Coffee provides a morning jumpstart, relied on by many students and professionals. The problem is, people tend to become dependent on the beverage, which escalates into an addicition. Having too much of something is harmful. In the case of caffeine, your rewards are headaches, insomnia, heart palpitations, and diseases in the digestive system, when constantly taken in excess. You must kick your caffeine dependency before it begins taking toll on your body.
Signs of an Addiction
Drinking coffee daily isn't bad as long as your mind and body can function properly even without having a sip of the beverage. However, when the lack of caffeine leads to hours of sluggishness and an insatiable craving, chances are, you are hooked to the substance. Coffee isn't the only contributor to caffeine addicition. You should also watch out for softdrinks, energy drinks, and tea. Even if you stop drinking coffee, consuming excessive amounts of these treats, daily, leads to caffeine dependency.
Curbing the Craving
Stopping caffeine addiction, just like quitting smoking, is not an easy feat. The craving for caffeine has a stranglehold on one's mind and it's withdrawal symptoms are quite nasty. For any addiction-stopping measure you apply, you must have a strong drive to kick the habit, otherwise you'll end up being more dependent to caffeine than ever before. With enough determination, you can try any of the following measures.
The Gradual Decrease
For many, an abrupt stoppage in caffeine consumption leads to an early date with the symptoms of withdrawal, which are challenging to resist. By gradually decreasing your intake of caffeine, your body gets used to the lowered consumption until the craving ends. The withdrawal stage becomes pretty tolerable, since your body barely looks for caffeine.
Let's say, you drink three tall glasses of coffee daily. You can drink three short glasses the following day until your body gets used to the amount. Limit your consumption to two short glasses daily then bring it down to a single cup. Once you're used to it, stop drinking coffee altogether. The first few days will be rough, but you'll eventually conquer the craving, even withdrawal.
The Smart Switcheroo
When drinking coffee, caffeine isn't the only thing responsible for you being roused, you also depend on its taste and temperature. So, if caffeine is absent, you can substitute it with an equally hot and tasty item, minus the addictive property. You can drink hot chocolate, eat porridge, or eat congee in place of coffee. A few glasses of water or fruit juice can also curb the craving, since you become full. When your body gets used to consuming the substitutes, the addiction to caffeine eventually fades.
Chew Bubble Gum
Chewing gum is a nifty way to stop caffeine addiction. Whenever your call for caffeine becomes intolerable, chew bubble gum. Focus on your chewing and the taste at first. Make your nibbles snappy, so they can capture your attention with ease. If the craving persists, start blowing bubbles. Play a game with yourself, in which you try to create bigger bubbles in succession. Just repeat the entire process if your caffeine craving is still bothersome.
Remove All Traces of Caffeine in Your Home and Office
A single sip from a cup of coffee is sometimes enough to build on your addiction. Given that fact, you can avoid that fateful sip by removing all the products that contain caffeine in your daily environments. Toss out your coffee beans, coffee sachets, sodas, and other related products. Of course, you can't control the coffee drinking of your colleagues. So, you can ask them to help you with your addiction, by preventing you from consuming caffeine at all costs. Don't forget to stay away from the coffee machine and the soda dispenser.
Meditate
Meditation is a strange yet effective means to curb any addiction, including the one induced by caffeine. Once you feel the substance's pull, close your eyes, do some breathing exercises - coupled with chanting, then free your mind. You will soon feel calm, too calm to be affected by the addiction. This method is strictly for those who have a strong focus. If you have trouble performing the exercise, you can switch to a different method or enroll in a yoga class.
Organize Your Strategy
Pressure is often a feeling that is despised by many. In the case of a caffeine addiction, it can work wonders for your cause. Apply a timeline for stopping your addiction. Abide by the schedule you set at all costs, which instills discipline and determination in your system. Now, combine the timeline and a positive outlook with any of the mentioned strategies for stopping caffeine addiction. You might be in for a pleasant surprise.