Today marks a one month anniversary for me. A small anniversary, to be sure, but one that has taken some effort on my part to accomplish.
It’s been one month since I last consumed a caffeinated beverage.
OK, so like I said, this is a small anniversary. Perhaps you’re not much of a consumer of coffee, tea, or soft drinks. Or, perhaps you’re highly disciplined when it comes to food and drink, and wouldn’t have any issues with your eating and drinking habits. If so, that’s great! That’s a good place to be.
For me, this is a nice step in that direction.
If you’re like me, you might be someone who has your caffeine during the day at one time or another. Maybe it’s the morning cup of coffee. Or the cola at lunch. Perhaps it’s both. Maybe it’s at multiple times during the day.
There are many people that are hooked on caffeine, whether they realize it or want to admit it.
I have been advocating drinking water instead of less healthy alternatives, and had pushed myself to get to that point for the most part. However, my lifelong taste for Diet Coke emerged in a big way in recent months, with an extremely busy schedule at home and work. I previously would have one occasionally, but I slowly escalated my consumption until I was having at least 2 or 3 per day. This was reminiscent of my habits about 10 years ago. Additionally, if I came across free coffee anywhere (bank, office, etc), I would be sure to have it. That might be a few times a week too.
The result was that I just didn’t feel right, and decided that I needed to take steps to get more disciplined with my the food and drinks that I put in my body. So, eliminating caffeine seemed to be a good first step.
The first few days were rough, as I started to get headaches and felt nauseated. It felt as though I had some type of bad flu virus, for those initial days. Interestingly, when it was that bad during that initial time, I ran to a quick-serve place and picked up a fountain drink. After a short while, I felt good. While it was nice to feel better, it made me realize the hidden power of caffeine.
From that point, I resumed staying off caffeine, and I haven’t had any since. It’s been a month now.
No Diet Cokes, no coffee, no caffeinated tea.
Mostly lots of water every day.
There have been a few days where I had juice, and one day when I had two glasses of beer. That’s it.
The result: I actually feel better! Here are four benefits I have noticed:
- Falling Asleep Easier. Caffeine isn’t preventing me from sleeping.
- Getting Better Sleep. Once I fall asleep, I stay asleep more often
- Less Ups and Downs in Energy. There are no bursts of energy followed by mini-crashes and lethargy; rather, I’m consistently at a good enough level of alertness throughout the day
- Improved Concentration. It seems like it’s a bit easier to maintain focus for extended periods of time
In terms of the pocketbook, I’m clearly saving some money by having water instead of soft drinks, as I frequently suggest. But the bigger thing is that I’m able to maintain energy throughout the day – which I hadn’t been able to do as well before. This, I believe, can only make one a more productive, energetic, and innovative worker. It may not be directly quantifiable, but I think there’s at least a potential financial benefit that could be attributed to those factors.
Will I keep up this strict regimen? Probably not to this extent, but I hope to reestablish a long-term pattern of limited caffeine, with sodas being only an occasional indulgence once every few weeks. If I have a caffinated drink, maybe green tea would be a good option. We’ll see.
Regardless, this one month exercise gave me a direct example of how good dietary habits can impact one’s energy, health, and even the ability to earn and save money.
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DH does this from time to time. He cut out soda about a decade ago when the dentist gave him an ultimatum, but soon replaced it with tea and then coffee. But occasionally he’ll detox. The first few days are always really tough. Eventually he goes back and the cycle begins again.
I get migraines and the only thing that cures them is caffeine (and sleep). If I drink too much caffeine that remedy doesn’t work. So I avoid it except in emergencies.
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Nicole – One similarity to how your husband has dealt with caffeine is that I too have done a detox before.
I remember being in my mid-20′s (I’m 39 now) and going to an amusement park with my fiancee. It was a hot, muggy summer day, and I had my usual Diet Coke in the morning. No water, of course:)
Anyway, I ended up getting this 64oz drink from a convenient store on the drive to the park. I remember it being not much more than $1, but the cup was so big it had a handle on it. So, in the heat that day, I felt dizzy and like was about to pass out. Now, I regularly excercised then, and was in good shape, so it was quite an odd occurence.
That prompted me to stop drinking sodas for an extended period of time.
