Ask HN: Quit caffeine? Before and after anecdotes

bb123 · 4 years ago

I’d like to offer the opposite perspective to many of the responses here. I regularly have 2 coffees a day, and I’ve taken month long breaks from it in the past. I’ve never experienced any of the severe withdrawal symptoms people often describe, with the exception of feeling a little sluggish on the first day. I did, however, miss the routine of preparing and drinking a warm aromatic beverage in the morning. I find it a pleasant way to start the day. Also, at times where I can feel myself flagging and I need continued focus, I find a good coffee does really help. So I personally see limited downside to caffeine consumption and some nice upsides.

freedomben · 4 years ago

I completely agreed with you until I realized that caffeine was aggravating my anxiety. I went years not realizing this, so it's possible that for some people they're getting symptoms they haven't linked yet.

Now that said, when I was younger I didn't have that problem and caffeine was a powerful tool in my toolbox for maximizing performance. Definitely glad to have it when needed.

anyfoo · 4 years ago

I had that problem. It only crossed into anxiety when I had much more, but even before that point I had what I would call uncomfortable “overattention” and sleep troubles.

The solution for me was moderation. Two cups a day, and no cup after 3:30pm (or rather that’s the latest time I allow myself to start drinking my last cup). Makes them more special, too.

doktorhladnjak · 4 years ago

I gave up caffeine for several months starting around October 2020. It was seriously aggravating my politics and COVID anxiety at that time. I did eventually go back to it last summer. I just like coffee and the kick that comes with it. I usually only drink one cup, sometimes two which strikes a good balance for me.

anyfoo · 4 years ago

Exactly the same here. Two coffees a day, and I look forward to making them sometimes even at the end of the previous day: Let’s go to bed, and tomorrow I’ll make myself a nice cup of coffee and it will be a new day.

And with two cups a day, “withdrawal” really isn’t a big factor. There are (rare) times where because of different circumstances I forget to/can’t drink coffee before my self-imposed deadline (for sleep), and I’ll be a bit more tired and a bit sad that I have to wait for my next coffee…

rajin444 · 4 years ago

I had the exact same experience. I've gone 6-8 months of taking roughly 200mg - 300mg a day with no major issues. When I've taken breaks (up to 6 months at a time) I didn't notice any real gain.

The one lasting thing I've noticed is my tolerance. I've never been able to reset back to a "pre coffee" level where I could have like 200mg and be absolutely wired. It goes down, but nowhere near as much. Maybe 6 months isn't a long enough break...

hughrr · 4 years ago

A hot drink in the morning is a good motivator and ritual. I think that’s the winning thing.

I occasionally do hot chocolate instead which is equally as good thus the caffeine may not be required.

freedom2099 · 4 years ago

I hear you… 4 coffees a day here and can stop without any symptoms whatsoever! I too miss the routine though… I am extremely set in my ways ad the break I take and the routine to prepare my coffee is something I enjoy!

jedberg · 4 years ago

Have you tried using herbal tea (no caffeine) to get your routine and see if it's the routine or the caffeine that helps?

rustybelt · 4 years ago

Good decaf (Swedish water method) works best for me when trying to cut down on caffeine but maintain the hot aromatic beverage ritual.

lamontcg · 4 years ago

I quit coffee for about a year before and I lacked focus at work and the ability to scratch away at things day after day to get bigger things done.

wartijn_ · 4 years ago

Two years ago I quit drinking caffeine for 2 or 3 months. At first I was tiered more often, but after a while (maybe 2 weeks? Can't remember exactly) that went away. After that I felt pretty much the same as with caffeine, not noticeably better or worse.

Since I didn't feel better and I like coffee, I started drinking that again.

sshine · 4 years ago

I also tried to quit for 2 months in 2021. Withdrawal for 5 days — only headaches for 2, and realising that sleep is better for 3 days more. Felt excellent to feel mentally awake without stimulants. Eventually went back to 2-3 coffees a day because I like drinking it.

jquery · 4 years ago

Same experience I had a couple years ago, except I quit for several months. I think genetics might play a part here.

guilhas · 4 years ago

Feel like this comment, and similar, if were made about drinking alcohol we would not take them as lightly

For example I like beer and wine a lot but I can go many weeks without drinking them. Coffee I drink everyday, because I want to of course

carom · 4 years ago

I've cut out a lot of foods permanently. Most notable are caffeine and sugar (sucrose, fructose). It will take a few tries but you're better off without it.

Regarding caffeine, I would drink a lot of soda each day, like 4+ Mexican cokes. The first month is terrible. You will have an initial withdrawal, then just be in a slump. I am the type of programmer to work on side projects after work and I couldn't. I decided to give it a month, but was legit considering starting again just because of that.

First month mega slump. Second month it's getting better. After that you're no longer dependent.

It's amazing how dependent everyone is on it. You hear, oh it doesn't really affect me, I just like the flavor of coffee, but I don't buy it. People are super addicted and coping. Caffeine doesn't give yourl energy, it just takes away the symptoms of your withdrawal.

Note, it did not fix my sleep schedule. Bright screens are kinda the last factor I can blame for that so I'm experimenting with eink and reflective lcd screens.

You don't need it. Water is the one true beverage. It's amazing how little water most people drink.

garren · 4 years ago

4+ sodas a day seems like a lot. Congrats for kicking that. I stopped drinking soda years ago, and dramatically cut my sugar intake for a while. I was surprised to see how much sugar was in, well, just about everything. Occasionally I’d indulge in a slice of pie or something and usually found it far too sweet to enjoy.

