Caffeine: The main go-to in the tool box for many of us!
My serious caffeine journey began in college when I started a new job working the graveyard shift (11 PM-7:30 AM). I never drank coffee before then, but I learned REAL fast!
I didn’t like it much at first and found I needed to add quite a bit of sugar to make it more palatable. The first few days I relied on it too much to keep awake at work and sometimes got very jittery. Eventually, I figured out the right amount to keep me going without ODing on caffeine.
Over time (especially after going back to working normal hours again), my drinking habits have changed. I discovered flavored coffee (I especially like hazelnut), have used various forms/amounts of sweeteners, and started using creams (dairy, non-dairy).
Up until a few months ago, I would usually drink a couple of cup in the morning before going to work, then have another couple of cups in the office. Then I’d usually have a cup or 2 of decaf in the afternoon. At night, especially in the winter, I’d probably drink several more cups of decaf at home before going to bed.
Recently, I changed my routine quite a bit. Now I try to avoid caffeine for at least 60-90 minutes after waking up (your cortisol levels naturally peak during this time, so adding caffeine on top of that can lead to major spikes and crashes) as well as near meals (caffeine can block the absorption of many vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin D). If I drink anything before going to the office, it’s decaf (or sometimes caffeine-free tea). Overall, I’ll usually have no more than 1 ½ cups of regular coffee. And all without any sweeteners or creams. (However, I do add cinnamon and nutmeg.)
In general, I’ve been feeling more relaxed throughout the day. No mid-afternoon drowsiness. I almost always fall asleep within a few minutes of going to bed and have been sleeping deeply throughout the night.
How about you? What’s your level of caffeine consumption and preferred intake (coffee, tea, soda, IV directly into your veins) method?
