What Happened When I Quit Coffee
Don’t you love coffee? I love coffee. I love everything about it. The smell. The taste. I even have a ritual. I’m what you would call an advanced coffee drinker. I keep my beans whole in the freezer and each morning around 7am I grind them fresh into a stovetop espresso maker. But a few years ago, I noticed something strange. I would get severely tired and lethargic around 10 in the morning. I would need another cup to perk me up. What was going on? My sleep was fairly stable at about 7 to 8 hours. I was at a loss. That’s when a friend suggested to stop drinking coffee. “Crazy talk,” I said. But I figured to give it a shot.
I began this treacherous trek on a Monday of all days. I made sure to get an entire 8 hours of sleep the night prior. I went to work without having had my morning coffee at home. Then around 10am came the pain. A headache creeped through the door of my skull. This uninvited guest stayed for an excruciating three and a half days. That’s right! I had a non-stop headache from Monday until Thursday. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen did not help one bit. Friday of that week was the first day I felt normal. I’m honestly unsure how more severe addicts deal with coming off harder drugs because quitting coffee was pretty miserable.
The following week, I began to notice some profound changes. The most important change I noticed was that I was no longer tired around 10am. I noticed that my energy was more even-keeled and balanced. My body’s energy began to resemble a good battery, slowly depleting over the course of the day. There was no more huge boost followed by hard crashing. I appreciated this the most because it led to increased focus.
I was better able to grasp more abstract concepts at work. At the time, I dealt with fairly complex mathematics ideas and I was better able to think through problems without coffee. According to my Garmin GPS watch, my heart rate variability, a measure of stress, significantly decreased. My world felt more zen somehow as I was calmer and more patient while solving problems and coding up financial models. I was less agitated and much less prone to making mistakes. My work generally improved.
Having more balance in my energy allowed me to achieve more than when I drank coffee which to many people seems counterintuitive. Whenever I get tired, it becomes difficult for me to focus on things, especially at work. The old expression of looking at things with fresh eyes took on a whole new meaning. I didn’t need to “sleep on” as many things as I did when I was drinking coffee. My eyes were fresher for longer throughout my days which allowed me to get more things done. Being able to achieve more things throughout the day made me feel more energized.
I didn’t think coffee really affected my sleep at all since I stuck to only drinking it in the morning. However, I was pleasantly surprised that my sleep improved drastically. My watch app told me that I slept deeper for longer. When I wake up, I don’t feel as groggy anymore these days. Coupled together with the lower heart rate variability, longer deep sleep recharged my battery faster and stronger than ever before.
Many people have asked me what I drink instead. I don’t drink caffeinated tea or drinks at all. With my breakfast, I usually drink a glass or two of skim milk where I get similar or greater protein content than what I was having in my coffee before. Milk also contains a small amount of natural sugar in the form of glucose which provides a small, but somewhat noticeable perk.
After about a year, I drank a cup of coffee, just to see what it would be like. I noticed that big boost of energy. But the crash came back. After a few hours, I felt more tired than before I drank the coffee. It seemed that my body was sending me a message: you can have a treat, but it does come with consequences. I weighed the consequences and decided to stay coffee-free and decided to largely stay away unless I wanted a treat. Today, I drink a cup of coffee maybe once every other month as it does complement a New York City bagel quite well.
Quitting coffee isn’t for everyone. Many people feel that they depend on it in order to get through their day. But I am proof positive that it is possible to live life without coffee. By quitting coffee, I’ve had positive changes in my mood, sleep, productivity, and energy. My GPS watch data shows lower stress and better quality sleep. Whenever I tell someone that I quit coffee, most respond negatively. They are closed off to the idea. But I would encourage people to try quitting coffee for a few months and seeing how it positively affects their lives.
If you’ve quit, please post a comment with how it has affected you. If you haven’t quit, please post a comment anyway telling us your story.
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