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This Daily Habit Might Be the Source of Your Fatigue
by Melissa Hartman
March 8, 2023
Most mornings kick off like this: I squeeze in a quick workout, then reach for a soda larger than my head. My daily caffeine fix is my go-to for that much-needed boost to tackle the day. After all, if I’m going to accomplish all the extraordinary things on my to-do list, I need to be wide awake. I deserve it; I’ve earned it, and I do enough “healthy things” to rationalize my caffeine habit.
But let’s be real for a moment—these are just the excuses I tell myself. The truth is, I’m running on empty, and I’m grabbing at this magical potion because I was up multiple times the night before, battling anxiety and making trips to the bathroom. So, come morning, I find myself in desperate need of that sweet nectar just to survive the chaotic start to my day.
When 4 p.m. hits, I’m craving another hit. Do I indulge in an afternoon caffeine boost as eagerly as I do my morning ritual? Absolutely. Every single day. It makes me a better parent and a more pleasant person when I’m not dragging and irritable. Bring on the caffeine!
But here’s the kicker: that caffeine I view as my savior could actually be the root of my tiredness. I keep repeating to myself that caffeine is natural, so what’s the harm? However, an article from Sleep Education explains that caffeine acts as a stimulant that keeps us alert, something most of us rely on just to face the world each morning. After all, that caffeine high from yesterday has stolen our precious sleep.
Before I became reliant on caffeine, I used to sleep soundly. I’d wake up feeling refreshed instead of tossing and turning like a restless ghost, all because of my love for soda and its party-like effect on my brain that keeps me buzzing into the early hours.
I’m on this caffeine rollercoaster to exhaustion, yet I refuse to fully acknowledge it. I don’t want anything—even a good night’s sleep—to interrupt my time with a cold, fizzy soda that brings me so much joy I look forward to it like a child anticipating Christmas morning.
For many, coffee fills that same void. The cycle continues. I always thought that since I wasn’t having caffeine right before bed, it would be out of my system by sleep time. Spoiler: I was wrong. That article points out that caffeine keeps us from feeling sleepy, which is one reason it’s so popular. It peaks in your bloodstream about an hour after you consume it, but it has a half-life of 3 to 5 hours. This means your body is working to eliminate half of that caffeine for up to 10 hours after you drink it. Most of us don’t just have one cup of coffee in the morning and call it a day. When that afternoon slump hits, we grab energy drinks, coffee, or tea to get us through until bedtime.
This is all well and good because it works—until it doesn’t. There’s simply not enough time for our bodies to expel all the stimulants from our favorite beverages. If you find that you’re having trouble sleeping, there’s a good chance your caffeine intake is too high, and you might want to reconsider that afternoon pick-me-up. But then again, I know I’d rather just complain about my fatigue while reaching for another refill.
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Summary:
In our quest for energy, many of us turn to caffeine, believing it to be a harmless necessity. However, this habit could be the very thing keeping us from getting the restful sleep we crave. The cycle of reliance on caffeine to combat fatigue often leads to a state of perpetual tiredness. If you find yourself struggling with sleep, it might be time to evaluate your caffeine consumption, even as you enjoy the comfort it brings.
Keyphrase: caffeine and fatigue
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