As we come in to the new year and we think about resolutions or goals, I thought it was quite timely to post this piece that the gorgeous Rachelle from The Mummy Code has written for my blog. Although I’m not a coffee drinker, I have friends who feel coffee is necessary to getting them through the day. Isn’t it funny how some things we feel are essential to us, aren’t that essential when we finally give it up?!

I don’t drink coffee. Yep! I have two children (Hudson 4 and Scarlett 2) and I think I have stopped drinking coffee. I say I think, because in the words of Bieber ‘never say never’. However, it’s been almost two months and I can’t see and end in sight anytime soon.

In two months I have gone from having up to 4 cups of black espresso to having none. I was the ‘hook it in my veins, don’t speak to me before I have had a coffee’ person. I could not function without it and I didn’t want to know what would happen if I stopped.

So, why did I stop? I was getting headaches and my husband also said he was thinking of seeing if he could quit caffine. I figured I’d give it a go. I’m not going to lie, the first 2 days were hard. The headaches were intense and all I could think about was having a cup of coffee to make them go away. I felt exhausted……like sitting at my desk almost falling asleep exhausted.

I thought I would be more easily irritated, but the reality was I was too tired and had such a bad headache I couldn’t care. In hindsight, I probably should have cut down and not just stopped cold turkey. After a few days started to feel better. I was drinking more water, had more energy, was not experiencing the caffine crash and I was sleeping better.

My husband and I have decided to keep going caffine free and haven’t looked back. My skin has improved (probably from all the extra water) and instead of having a rush of energy and then a crash, my energy levels feel more consistent all day. I also feel that I am less anxious/stressed about small things and I haven’t had any headaches.  I realise I used coffee to procrastinate, often thinking to myself ‘I’ll just have a coffee and then I’ll …..’. Now I’m just getting things done,  my mind actually feels clearer and I’m more focused.

Overall, it’s been a positive change. I still adore the smell of coffee and I’m sure I will have one again at some stage. I just want to avoid going back to being so reliant on that little black drink. For now I’m happy sipping on herbal tea, water and I still have wine (I’m not giving that up).

If you’re thinking of giving it a go, just try it. Set a small goal of a week or two and see how you feel. Once you get past the first couple of days it’s smooth sailing.

Rachelle xx

 

Could you quit coffee?

Is there something else you’d like to try quit?