Why This College Student Decided to Give Up Caffeine

One of the toughest parts of college is getting through those 8 a.m. classes. No matter if you had a full night of sleep or pulled an all-nighter studying, early morning classes are a struggle. The go-to solution to power through a lecture full of yawning is caffeine. Whether you brave the coffee shop lines or brew it at home, college students love to get their daily caffeine fix.

I, however, tend to stay clear of the stuff.

(Photo via @kelseyknepler)

During my freshman year of college, my daily route to class included the passing of a Starbucks. This quickly lead to me becoming a college cliche, buying coffee or tea every morning to help me get through the day. But after one semester, I found that I wasn’t sleeping as well and, more often than not, I didn’t feel that great. I was replacing real energy for something artificial. So, I quit.

(Photo via @alliesarachene)

While the first few weeks caffeine-free were difficult to get through (I may or may not have snoozed a bit through one of my morning lectures on day three), I quickly got into a routine that made me feel better than I had in months. My sense of focus returned, and I could easily shut out the distractions that surrounded me. I found that I was less prone to procrastination. I hadn’t noticed while I was drinking coffee, but caffeine caused my mind to wander off to other tasks. I was constantly wired or overly-energetic, so getting off caffeine allowed me to calm down.

It has been two years since I broke my caffeine addiction, and I am having my best school year yet. Most nights, I get a full night of sleep, and while the stress of work, assignments, and life in general has not left my mind, it has eased. I am more energized than ever, and I am better prepared to get through each day.

(Photo via @lauraabaxterr)

If you’re someone who wants to shed off some stress and maybe get a few more hours rest, try cutting caffeine from your daily routine. And while I know caffeine is often the key to staying up and finishing that paper that’s due in four hours (!!!), without it, you would probably already have that assignment turned in.