Caffeine is a stimulant that is more powerful than you think, and just because it gives you a jumpstart to your day, is socially accepted, and is widely available doesn’t mean that it might be making your life harder than you realize. As you read, you’ll learn about some of the drawbacks of caffeine that could be causing some complications and why you should decrease your consumption of it or even eliminate it entirely over time.
1. It Can Hurt Your Sleep
While there really isn’t any harm done having a cup of coffee in the morning, it could be indicative of other issues, especially if it’s not the only time you have caffeine during the day.
It’s extremely common for people to consume more of it to feel more energized and productive throughout the workday, and many others like to consume energy drinks or pre-workout powders later on for an extra boost.
Although the dosage can certainly be a problem, especially since many beverages can range from 100 to 200 mg per serving, it’s the timing of it that can make it harder for you to sleep later on.
Caffeine is a drug that has a half-life of about 5 hours, meaning it’s only halfway out of your system in that timeframe; for it to fully leave the body will take even longer. Therefore, it is advised that you don’t consume any caffeine several hours before your bedtime because it can make it harder for you to settle down and go to sleep; those who have a tendency to do so often struggle with restlessness and insomnia.
2. You’ll Feel Less Anxious
Many people seem to forget that caffeine is a potent stimulant, and even though it’s legal and mostly safe, at least in comparison to other stimulants, it still comes with potential side effects.
Some of the most common ones are feeling jittery, quicker breathing and heart rate, and increased blood pressure, but the severity, of course, depends on the dosage.
Nonetheless, people who love to consume caffeine throughout the day may be all too familiar with some of the negative effects that caffeine has, especially if they also have sleep difficulties.
These can contribute to chronic anxiety issues that make you actually less happy, motivated, and productive. Unfortunately, while cutting back is the best solution you can do, it can also lead to fatigue, headaches, and some other uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, which leads to the next benefit of reducing caffeine.
3. It Decreases Dependency
As much as it could be hard to admit for a lot of individuals, it can be very easy to develop a physical and psychological dependence on caffeine, and they could very well likely have one.
This can manifest in a number of ways, and it often stems from not getting enough rest at night to feel energized the next day. Caffeine will give them the boost they need, but over time, it can become increasingly difficult to achieve the same effect.
This is known as tolerance and people who develop one find themselves consuming more caffeine to get the energy they desire and fight off withdrawal symptoms like fatigue.
Unfortunately, this can cause people to consume caffeine later on in the day, which leads to sleep troubles mentioned earlier, and therefore, it can become a cycle that’s tricky but possible to break out of if you cut back on caffeine gradually.
Sleep Troubles? Anxiety? You’re Not Alone
If you’ve been having a hard time getting adequate rest because of anxiety and you find yourself consuming too much caffeine to compensate for it, there are healthy ways to change that.
Aside from decreasing your caffeine, you should look into your diet to see if there are things that could be contributing to these complications, such as excess sugar. Including exercise, without the pre-workout or energy drinks, is also an effective way to decrease stress and it can help sleep easier at night.
For more complicated matters, like chronic anxiety or depression, counseling and therapy should be considered. Finding coping and relaxation techniques from a professional could make a world of difference in how you think and feel. Connect to a licensed counselor today at BetterHelp and start having an improved quality of life by working with someone who can assist you in overcoming the concerns you have.
Conclusion
If caffeine is involved more than you like, and you know that it’s time to make a change, hopefully, the points in this article can give you the motivation you need to start cutting caffeine out of your daily routine to a degree or entirely. It might be a slow process, especially if it’s been a regular part of your life for years, but there are clear benefits to it, and who knows, you might even feel more energized without it due to better sleep habits.
Marie Miguel Biography
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.