Clearly, I resumed again as I got older. I wonder if there is some type of lifetime issue here, where even though you get over the hump and are able to quit, if you go back to having a few caffeinated drinks you could be at high risk to get hooked again? I am not a smoker and never have been, but that’s what I have heard about nicotene.
I know caffeine is highly addictive; I’m an addict! I must have my coffee in the morning (4 shots of espresso – I know, WOW). However, this summer I’ve gotten really bad about drinking sodas throughout the day instead of water. Usually, I’m much more disciplined. Now that I think about it, I have been having trouble falling asleep which is unusual for me. I think I need to cut out the sodas.
Little House – Yeah, I agree. WOW!
If I had that now, after a month of no caffeine, I would be bouncing off the walls and super hyped. Coworkers would probably be stunned:)
It really has helped with sleeping, that much I can say.
Seems like every time I steer towards your blog, you’ve got a great topic like this one to talk about!
Well done.
Congrats on the 1 month anniversary. I am a pretty big coffee drinker, but tend to be able to keep the costs of the habit down through avoidance of Starbucks/designer coffee and brewing it at my house.
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MPF Journey – thanks for the nice words! I liked your most recent topic as well, ROI on educational expenses.
I think this sentence is the key: “The result was that I just didn’t feel right, and decided that I needed to take steps to get more disciplined with my the food and drinks that I put in my body.” How many of us are so in touch with how we feel that we know when things aren’t “just right”. And even when we are aware of it (I am talking about myself here) how many of us actually do anything. For me, I just sort of push it beneath the surface and tell myself that I just need to get more sleep. (Maybe true, but not dealing with the real issue). Anyway, thanks for sharing your month experiment with us. I am challenged.
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Joe – that’s really it: discipline. It’s very hard to do sometimes, but many (perhaps not all) habits can be broken or at least modified with determination. These principles could apply to personal finance, as well.
Mr. BFS just celebrated 2 weeks without a soda. He’s trying to slowly break his caffeine addiction and wants to avoid the calories in the Dr. Pepper and fountain cokes he was having on a daily basis. He still will drink caffeinated tea and even cut some caffeine pills into thirds to help with his withdrawal, but he’s not having headaches anymore and hasn’t had to use any caffeine for 3 days…he’s so proud.
I’m surprised and proud that he’s been able to do it since he was a big soda drinker, but I’m glad he’s trying to get healthier!
I drink sweet tea a few times a week and might have a can of Dr. Pepper every two weeks or so, but thankfully, I don’t get headaches if I avoid caffeine…which is good since caffeine is also my way of dealing with migraines (like Nicole above).
BFS – good for Mr. BFS in his apparent dedicated efforts to wean himself off caffeine!
I’ve been 7 weeks without caffeine, and I’m still tired in the mornings without my cup of caffeinated tea. But it’s saved me a lot of money on Coke Zero! And I’m not pumping my body full of artificial sweetener, either.
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Penny –
You have a great point about the artificial sweetener. That might be an even better benefit of giving up sodas. Also, congrats on 7 weeks without caffeine! That’s tough to do, and many folks might not be able to, but you did it!
I agree that caffeine is addictive. I start and end each day with a cup of coffee. Caffeine doesn’t ‘get me going’ or keep me up at night, but if I don’t drink at least 3 or 4 cups of coffee, I will get a headache.
Good job on staying clean for a month!
Greg – Thanks! You bring out a good point on how caffeine may not make a noticable impact on some people, but the absence of it sure does. That was my feeling in the first few days. What I have noticed, in addition, is that eventually the lack of caffeine could make one feel better!
Congrats on your 1 month anniversary. You got me wondering if I too am addicted. Interestingly, I “know” I am not addicted to anything in particular. Meaning it seems that (anything other than water) will do. That said, maybe I need to quit altogether.
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Congratulations, that really is a big accomplishment. Did you notice if you lost any weight? I know you were drinking diet coke, but I know for me, sometimes I have an unhealthy snack with a pop.
You motivated me Squirreler. I don’t drink coffee, but I do enjoy a coke now and again. Water really is the best thing, but sometimes it is just so bland. I may join your crusade.
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Everyday Tips – for me, there was no weight loss during this time, though I haven’t weighed myself lately. No noticeable weight loss, maybe that’s the best answer.
