I Gave Up Coffee For 40 Days
Here's what I learned
I gave up coffee for 40 days.
Here’s what I learned.
In partnership with Crescent
Every morning, I wake up at 5 AM to write, but my writing doesn't start then.
It starts the night before with a personalized sleep program from Crescent.
Crescent offers personalized sleep coaching and programs, designed to help you sleep and live at your best.
If you're a knowledge worker looking to improve your sleep, I highly recommend signing up using my exclusive SKIP THE LINE link (valued at $100).
I don’t normally give things up for Lent. But after 5 people asked me what I was giving up, I felt obligated.
At first, I wasn’t sure what I'd give up. Alcohol is a fan favorite among Christians. But I don’t really drink that much.
"What about coffee?" Rachael asked.
I was actually mad at her for even suggesting it. I was on a 2,500-day streak of drinking coffee. I wasn't planning on breaking it then!
But she had a point...
Lent is a time for sacrifice. Giving up coffee would be the ULTIMATE sacrifice. So I committed to giving up coffee for 40 days.
Here's how it went…
1. Four Days of Fatigue
The first four days without coffee were rough. I was extremely tired and I couldn’t focus. It literally felt like I was sick. In fact, I took a COVID test because I really thought something was up!
Rest assured, with a quick Google search I learned this is completely normal when reducing your caffeine intake. Dramatically reducing your caffeine intake can lead to:
Headaches
Tiredness
Down moods
Trouble concentrating
2. Better Sleep
When I cut out coffee entirely, my sleep dramatically improved. Less caffeine in my system made me tired faster. Meaning I went to bed sooner and was able to sleep better.
3. Reduced Anxiety
On days I have too much coffee, I get WAY into my head:
Overanalyzing everything
Having difficulty making decisions
(and ironically) Struggling to focus!
Removing coffee from my diet made me feel much more relaxed and in control.
4. Better Digestion
Drinking too much coffee gives me stomach pain and makes me feel nauseous.
Giving up coffee and reducing my caffeine intake made me cognizant of this trend.
5. Learned Coffee is More Social Than I Thought
I didn’t realize how much of my social life revolved around coffee until I gave it up.
Every Sunday, Rachael and I take our pup for a walk and get coffee.
Whenever I see my parents, we always chat over a cup of coffee.
When I'm meeting with friends, we grab a cup of coffee.
When meeting someone new, it's often over coffee.
COFFEE, COFFEE, COFFEE!
Coffee is a bigger part of my social life than I thought it was.
6. Drank More Tea
There was no way I was going to give up caffeine entirely. After giving up coffee, I started drinking tea:
Black tea
Green tea
Herbal tea
Over my 40 days, matcha was my favorite. Probably because it’s high in caffeine…
TL;DR: I could be a “tea guy” if I had to.
7. Started Drinking Bone Broth
I intermittent fast 90% of the time. I needed something to drink in the morning other than tea. So, I started drinking bone broth. It’s now a staple in my morning routine.
Bone broth contains lots of vitamins and minerals that are great for your gut health. I buy it in bulk from Costco and enjoy it with a sprinkle of turmeric mixed in.
If you’re considering giving up coffee, give it a shot. It might sound psychotic, but it's worth it. Especially if you’re like me and had previously been drinking coffee for ~2,500 days straight!
As for me, I’m back to drinking coffee every day. But I limit myself to 2 cups. I plan on giving up coffee next year for Lent as well. Maybe ALL caffeine if I’m feeling PSYCHO.
TL;DR:
No coffee for 40 days.
What happened?
4 Days of Fatigue
Better Sleep
Less Anxiety
Better Digestion
Learned Coffee is More Social Than I Thought
Drank More Tea
Started Drinking Bone Broth