As for coffee, I don’t drink as much caffeinated coffee as I used to, but I do like the flavor. I’ll often kick back a couple cups of decaf in the late afternoon. Like you, I noticed that stopping didn’t seem to affect my sleep one way or the other. Fortunately for me, I didn’t experience any withdrawal issues, I just stopped. I was also very motivated for a few reasons, and may have been a factor.

Mathew Walker of Why We Sleep fame [0] was on a podcast [1] recently describing his caffeine and coffee abstinence experience. He made an interesting statement in support of drinking coffee as it relates the the Western (more accurately American) diet. He said that coffee is the single best, almost sole, source of antioxidants for many/most Americans. Shortly after hearing that interview I reevaluated my stance on coffee (my only source of caffeine) and went back to drinking it. I drink as much or more coffee than I did previously, but I drink significantly less caffeinated coffee. And I stay away from the “hard stuff” like espressos.

[0] https://www.amazon.com/s?k=why+we+sleep+book+matthew+walker&...

[1] https://www.samharris.org/podcasts/making-sense-episodes/267...

temp234 · 4 years ago

Ha cool, I have a similar story to you but for me it was plain coffee not soft drinks, and the sugar I was getting in lots of places in my diet. It sounds like I had fewer withdrawal symptoms but it definitely took a couple months to stop wanting caffeine or sugar. Sleep that I don't sabotage with screens is amazing, it feels like that deep sleep I got when I was a little kid. I think it's definitely the bright lights keeping us awake but also the fact of being mentally active with a task or entertainment. I don't like "winding down" but I'm realizing I need to and probably once I do I'll love winding down and wish I started doing it sooner. If anyone has a wonderful soothing no-looking-at-screens bedtime routine I'd love to hear it

I still drink hot cocoa and nice water process decaf, which have some caffeine but don't seem to affect me. I still will eat a couple bites of a special dessert under social pressure

orev · 4 years ago

> Bright screens are kinda the last factor I can blame for that so I'm experimenting with eink and reflective lcd screens.

Consider that it may not be the screen causing a problem, but the content you’re looking at could be keeping your thoughts from reaching a tranquil state.

cwackerfuss · 4 years ago

Four Mexican cokes sounds as much like kicking a caffeine habit as it does a pretty bad sugar habit. Good job sticking to it.

carom · 4 years ago

I continued sugar for a while after that but eventually cut it out.

Saris · 4 years ago

I wonder how much of that was the sugar too.

dmarchand90 · 4 years ago

I quit for about a year and I recommend everyone try at least one in their life. The withdrawals took me about two weeks to fully get over. (Only a few days with the full symptoms and then a longer tail of mild symptoms and psychological withdrawal).

I felt very relaxed for much of the time, though anxiety never fully left. Much more productive in the late afternoons when I'd normally crash. Probably a bit less productive but not worried about being less productive.

In the end I went back. I guess for the taste and the ritual, but partly I think there is a net productivity gain when one consumes mild caffeine and isn't too anxious in general.

hughrr · 4 years ago

Anecdotes it is. Quit caffeine in 2015. I was drinking coffee and red bull constantly. Felt like crap for about two weeks. Measurably no difference other than bank balance. Did a crap action film montage in 2019 and went from lard ass to super fit. Massive positive change in cognitive ability and mental health. Started drinking coffee again in 2021. Absolutely no change other than bank balance. Only difference is I keep it to one in the morning now and occasionally swap it for a hot chocolate if I fancy one. And only for the bank balance.

Ergo I suspect the best software developers are the fit and healthy ones.

sdze · 4 years ago

Chocolate has plenty of caffeine too ;)

matttproud · 4 years ago

I gave up caffeine in September, 2021. I was drinking typically two cups a day of filter coffee — sometimes more. Withdrawal lasted two weeks. Some of the worst headaches of my life that later transitioned into overall body pains, but that passed eventually. There was a psychological component to withdrawal, but it was nowhere as bad as when I gave up cigarettes a long time ago.

In my steady state today, I notice these differences being off caffeine:

1. easier time staying asleep and general better rested

2. easier to fall asleep

3. outside of age and health, I feel in someways body-wise as I did in my teens with less variability between high days and low days in terms of feeling of wellbeing

4. less trash and mess in the kitchen to clean up

5. less staining of the teeth (FWIW, my dentist said to me a month ago, "I don't tell this to patients very often, but you don't need to do anything differently in how you're caring for your teeth. Your teeth are the best they can be for your age.")

6. less likely to just load up on caffeine to push through some drudgerous project as an all-day thing

7. in the TMI space, but there's never a sense of bowel urgency

What's not different:

1. work performance (so far as I can tell)

sdfjkl · 4 years ago

Too much caffeine (5+ cups a day): Bad sleep, wake in the middle of night with pounding heart Zero caffeine (for two years): Okay, everything is fine, but sometimes miss coffee boost and taste. Two cups a day: Everything is fine and I get to enjoy coffee. Never in the evening though.

Moderation! Same with everything.

freedom2099 · 4 years ago

I have been drinking coffe since I was 14 (I am 36)… I reached my peak during university with 8 espressos a day but for the past 10 years I only drank 4 espressos a day. I sometimes stopped drinking (like a couple of years ago I went for 3 weeks in the states on vacation and since there the coffee is basically liquid shit I decided it was better tu just avoid drinking it!) and never noticed any difference!