That said, I know what you mean about having snack with a soda. Actually, for it would come afterward – it’s almost like hunger was triggered after drinking the Diet Coke.
I limit myself to two cups of coffee in the morning and that keeps me from having problems with sleep, etc.
However, I still haven’t give up soda; I’ve a caffeine-free diet coke fiend!
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Kay Lynn – if you’re going to have caffeine, conventional wisdom (or my “wisdom” anyway!) says you’re having it at the most sensible time. I have had caffeine at random times in the day, and it can really mess with one’s sleep – and you don’t even know it until you stop.
I have been off caffeine forv 5 years. It gave me stomach aches so I had no choice, but I do still miss it.
I would go back in a heartbeat if my body tolerated it better.
The physical addicton didn’t take long to break but it took 3 months to get back to my
perky self. My boss at work even asked if I was having problems at home. Ha ha.
Over time I have substituted sugary things for my caffeine fix. I eat way more sweets now than I ever
Did. I can attribute at least 10 lbs to the switch. The holy grail would be to cut out both.
You also get super sensitive to caffeine after you have been off it a while. Try to drink an iced tea in the
Afternoon and you end up being up all night.
Sandy – you make some interesting points. I have personally experience the reality of being super sensitive to caffeine after not having it for a while. I had gone without caffeine for an extended period of time – like maybe a year – and then one day decided to randomly stop at a coffee shop. I wanted to get a decaf coffee, but instead I got a decaf (or so I thought) specialty drink called something like a “chocolate monkey” (Note: I know was weird, feel free to laugh at me). Anyway, if I recall, it was a banana and chocolate flavored coffe edrink, topped with whipped cream. I got a large sized drink. Lots of sugar, which I know would get me bouncing very quickly, but I took comfort in knowing it was decaf. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask for decaf. My motor was running like you wouldn’t believe after consuming that drink!
[...] Squirrelers wrote about his first month being caffeine-free. [...]
Nice experiment! I’ve also been weaning myself off of caffeine. Like any drug, it is best taken in moderation, key word there being *moderation*!
There have actually been studies showing how caffeine can be beneficial for the brain and how it can improve test performance, so I wouldn’t rule out a bit of coffee before a test… but one should never be *dependent* on it to get through the day.
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Hey Little House,
You said “I know caffeine is highly addictive; I’m an addict! I must have my coffee in the morning (4 shots of espresso – I know, WOW)”.
I have a coworker that can’t survive unless she fills up her giant coffee mug with expresso – and she drinks a few of these throughout the day! If there’s even a few drops of water in her coffee, then she can’t drink it at all
Kevin@InvestItWisely recently posted..Weekend Reading- Last Days of Summer
Kevin – your coworker is a big time addict, isn’t she? I couldn’t imagine the withrdrawal symptoms she could have if she stopped cold turkey.
Congrats! I tried that last year and at first I had to get through the caffeine headaches, then I saw the same similar benefits that you mention above! Unfortunately, I went back to drinking a few cups of coffee (really lattes) and cokes a day. I plan to get off of caffeine again though!
Sorry I’m so late on this comment, I’m on vacation (woo hoo).
Money Reasons – hope you’re enjoying the vacation! I know that it can be easy to go back to drinking caffeinated beverages. The good news is that you have done it before, so you know that you can do it again.
[...] has stopped drinking caffeine for the past month, and while this isn’t technically frugal, if it was Starbucks, or energy [...]
[...] What I Learned From My Caffeine-Free Month [...]
[...] you. A fellow blogger had recently celebrated one month without caffeine and you can read about Squirreler’s success with avoiding caffeine by clicking that [...]
I think that drinking coffee is a habit generated by marketing departments, and people would function well even if they did not consume any coffee at all
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Get Happy Life – When not drinking coffee, I have survived just fine. Like many other things, good marketing can make a want into a “need” for some people.
I admit that I am addicted to coffee, espresso, green tea, energy drinks, etc. There was a time that I slept only 3-4 hours per day, because of a hectic schedule. I drank sometimes 4 to 5 for servings of caffeinated beverages per day. That was a few years ago, and since then I cut back to one cup of coffee or tea every other day. I have discovered that I can get by just fine without caffeine, as long as a get enough sleep. I am not too sure whether I will be able to kick the caffeine addiction for good, though.
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