Caffeine is one of those things where studies go back and forth saying “It’s good! No wait, it’s bad! But wait! It’s good!” Honestly, I’ve been drinking caffeine since I was a kid (mostly in tea form).
I used to be a caffeine fiend. I’d have so much caffeine that I’d have to reach a certain threshold before it had any effect. I just like the way caffeinated things taste: coffee, tea, matcha (yup, I’m one of those weirdos that likes the taste of earthy stuff).
But, then I became pregnant, so I cut my caffeine. Then, I started breastfeeding so I cut my caffeine even more. Then, I got surgery and realized that most caffeine would make sick instantly, so I cut my intake down to bare bones. I maybe have ½ a cup of coffee every other day. Some days, I have tea. It’s not that unusual for me to go a couple days with nothing at all.
Do I notice? Sometimes. I have a tiny human so it really depends if said tiny human slept the night before or if he decided to sing the song of his people for 3 hours straight because we wouldn’t put him in his bouncy chair at 2 am. And, somehow, I still have to manage to resemble a functional person.
With all this, I’ve picked up a few tips. So, whatever your reasons for nixing caffeine, fear not: you can still find that energy other ways!
Ice It
I’m constantly drinking ice water during the day. A few lemon slices wouldn’t hurt either. The ice wakes me up, especially in the morning. The coldness keeps me and all my senses alert. The coldness is also what helps me drink more water. Water has a certain… taste? Maybe it’s the lack of taste that I’m experiencing. Regardless, part of the reason why I’d reach for caffeine is because the caffeine was usually flavored, particularly when it came in tea-form. Adding ice to my water takes away that specific brand of nothingness and makes it seem less daunting in addition to keeping my senses awake and moving. Not to mention that staying hydrated is fantastic for your health, your skin, and prevents fatigue.
Yoga
Certain yoga poses can really wake you up. I highly recommend getting a good strap and a couple of blocks, like these (under $15!). You don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for quality yoga sessions. This is my favorite yoga YouTube channel and there’s hundreds of free, long sessions to choose from. Choose a faster-paced vinyasa class if your eyes are drooping or choose a relaxing and restorative class if you feel like stress is draining you.
If you’re really feeling like you can’t or don’t want to get moving, then try a simple meditation. My favorite app is Headspace. I swear by them! They have a good amount of free meditations, but they also have meditations for focus, productivity, stress, prioritization, creativity, and balance. Their student pack also includes one on distractions. And, they’ve been adding more and more packs. So, there may be an even bigger variety by the time you check them out. The app is 100% free. You can pay an annual fee (under $100) or a monthly fee (currently $12.99) to unlock all their meditations.
Me Time
There comes a point where sometimes my fatigue and midday tiredness stems from spinning my tires in mud. When you’re out of gas, you need to refill the tank. Take an hour for yourself and take a break. Eat some good food (nothing too rich or it’ll knock you out). Do one of those yoga sessions I mentioned above. Take a bath and add a cool bath bomb or loads of bubble bath. Crack open a book (here’s some recommendations). If you’re time crunched, do a 3 minute Headspace meditation. Give your brain some love and a break from all the stimulus. If most of your work is on a screen or at a desk, take a 5 minute break to look out a window, stand and stretch, and give your eyes, brain, and back a rest. Even a little standing torso rotation can do the trick and be just enough to give you that extra push.
So, tell me: Are you a caffeine fiend? Are you trying to ditch caffeine or are you naturally energized?
