Ways to get out of caffeine dependency

Having the option to turn to coffee to help with pulling an all-nighter during exams, or make a steaming cup of tea to kick start the morning all fresh and invigorated, or even succumbing to energy drinks in times of need, is more than just a sense of comfort for some; sometimes it's a necessity that, with time, becomes an ingredient for a functioning brain.

The negative side effects of caffeine addiction are obviously not very fun; the anxiety, restlessness, appetite loss, and vicious mood swings are difficult to deal with on a daily basis. Moreover, one accidental break from routine consumption of caffeine can lead to severe headaches or other not-so-pleasant symptoms, and thereafter resulting in a haywire mess of the rest of the day's work. But it is possible to cut down or step back from this habit if one really puts their mind to it.     

SLOW DETOX

For coffee drinkers, it's best to switch to any form of tea. Since tea contains considerably less caffeine, the dependence actually falls significantly, and with minimum effort. For tea drinkers, it's better to widen the interval in between each cup than to search for substitutes. For both, this step should be used for a definite period before decreasing the caffeine intake even more; and finally, giving up on it for good once the withdrawal symptoms have lessened or disappeared.

NON-CAFFEINATED DRINKS

It'll be a little difficult at first, but you can always try to condition your habits into changing. Whenever you find your hand reaching out for air-tight containers of coffee beans or tea leaves, just change the course of its path to something non-caffeinated. Make yourself a homemade smoothie out of whatever fruit you have at hand, or simply drink a warm glass of milk, or just increase your number of glasses of water in a day. Once the habit's stuck, the rest of the getting-over-caffeine period won't seem all that painful.

LOW CAFFEINATED DRINKS

If you don't want to opt for completely giving up your caffeinated drink of preference, then you should try to be careful about the caffeine levels in your drinks, and prioritise those with the lowest count. Decaf green tea is a good example in this case. Changing the brewing techniques of the drinks can also be a factor in reducing caffeine.

SUBSTITUTES

For most people under the spell of caffeine, it's more of a step that needs to be checked off their to-do list to catalyse the work waiting for them in their day ahead, than something they have merely for entertainment. For such consumers, substitutes such as protein shakes or herbal tea can take the place of caffeinated drinks to reenergise and stimulate the mind for getting through the day. Shifting to these drinks might not always be easy — most people would find they're an acquired taste — but it helps to power through the withdrawal process.

Mashiyat Iqbal is a procrastinator, a coffee-addict and an insomniac whose friends say she is hopelessly optimistic but she begs to differ. Send her some much neededluck at tenfinance10@gmail.com