Last week I went without coffee. Technically, I didn't even have coffee the previous Thursday, Friday, or Saturday. I had coffee with my mom on Sunday because that is our standing date, but Starbucks is basically a dessert compared to my usual intake. I worked over 40 hours last week, and all of those hours were without coffee. And I am still alive. (As are my coworkers - no, it's ok, I understand why you had to ask.)
I kept notes on the highs and lows of last week… here are some of the more interesting moments:
Monday, 9.45a. None of my coworkers have spoken directly to me. I've made eye contact with three before they quickly look away. I must look dead inside.
10.36a. Not awake.
12.30p. Just realized I have been writing the date as 5.18 to this point. Not a big deal, but it's most definitely the 21st.
3.54p. So tired. Would give up today's pay for an hour long nap.
Editor's note: Napped from 630-930p. Bedtime was 1130p.
Tuesday, 7.01a. Overslept. Actually, didn't oversleep, just had no will to get up.
8.34a. Office coffee smells like heaven. Pretty sure my eyes aren't all the way open.
9.03a. Looked in mirror - my eyes are half closed.
Editor's note: napped from 7-9p. Bedtime was midnight.
Wednesday 6.35a. I think my coffee maker is angry with me, sitting there glaring with its hand on its hip.
8.14a. The air on the drive in smelled like coffee, but I feel good this morning.
11.02a. It's weird how normal I feel - normal meaning my usual coffee-saturated state.
Editor's note: NO NAP! Still going strong at 11p.
I didn't take notes Thursday because I felt incredibly normal. Friday was another good day. I caved and had two mugs of roasted almond coffee - heaven! But I didn't have coffee Saturday, had my weekly coffee date Sunday, but went without on Monday - a total of nine days sans coffee.
I'm not sure I'll try this again, but it's reassuring to know I can go without 8 cups of coffee a day and still act human. Eventually.
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Uhg. I feel your pain. I've recently quit Diet Coke (except for the one sitting in front of me at the moment. Hey, I forgot my tea and there's NO WAY I can make it through the last full day of classes without it. I might kill a student and that would be bad.). It's amazing what caffeine does to your body and what a drink habit does to your brain. I turn into Grouchy McGrouchypants if I don't have my daily dose of caffeine.
ReplyDeleteCaffeine really does have more of an effect on me than I thought - I had started thinking I was kind of immune! But yes, the drink habit with coffee for me is more about the ritual - I love having it in the morning, smelling it brew, sipping it when it's hot.
DeleteI've quit coffee too, well caffeinated anyway. I went 2 weeks cold turkey then had 2 cups in quick succession and could barely hold the cup I was shaking so bad. So no caffeine for me. Decaf is ok now, as long as I get a good one, and it means I can have a coffee just before bed and still sleep :)
ReplyDeleteDid you ever know that you're my hero? That's really impressive, go girl! Is there any reason behind this?
DeleteAs a side note - I used to be able to drink an entire pot of coffee, say, if I were planning to pull an all-nighter before exams, and promptly lay down to nap. (Surprised I graduated.)
I like this :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not that addicted (yet) but I do have caffeine several times a day in its many forms. I can't drink straight black coffee. I realize you will be judging me SO HARD for this. Last time I tried was freshman year in college, and it didn't kick in until 2 hours later, at which point I sat down on the floor in my dorm room and talked to my roommate for about an hour straight while she did homework, then she told me "You should probably not drink coffee."
So now I mostly handicap the coffee with sugar and milk.
No judging! Believe it or not, my blog is a judgement free zone. I used to love the *idea* of coffee, but could only drink it if it were a frappuncino or by adding a whole packet of hot chocolate mix to the mug. Then I hung out with musicians at Waffle Houses at 2a, and they made fun of me (nicely, but still) when I asked for cream. I still have notebooks from that period where my To Do lists include "Learn to drink black coffee." I learned, and still can and do, but I usually add milk or a creamer.
DeleteI like picturing your wild college coffee experimentations, though. That could be a really funny essay about your first time with "the hard stuff" in college.
I can't go one day without my coffee and my co-worker's would not want me to :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I told mine what I was doing, they were definitely shocked! It got easier after a few days but I'm MUCH happier with my morning doses this week.
DeleteI've wondered about trying this. I hate the idea of being addicted to something, and coffee is the last thing I'm still addicted to ever since I gave up smoking. I'd love to give the caffeine up, but I LOVE it so.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't *that* hard to do, but the outcome wasn't worth it. I didn't feel healthier or more energetic, and was kinda sleepy even after I got the hang of it a few days in. Plus, as I was starting this, Eileen posted this: http://speakcoffeetome.blogspot.com/2012/05/why-im-going-to-live-forever.html
DeleteI only have 1 cup a day (now) but it is a MUST have or you might as well not attempt to talk to me, or I may eat your face off like that zombie guy. ha ha
ReplyDeleteI'm just in a haze until I have mine, which is probably why I barely remember last week by this point. And that story is SICK but I am so fascinated. And appalled. But keep reading details.
DeleteIt's also got to be reassuring that you didn't go through any withdrawal symptoms. I've heard horror stories of wicked headaches, and even vomiting in severe cases.
ReplyDeleteWhoa...yes definitely glad that didn't happen. I'd never heard of that, thank goodness - probably wouldn't have even attempted it if I had known!
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