A few weeks ago, I realized that caffeine was affecting my mood dramatically. I have been off of caffeine for about 3 weeks now and I thought I was due to share an update in my progress.

I almost relapsed. My girlfriend recently forgot that I had quit caffeine and accidentally bought me my favorite coffee drink. I didn’t want to make her feel bad, so I was going to drink it. After one sip though, I couldn’t take anymore. It tasted absolutely repulsive. I noticed the a year ago with Dr. Pepper after my first attempt to quit caffeine. It suddenly tasted gross when I wasn’t addicted to the caffeine. You can find the same characteristic with any drug. After a few tastes though, the feeling comes back and you want more. Luckily I didn’t relapse.

I can think much clearer. I used to either have too many thoughts to where I couldn’t concentrate on anything, or I’d be worn down from the caffeine crash. I also sleep much better. I sleep so deep that I don’t seem to need as much sleep now. It used to be that I would wake up extra groggy in the morning. Now I can wake up after 6 or 7 hours and be ready to go.

Things get rough when you’re out at a coffee shop with others. I feel I should be holding a fancy coffee cup and talking with my friends. It is always at the coffee house, where the stereotype of the caffeine consuming techie is played out the most. I think many of my friends feel more comfortable consuming all the sugar and the caffeine they want because it fits their culture. It’s like they feel coffee makes them who they are. Of course, I am the alien. They can’t imagine why I would possibly want to quit caffeine. Unless they quit like I have and see how good it feels and realize how gross caffeinated drinks really taste, I guess they will never get it.