The first thing you think of, smell or drink in the morning: we’re so used to starting our day with coffee, having another one for a short break at work, and then enjoying yet another afternoon coffee, let’s call it for what it really is: an addiction. And coffee is a great thing, and it also has some surprising benefits, but only if we drink it in moderation. Like anything else in life, coffee has health benefits, but it can also be bad for your health, and so like anything else in life, the key is moderation. It’s okay if you need this caffeine boost to wake up, and it’s okay to have another cup o’ joe in the afternoon when you’re feeling low in energy, but be aware of how much coffee you consume and be aware of the consequences. We’re here to help you beat that caffeine addiction.
Find a substitution
A popular option is tea – the flavor depends on you. Most people who give up coffee choose to replace it with black or green tea. Green or black tea contains caffeine, so you can fool yourself that it’s practically coffee, but it’s not as harmful, because it’s a much smaller amount than caffeine found in coffee. It’s a win-win situation – it’s healthier for you, but still gives you the kick you need to wake up.
Start gradually
Another confirmed advice is to ease into it. If you’re a heavy coffee drinker, you can start by lowering the amount of coffee you consume per day. Have two cappuccinos instead of three, or put just one spoonful of coffee in your drink instead of two. Easing into it would make it an easier process. Unlike ripping off a band aid, in this case you’re giving up on an addiction, and so it’s almost impossible to quit in one day.
Coping with social pressure
Let’s face it, coffee is more than a beverage we drink to energize – it has become a social construct. It’s part of our culture; to enjoy the full coffee experience, we sit in artful coffee shops with out friends, with a good book and with a piece of cake or a cookie to compliment our drink. But cutting down on coffee doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy this experience: tell your friends and family that you’re cutting down your caffeine consumption, order tea, hot chocolate or any hot beverage that can replace coffee, and ignore this social pressure – you’re stronger than that.
Clean your house of coffee
Make your house a coffee-free environment – you know what they say – out of sight, out of mind. Make sure you don’t have coffee in reach, so that you have no temptation. make a resolution to only drink coffee once a week, or even better – only on special occasions (or desperate times). It’ll be like a cheat meal when you’re on a diet.
Quit cold turkey
Quitting cold turkey is a controversial method. The good part about it is that it’s the fastest way to quite caffeine, but it has a lot of downsides as well. Like any addiction, quitting cold turkey can cause withdrawal symptoms, in this case headaches, sleepiness, irritability, depression and dizziness – and that’s not something you want. If you go with this method, it’s important to be prepared for the symptoms; notify your family and close friends, and have digestive food and pain killers available at all times.