started to notice things I hadn’t really paid attention to before.

I had spent years wanting to do well, showing up for others and trying to be excellent at what I do. But somewhere along the way, I started to feel absent from my own life. ​I was constantly tired. I thought about work all the time, even on weekends or vacations.

​At some point, I realised I couldn’t keep going like that.​

​A New Success Metric

It was a humbling realisation. Even if I’m not there, the work will still go on. I’m replaceable in my job, but not in my personal life.

​Between deadlines, leadership responsibilities, and personal commitments, it seemed like there was always something more important than my well-being.

​But after years of working hard and pushing myself to the limit, feeling good and not exhausted has become my new success metric. 
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Now, I prioritise my well-being. From journaling to making time for coffee or matcha breaks and home decoration, I've found simple routines that help me recharge. It's not always perfect. Some weeks are better than others. But I've realised that self-care isn't a one-time fix; it's a lifelong practice. It’s a standard I want to uphold in both my career and personal life.​

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About the Author

Krishna Dela Paz is a creative director and brand strategist based in Dubai. She writes about culture, creativity, and creative leadership. Learn more →