There’s always going to be those days where we need a bit more of a helping hand from caffeine, but if you are dependent on numerous coffees a day just to be a semi-functioning human it might be time to stop and think. Especially if you are have issues with sleep or anxiety.
First I’d just like to say I have no issue with coffee and this post isn’t me trying to get you to ditch it altogether. There’s actually a vast amount of research on the health benefits of coffee and it can most definitely be part of a healthy lifestyle. My problem with caffeine is when people use it to deal with other areas of their life that may need a bit more attention, instead of dealing with the actual underlying cause.
If you can’t function without coffee you might what to consider:
what’s your sleep like... Are you getting enough? Are you waking unrefreshed? (a sign your probably not)
are you really stressed? (jacking yourself with stimulating caffeine when highly stressed for many people - especially those prone to anxiety is not a great idea)
are you eating the right foods to set you up for a balanced and energy-fuelled day? And no... a coffee is a not a substitute for breakfast
are you physically active enough? Energy breeds energy
are you actually motivated and happy in your job?
And if you can’t go to the bathroom without a coffee (this is extremely common) consider the following:
are you having enough fiber and fluid throughout the day?
are you moving enough to stimulate your bowels?
could your diet be improved?
So what’s my advice? Limit your daily coffee intake to a maximum of 2 per day, and they need to be consumed 12 hours before you plan to hit the pillow. Yep, caffeine has a quarter-life of 12 hours - meaning that coffee at lunch could be the reason your not getting a deep sleep at night. Also ditch the added sugar. Your taste buds will adjust. Life will go on.
