About a month ago, I started dialing caffeine back to almost nothing.
I’m not going to lie, the 1st week was brutal. Even though I warned everyone, “Hey, I’m going to be cranky,” I seemed to exceed their expectations and still annoyed them.
But then it passed and now that I’m on the other side of it, here’s the quick report:
- Sleep: The first week was amazing. Now it’s just… better. Not perfect, but steadier.
- Focus: On the softball field I noticed a real difference. My reaction time was noticeably improved. I felt sharper, like my brain wasn’t juggling 34 distractions at once.
- Mood: Less up-and-down. Easier to slow down and pause before responding. (That topic is probably worth a post or two of its own.)
- Energy: No dramatic crashes at night, just a gradual wind-down. But also no huge daytime surges.
- Weight: No big changes, other than a little natural water loss.
I still enjoy a cup of coffee here and there, and I’ll grab an iced tea at a restaurant if I’m out or in a coffee shop if I’m working. But the dependence is gone. And we’re measuring in cups, not pots.
Overall: Let’s call it a meaningful success with no downside. Not life-changing, not a miracle cure. Just a steady improvement that makes me feel pretty good about the choice.