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I tried for years to give up an 8+ cup a day habit. The first few times after a few days of no coffee I would be literally falling asleep at my desk at work. R

I tried for years to give up an 8+ cup a day habit. The first few times after a few days of no coffee I would be literally falling asleep at my desk at work. Recently I went on a long vacation, and though I was drinking coffee, it was no where near as much as usual, and even that trickled off completely during the last week. At that point I thought I may as well try stopping completely - it was hard, but it's been about a month now, and I definitely feel the better for it. The main benefit is just being able to wake up easily in the morning - previously I would wake up and feel groggy for 30 minutes or so. I'd feel normal after 30 minutes whether I had a coffee or not, but it still made waking up unpleasant. Now, as soon as my alarm goes off (and usually 10 minutes before) I'm wide awake and feeling alert. It's seriously life changing - no more hitting snooze 17 times in a row... The downside is, I miss the taste of coffee. There's some cereal drinks that make a passable drink, but they're like a watered down, bad tasting substitute for the real thing =/

hacketyhack 15y ago
The good tasting coffee that I enjoyed encompassing a meal is what kept me on it as well. A good decaf can kick the habit. I even like my decaf more than a normal one. I've been off coffee a few weeks ago like you are now and it had the same effects on me. For a long time I got back into normal sleeping habits without even doing anything for it. I just got sleepy in the evening. Then I started drinking some normal coffee again to push the boundaries at night (learning, programming) and here I am. It's 6 in the morning and it'll be a few hours before I go to bed. I've planned on decreasing my caffeine intake again - actually avoided coffee but kept drinking sugar-free caffeinated soda, but cold-turkey is definitely the better way and it's my end-goal to go caffeine-free anyway. So this article and the discussion here had at least some impact. ;-) To clarify the last paragraph: From experience I actually have doubts that just lowering intake works for me. I'll need to find a good replacement for a cold coke zero, though. There is a decaf version of coke too, maybe I'll try that again, or I'll try to avoid soda completely.
Ideka 15y ago
> The downside is, I miss the taste of coffee. You can always put it in your mouth, and then spit it out.
- agscala 15y ago
  I don't think anybody would seriously consider doing that; it wouldn't be enjoyable at all.
lusr 15y ago
I hit snooze 17 times a row and I don't touch coffee. Maybe I should start? :)

hacketyhack 15y ago

The good tasting coffee that I enjoyed encompassing a meal is what kept me on it as well. A good decaf can kick the habit. I even like my decaf more than a normal one. I've been off coffee a few weeks ago like you are now and it had the same effects on me. For a long time I got back into normal sleeping habits without even doing anything for it. I just got sleepy in the evening. Then I started drinking some normal coffee again to push the boundaries at night (learning, programming) and here I am. It's 6 in the morning and it'll be a few hours before I go to bed. I've planned on decreasing my caffeine intake again - actually avoided coffee but kept drinking sugar-free caffeinated soda, but cold-turkey is definitely the better way and it's my end-goal to go caffeine-free anyway. So this article and the discussion here had at least some impact. ;-) To clarify the last paragraph: From experience I actually have doubts that just lowering intake works for me. I'll need to find a good replacement for a cold coke zero, though. There is a decaf version of coke too, maybe I'll try that again, or I'll try to avoid soda completely.

Ideka 15y ago

> The downside is, I miss the taste of coffee. You can always put it in your mouth, and then spit it out.

agscala 15y ago
I don't think anybody would seriously consider doing that; it wouldn't be enjoyable at all.

lusr 15y ago

I hit snooze 17 times a row and I don't touch coffee. Maybe I should start? :)