Before the 30 day emergency food supply challenge, I didn’t even know I had a caffeine habit. Admitting to about 20 cups of caffeinated tea a day kind of tells a different story, but I never really even thought about it until it was time to stop. It was the stopping part that got me. Holy buckets, people, the headaches were a real bummer.
After about a week, I started to notice that I felt better, slept better, looked better, etc. And that’s when I really started to valuate if my tea ritual was worth it {for the record, it is not worth it}.
If you are trying to cut your reliance on caffeine to make you feel awake and alert, here’s some tips to make it a little less painful:
- Try Dandelion root or other herbal non-caffeinated choices. Non-caffeinated purist swear by it. It gives you the same morning ritual, without the side effects of caffeine.
- Prepare mentally for the withdrawals. There will be headaches. They suck. If you are going cold turkey, you may want to do it during a week when you can deal with a throbbing headache for 3 days straight.
- Gradually wean yourself by doing half caff. Make your tea or coffee with half caffeinated and half decaf. Gradually increase the decaf until that’s all that’s left.
- Replace the morning ritual with something more benefiting to your health. Meditate, go for a walk, read or journal instead. Eventually, you will look forward to that private time the way you did coffee–fair warning, though, it won’t give you the same immediate lift.
- Make sure to get PLENTY of sleep as you are coming off caffeine. You will feel tired, because you won’t have your usual pick-me-up. Make sure you don’t add to it with sleep deprivation.
- Dig your heels in and muster up some good old fashioned willpower. I know it’s easier said than done, but you have to believe you can do it and fight the cravings, or you will give in.
- Resist the urge to replace the habit with something equally destructive, like copious amounts of chocolate. That is not to say that chocolate should be off limits. That would be crazy talk.
I know none of these tips are rocket science, but together, I found they worked pretty darn well. I promise that you’ll feel better in the long run. Though, in the short run, you may hate everyone with a pulse. Just know it will pass.
~Mavis
David The Good says
Good tips. I skipped the headache when I quit coffee by gradually reducing intake from 3 cups… to 2.5 cups… to 2 cups… to 1… to 1/2… to, on the last day, a single tablespoon of coffee.
I know, it sounds pathetic, but I quit. Hehheh.
You’re right on the ritual switch, too. You need to do something to wake up.
Mavis says
Congrats on quitting! And glad to hear you avoided the headache. That part is the worst!
sharon says
So have you stayed away from tea? I know you said no to 20 cups a day 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
I am having a cup of DECAF tea in the mornings now. Just one. How crazy is that? Ha!
Julie says
I gave up coffee for Lent this year – and you are right, Mavis. Caffeine withdrawal is no joke. I thought my head was going to explode. Many months later, my family told me I was awful to be around during the headache phase.
Now I have a cup of tea most days, but it doesn’t bug me if I don’t get to it, so I think the addiction is gone. And on the 2 or 3 occasions I have splurged on a cup of coffee, I feel like I’ve been electrocuted. Maybe it’s my imagination, but I swear I’ve got less tolerance to caffeine now. I really don’t enjoy it much anymore!
Jen Y says
Another tip is fresh apples. I read years ago that apples wake you up & I believe it’s true. Eating a raw apple first thing in the morning & mid afternoon both help keep me alert.
Cecily says
Another thing to remember is that when you feel tired, grab a big glass of water instead. Tiredness (as well as hunger) are often really dehydration.
Sandra says
I don’t mind my coffee addiction (2 cups a day is my “habit”), but I sure need to kick my diet cola addiction before I travel to Europe again. (6€ for a Diet Coke? Ouch!) I’m down to one can every 3 or 4 days. In addition to the price, the caramel coloring (made from coal tar!) is worth avaoiding.
Jane A says
I’ve quit in the past and it’s no joke! These days I limit myself to one morning carmel macchiato I make at home, but I do it half-caff. Just right 🙂