# Did giving up caffeine improve your sleep **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 14, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-giving-up-caffeine-improve-your-sleep/592634 "2011-08-14T01:30:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-giving-up-caffeine-improve-your-sleep/592634/21 "2011-08-16T02:03:40Z")
> [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](#): > > Yeah, it really improves my early afternoon sleep. Which is exactly why I need caffeine. Exactly! Plus, no one I work with really deserves to deal with a decaffeinated version of me. (And caffeine withdrawal headaches are only marginally better than migraines… which I often “pre-treat” by taking a couple of Excedrin - specifically for the caffeine.) ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-giving-up-caffeine-improve-your-sleep/592634/22 "2011-08-16T02:20:19Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > Exactly! Plus, no one I work with really deserves to deal with a decaffeinated version of me. Ten years or more back, when I was still a Christian, I gave up caffeine for Lent, or rather tried to. After about a week my boss asked me to please give up something else, or either go on vacation. ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-giving-up-caffeine-improve-your-sleep/592634/23 "2011-08-16T05:07:36Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > This is less of a problem if are consistent about using a straw. That’s advice from a dentist, and my diet coke (now caffeine-free diet coke) habit hasn’t caused those problems. Yet. True (also according to my dentist). Genetics are also a factor. Wish I had known all of this, however, before I turned my mouth into an acid bath of 6-8 diet cokes a day for 10 years, and just wanted to preach the gospel. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-giving-up-caffeine-improve-your-sleep/592634/24 "2011-08-16T05:17:58Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > True (also according to my dentist). Genetics are also a factor. Wish I had known all of this, however, before I turned my mouth into an acid bath of 6-8 diet cokes a day for 10 years, and just wanted to preach the gospel. I think the fact that you were drinking _eight_ diet cokes a day for _ten years_ had a little something to do with your particular problems, no? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-giving-up-caffeine-improve-your-sleep/592634/25 "2011-08-16T05:20:43Z")
Not too much. Taking doxylamine nightly (or as needed) even after six cups of black tea, plus exercise, and generally being pretty healthy (limit booze, nicotine, all that) is really what’s made the difference for me. I think I might even sleep better if I spend the day drinking loads of tea and winding down of my own accord, as opposed to just waiting grim-faced for the reaper of night to arrive. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-giving-up-caffeine-improve-your-sleep/592634/26 "2011-08-16T06:29:10Z")
I have ADD-PI, so a]caffeine has a relaxing and focusing effect rather than ‘waking me up’ etc and b]my sleep cycle is fucked anyway. I sleep like a log and can’t wake naturally. Happily, I never have to worry about things like insomnia or jet lag. I’ve given up caffeine before for long periods and noticed no difference in my sleep. However I definitely feel more ‘spacy’ during the day without it. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-giving-up-caffeine-improve-your-sleep/592634/27 "2011-08-16T10:23:57Z")
I’ve learned to stop drinking caffeine after 2 AM or so (I go to bed around noon). I originally changed my caffeine drinking habits because I didn’t like the effects caffeine had on my semi-regular 7 AM cardio routine, then noticed that I was getting more restful sleep. Now I just need to get it through my head that alcohol before bed is also not conducive to good rest. ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-giving-up-caffeine-improve-your-sleep/592634/28 "2011-08-16T14:49:57Z")
Giving up caffeine absolutely did help me sleep, but I was ingesting truly epic amounts of coffee before I gave it up, just because I liked the taste and had no sense of moderation. Now I drink mostly decaf if I drink coffee at all. I spent about a year totally decaffeinated, and now I drink iced tea and hot tea fairly often and might have a cup or two of french press during the weekend. I’m much less agitated now, and I don’t have issues getting sleepy in the afternoon. I was, however, forced to dramatically improve my sleep hygiene once I gave up caffeinated coffee. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-giving-up-caffeine-improve-your-sleep/592634/29 "2011-08-16T15:28:49Z")
Chronic insomniac who uses caffeine to feel more awake during the day. Giving it up just made me feel more tired and out of it. I’ve accepted the fact that nothing will make me sleep better, and learned to live with it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-giving-up-caffeine-improve-your-sleep/592634.md?page=1)