sotolf

First a disclaimer, I'm not a doctor, neither do I suggest anyone to don't drink coffee if they don't have any bad side effects from it, just so that is clear, everything in this post are just anecdotes and my feelings around it, I just felt like I'm in a good point to share it now :)

With that out of the way.

I've been on a steady diet of 5-6 coffees a day for the last 16 years or so, and about a month ago I started to have strange anxiety that wouldn't want to let go, and for no normal reason. It was driving me crazy, and someone from fosstodon gave me a tip that it might be because of the caffeine, so I was thinking why not give it a chance.

Cutting out coffee

So for a couple of days I just cut out drinking any coffee, and it calmed me down a lot, it's not completely gone but so much more comfortable, I don't feel like I'm constantly on the edge anymore. I also quit drinking caffinated softdrinks such as cola or energy drinks.

I was awaiting the normal coffee withdrawal headaches that I usually get after 2 days of not drinking coffee, but for some reason they never came, I don't know why, maybe it was a hint from my body that I should lay off that stuff for a while.

Replacements

For now at least I've been drinking Earl Grey Tea as a replacement for the coffee, I know it still has caffeine, but way less than before, and some green tea now and then, so I have found out that I do actually enjoy tea quite a lot, having something warm to drink I think is one of the main things that I really am after with my coffe drinking, just something comforting while thinking. For now at least I've been happy with drinking tea, and I think I will keep at it for a while.

Other effects on me.

I've been sleeping better the last weeks, it feels like I get more rest out of my sleeping, I'm not sure if it has something to do with the coffee, since I've also been experimenting with keeping low lighting at home after 19:00, but it's for sure something that I've been enjoying. At the same time I've also tried to spend more time walking as well, which is very enjoyable.

I have felt a bit more sleepy over the morning, kind of like a brain fog, but it's becoming less and less for each day, which I think is a good thing as well.

Where to from here?

I'm not sure, I think I'll keep on this experiment for a while, but I'm planning to drink a cup of coffee in the morning again some time in the future, but I will keep on my tea for a while, as long as I'm enjoying that as much as I am now. But I don't plan to get back to the amount that I've been drinking as I'm starting to think it might not be my healthiest habit :p

But I guess a cup now and then can't hurt :)