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Hey coffee, take a long walk off a short dock
OPINION
By Jeff Salem
About four weeks ago, I decided it was time to go against the grain. And being a journalist, where the intake of copious amounts caffeine is almost part of the job description, I knew kicking my coffee habit was going to be tough.
From the outset, it wasn’t really a decision I was planning, either. About a month ago, I started my Monday like any other. I poured myself a 24-ounce mug filled with Folgers drip coffee from my apartment’s coffee pot. No sugar, no cream, just wonderful coffee filled to the brim. I burned the roof of my mouth with the first sip, — it’s a Monday routine — cursed how hot it was and headed to the office.
Monday passed without a refill, which was odd. In a given workday, I could have as much as 72 ounces of the stuff, but never fewer than 24 ounces.
What occurred the next day changed my routine.
On Tuesday morning, when I reached the kitchen, all that was ready for me was an empty coffee pot. I had forgotten to preset the coffee pot the night prior. For whatever reason, I impatiently decided to skip the coffee and grab some on my way to work at a gas station. Only I got lost in the news on the car radio and parked at work realizing I still had a 24-ounce coffee mug with exactly zero ounces of coffee in it. Adding to the problem, Tuesday is production day, and I’m chained to my desk from the morning hours until the pages for the following Thursday editions of the Sun Tribune and Sun Gazette are sent to the press, which usually occurs around 6 p.m.
Don’t get me wrong, I could have grabbed a coffee numerous times throughout the day, but Tuesday is a day when coffee wants can get shoved aside.
Around 2 p.m. Tuesday, I started getting a fairly intense headache. I don’t get headaches and I don’t get sick — they are two things I just don’t allow, but that’s another column for another day — so I was a bit miffed at what was occurring in my body. A quick Internet search suggested that my headache was my body calling for some caffeine, which I had forgot to give it that morning as I had for four or five years like clockwork.
I admit I was pretty mad at myself for allowing myself to get physically addicted to caffeine. I don’t drink soda, or any tea with caffeine, so I knew where my only source of the stuff was coming from: my beloved Folgers and any other subsequent coffee taken in during a regular day.
I didn’t want to be addicted to the stuff, so I decided to quit coffee cold turkey, which I read would cause headaches, but I figured the sooner I’m off the stuff, the better.
Well, they were right about the headaches. I had a pretty bad one Tuesday and most of Wednesday. But that wasn’t the worst part.
The fog rolled in Wednesday around 9 a.m. My mind was in trouble. I was tired and I couldn’t focus on any of the tasks I was dealing with at work. The rest of the week was horrible, and I was constantly thinking about the portion of a Web site that said it can take 50 days for your natural energy to return after kicking caffeine. I was worried, but pure will can take a man great lengths.
By the end of the first week with no caffeine that following Tuesday, I was feeling better. Now I feel great. I don’t feel like I’m trying to string together a couple bursts of energy between cups of coffee anymore, which I didn’t even realize I was doing until I kicked coffee.
It sounds like an infomercial, but it’s true.
The best part is my sleeping habits are totally changed. It used to take me an hour to fall asleep at night, and I’d never stay asleep for more than 90 minutes to two hours during the night. I still wake up at night, but never more than once a night. I even dream again, which is fun and really weird. It has been interesting seeing how much of my routine was affected by caffeine.
I’m sure I’ll have coffee again, after all, the taste is insanely amazing. Until then, I’ll stick with the 32-ounce cup from QuikTrip of half Gatorade, half water, please.
When I do return to coffee, I won’t be counting 24 ounces as a cup. A serving of coffee is relegated to 8 ounces for a reason, it just took me a while to see why.
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By Jeff Salem
About four weeks ago, I decided it was time to go against the grain. And being a journalist, where the intake of copious amounts caffeine is almost part of the job description, I knew kicking my coffee habit was going to be tough.
From the outset, it wasn’t really a decision I was planning, either. About a month ago, I started my Monday like any other. I poured myself a 24-ounce mug filled with Folgers drip coffee from my apartment’s coffee pot. No sugar, no cream, just wonderful coffee filled to the brim. I burned the roof of my mouth with the first sip, — it’s a Monday routine — cursed how hot it was and headed to the office.
Monday passed without a refill, which was odd. In a given workday, I could have as much as 72 ounces of the stuff, but never fewer than 24 ounces.
What occurred the next day changed my routine.
On Tuesday morning, when I reached the kitchen, all that was ready for me was an empty coffee pot. I had forgotten to preset the coffee pot the night prior. For whatever reason, I impatiently decided to skip the coffee and grab some on my way to work at a gas station. Only I got lost in the news on the car radio and parked at work realizing I still had a 24-ounce coffee mug with exactly zero ounces of coffee in it. Adding to the problem, Tuesday is production day, and I’m chained to my desk from the morning hours until the pages for the following Thursday editions of the Sun Tribune and Sun Gazette are sent to the press, which usually occurs around 6 p.m.
Don’t get me wrong, I could have grabbed a coffee numerous times throughout the day, but Tuesday is a day when coffee wants can get shoved aside.
Around 2 p.m. Tuesday, I started getting a fairly intense headache. I don’t get headaches and I don’t get sick — they are two things I just don’t allow, but that’s another column for another day — so I was a bit miffed at what was occurring in my body. A quick Internet search suggested that my headache was my body calling for some caffeine, which I had forgot to give it that morning as I had for four or five years like clockwork.
I admit I was pretty mad at myself for allowing myself to get physically addicted to caffeine. I don’t drink soda, or any tea with caffeine, so I knew where my only source of the stuff was coming from: my beloved Folgers and any other subsequent coffee taken in during a regular day.
I didn’t want to be addicted to the stuff, so I decided to quit coffee cold turkey, which I read would cause headaches, but I figured the sooner I’m off the stuff, the better.
Well, they were right about the headaches. I had a pretty bad one Tuesday and most of Wednesday. But that wasn’t the worst part.
The fog rolled in Wednesday around 9 a.m. My mind was in trouble. I was tired and I couldn’t focus on any of the tasks I was dealing with at work. The rest of the week was horrible, and I was constantly thinking about the portion of a Web site that said it can take 50 days for your natural energy to return after kicking caffeine. I was worried, but pure will can take a man great lengths.
By the end of the first week with no caffeine that following Tuesday, I was feeling better. Now I feel great. I don’t feel like I’m trying to string together a couple bursts of energy between cups of coffee anymore, which I didn’t even realize I was doing until I kicked coffee.
It sounds like an infomercial, but it’s true.
The best part is my sleeping habits are totally changed. It used to take me an hour to fall asleep at night, and I’d never stay asleep for more than 90 minutes to two hours during the night. I still wake up at night, but never more than once a night. I even dream again, which is fun and really weird. It has been interesting seeing how much of my routine was affected by caffeine.
I’m sure I’ll have coffee again, after all, the taste is insanely amazing. Until then, I’ll stick with the 32-ounce cup from QuikTrip of half Gatorade, half water, please.
When I do return to coffee, I won’t be counting 24 ounces as a cup. A serving of coffee is relegated to 8 ounces for a reason, it just took me a while to see why.