August: No Caffeine

Don’t try this at home.

In August, I completed my hardest challenge of the entire year. The challenge was to completely give up caffeine. For context, before doing this challenge, I drank about a pot of coffee daily.

I wanted to do this for a few reasons. One, I clearly drink an absurd amount of coffee. I have consumed nearly a pot of coffee every day since my deployment to the Middle East over seven years ago. I wanted to see what it was like to experience life without the effects of caffeine. The other reason I chose this challenge is that I really wanted to push myself. I knew well before this challenge started that it was going to be hard. I wanted to prove to myself that I had the discipline to accomplish what I set out to do.

The first challenge came after two days when I started to get headaches. To try and mitigate caffeine withdrawal symptoms, I began to wean myself off coffee in the middle of July. Unfortunately, this started my August challenge two weeks early. If I did not take these actions, my headaches would have been much worse. Fortunately, these headaches only lasted for about a week.

The second challenge was a big one, and it lasted nearly the entire month: I was extremely lethargic. If I was actively doing things, I was fine. But as soon as things slowed down, I only wanted to sleep. This was the most exhausted I had consistently felt since Army basic training. To mitigate the fatigue, I tried a few ways to cope.

One attempt at coping was snacking. I found myself eating a lot of sugary snacks to get some sort of energy boost. Unfortunately, this did not work. I ended up gaining nearly five pounds during August from these sweet snacks.

Another strategy I tried was taking cold showers again. As I mentioned in my February post, cold showers provide a natural energy boost. This was not a one-for-one solution for no caffeine, but it did help for at least a few hours. (If you have not already, check out the cold shower challenge to learn more)

Taking caffeine out of my day reminded me how much I genuinely enjoy the experience of drinking coffee. There is something very comforting about sipping your first cup of coffee for the day. I especially missed my weekend mornings sitting in my favorite chair, reading the news while I had a nice warm cup of coffee.

One of the most surprising things about this entire month was how my sleep was impacted. Oddly, my sleep did not seem to benefit from no caffeine. Although I went to bed earlier than my yearly average in August, my sleep quality did not improve. According to my health tracker (which monitors my sleep), my August sleep score was in line with my yearly number.

September couldn’t come fast enough. What was my first cup of coffee like you ask? Well, it tasted great, and I was excited to be drinking it, but it was not some crazy and euphoric experience. What was euphoric, however, were the side effects of the caffeine. The sun shined brighter, and the birds chirped louder. Caffeine is indeed a drug. Honestly, I am happier when I drink coffee. I believe that, for me, any downsides of caffeine are outweighed by its benefits.

One of the downsides I’ve noticed with caffeine is that I am a bit more anxious. However, after my reset, I can tell what anxiety is induced by caffeine versus anxiety that stems from other things. The ability to differentiate between the two has helped me shrug off some of my anxiety more easily.

This challenge was a great test of my willpower. There is a voice in the back of my mind that says, "Don't stop; keep going." In August, this voice was as loud as ever. It helped me push through my days despite being exhausted. Knowing that I still have discipline and motivation without caffeine is very encouraging.

So why would I recommend this challenge? I don't. I wrote this so you can all hear my story and don’t have to suffer like I did. Just kidding… This challenge provided me with a fantastic reset from caffeine. If you want to drink less coffee, there is no better way to do just that. I now drink less coffee than I used to. This challenge can also show you what it is like to live without something you depend on. For me, I realized that I do not need caffeine to keep going, but I sure do rely on it to not feel tired.

I have taken countless things, big and small, for granted throughout my life. I start to depend on and set expectations rather than appreciate them. Taking them out of my life reminds me of the joy they bring me. I believe finding gratitude for what I have in my life will bring me more happiness. Not drinking caffeine for a month was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it made me appreciate and love it that much more.