Double digit update
This is the best that I have felt off of caffeine. I quit for about a month and a half early last year and almost lost my job because I would fall asleep in my car on my break and that wasn’t a good look. This time around I don’t seem to need a nap every day and if I do it’s a short nap.
I’ll start with the cons that I’m experiencing: - sleep isn’t great. I fall asleep fine but I have been waking up at 6 or 7 every day and not tired enough to go back to sleep. I guess this isn’t inherently bad I just am used to sleeping until 10 with no issues so it’s an adjustment. I also haven’t been remembering my dreams this time around which is weird because in previous experiences I would have really vivid dreams that were enjoyable so I am hoping that comes back soon.
depression. I am not super depressed, I’ve been more depressed in the past but I have this lull about me that is a little annoying. I don’t have a ton of joy at the moment but I know in time it will return to me.
desire. The biggest con is just a desire to have a hit of dopamine from caffeine when I wake up. I don’t feel bad at all when I wake up but the old habit is there fighting to be satisfied that I would make myself high with caffeine in the morning.
Pros: - way more calm. I was getting anxiety attacks on caffeine. Something would trigger me and my hr and bp would skyrocket and make me feel liked the world was ending and crumbling around me. This would be very in opportune because it would happen at work or in the car or places where it was hard to have an anxiety attack. That is gone now. If something triggers me it’s mild and I’m able to cope much better and move on much quicker.
energy in the morning. When I first started decaf I would wake up feeling groggy and foggy and it would take me a few hours before I felt awake. Now I feel pretty good as soon as I wake up I’m just not used to waking up earlier yet.
Energy throughout the day. I don’t have that afternoon crash anymore and if I do it’s normally solved by a quick nap. My energy is consistent and doesn’t ebb and flow as much. My energy is higher which was unexpected for me this early in the game.
more present. I feel more present in my life. I’m not on a Ferris wheel of getting to the next thing. I don’t feel like I’m always being pulled out of whatever I’m doing to go onto the next thing. I’m able to just stop and be present and soak up the moment more. I can enjoy simple things again much more like listening to music, watching a show or just having a conversation with my wife. This is probably the best pro outside of reduced anxiety. I know this will only get better so I’m optimistic about that.
Overall the pros outweigh the cons. I don’t want to be ruled by such an insidious drug which I felt like I was and based on the cons of quitting I still kind of do. This has been worth it and I know it’s an investment that will only pay more and more dividends over time. Best of luck to all of you and I will not drink caffeine with you today
This is the best that I have felt off of caffeine. I quit for about a month and a half early last year and almost lost my job because I would fall asleep in my car on my break and that wasn’t a good look. This time around I don’t seem to need a nap every day and if I do it’s a short nap.
I’ll start with the cons that I’m experiencing: - sleep isn’t great. I fall asleep fine but I have been waking up at 6 or 7 every day and not tired enough to go back to sleep. I guess this isn’t inherently bad I just am used to sleeping until 10 with no issues so it’s an adjustment. I also haven’t been remembering my dreams this time around which is weird because in previous experiences I would have really vivid dreams that were enjoyable so I am hoping that comes back soon.
depression. I am not super depressed, I’ve been more depressed in the past but I have this lull about me that is a little annoying. I don’t have a ton of joy at the moment but I know in time it will return to me.
desire. The biggest con is just a desire to have a hit of dopamine from caffeine when I wake up. I don’t feel bad at all when I wake up but the old habit is there fighting to be satisfied that I would make myself high with caffeine in the morning.
Pros: - way more calm. I was getting anxiety attacks on caffeine. Something would trigger me and my hr and bp would skyrocket and make me feel liked the world was ending and crumbling around me. This would be very in opportune because it would happen at work or in the car or places where it was hard to have an anxiety attack. That is gone now. If something triggers me it’s mild and I’m able to cope much better and move on much quicker.
energy in the morning. When I first started decaf I would wake up feeling groggy and foggy and it would take me a few hours before I felt awake. Now I feel pretty good as soon as I wake up I’m just not used to waking up earlier yet.
Energy throughout the day. I don’t have that afternoon crash anymore and if I do it’s normally solved by a quick nap. My energy is consistent and doesn’t ebb and flow as much. My energy is higher which was unexpected for me this early in the game.
more present. I feel more present in my life. I’m not on a Ferris wheel of getting to the next thing. I don’t feel like I’m always being pulled out of whatever I’m doing to go onto the next thing. I’m able to just stop and be present and soak up the moment more. I can enjoy simple things again much more like listening to music, watching a show or just having a conversation with my wife. This is probably the best pro outside of reduced anxiety. I know this will only get better so I’m optimistic about that.
Overall the pros outweigh the cons. I don’t want to be ruled by such an insidious drug which I felt like I was and based on the cons of quitting I still kind of do. This has been worth it and I know it’s an investment that will only pay more and more dividends over time. Best of luck to all of you and I will not drink caffeine with you today