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.)
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.