You may say you’re addicted to coffee but it’s more likely that you just have a “strong dependency” on the beverage. If you’re drinking a cup of coffee (or two or three) daily, then your body has probably developed a caffeine tolerance and will push you to crave more and more of it until you’ve achieved that “caffeine fix.”
While your caffeine fix can be what fuels you during the day it can also be the culprit behind some nasty side effects like insomnia, anxiousness, headaches, and dehydration. Your body might actually be trying to tell you it’s time to cut back.Here are some signs it’s time for a caffeine detox:
- There’s a noticeable change in your sleep cycles. It takes a long time to fall asleep or your sleep is restless.
- You have pounding headaches every morning that miraculously disappear once you take that first sip.
- You have feelings of anxiety or panic attacks after drinking caffeine.
- You experience muscle spasms due to dehydration.
How to quit without making yourself totally miserable:
- Slowly back away from caffeine. You don’t have to cut caffeine cold turkey! In fact, it’s better if you don’t. Set time limits ending your caffeine intake for the day, or maybe drink one cup instead of three. Oh, and decaf is now officially your best friend.
- Start your detox during a vacation or long weekend. Don’t deprive your body on a Monday morning at 7:00 am when you have a full day of demanding work ahead. Instead opt for a day you can sleep in or a time that doesn’t require a lot of concentration and energy.
- Choose a replacement beverage. There are other ways you can consume your energy in the mornings other than coffee such as through teas and juices.
- Keep a running list of motivators for quitting caffeine. Remind yourself when temptation creeps in why you’re detoxing in the first place. Better sleep? To save money? Ridding your dependence?
Source:Camille Styles