I'm a Caffeine Junkie
Oh yes, drugs… you may be thinking many things about me at this point. Caffeine is the best thing that has happened to me. Like any addiction, it started somewhere. Let’s explore my story.
Substances
During my 20s, I discovered that I have an addictive personality. Let’s take a look at the addictive substances I’ve tried over the years.
Nicotine
I’m not a fan of this one because of the way people react to it. I don’t get it. Everyone addicted to it seems to either love it or want to quit. It doesn’t seem to affect me for some reason, which is a good thing; otherwise, I’d probably have a nicotine addiction. So… Fuck you, Nicotine.
Alcohol
Ah, a classic the good ol’ alcohol. My first experience with alcohol gave me the best sensation of confidence, followed by a strong urge to vomit everywhere. I can understand why this is many people’s favorite, though I personally hate it for its negative effects on sleep, energy levels, and health.
Caffeine
My favorite stimulant, if not the world’s favorite; 90% of the world consumes caffeine daily. I consider myself a caffeine addict. Like any druggie, I take my caffeine intake seriously.
Why I Love It
I still remember my first cup of coffee like it was yesterday. Half a cup of black coffee (45mg of caffeine), 20 years old at the time, 10 minutes go by, and I feel it… a rush of confidence, energized, nothing could stop me. I became an extrovert out of nowhere.
I sound like a drug addict. Who knew caffeine would change so much about me? Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had caffeine before, but never this much in such a short time. It felt incredible for the next 4 hours. They say, “You never get the same feeling after the first time,” and it’s true. That rush was incredible!
Focus
You may call me a learning addict. After reading the book “Deep Work” by Cal Newport, focus and zero distractions have been my main priorities since. Brain fog is the enemy. There are multiple ways to eliminate it: quality sleep, a good diet, and regular exercise. But caffeine will push you even further, which is why it’s my drug of choice.
In the future, I’ll make a post about my Deep Work routine.
Energy
You won’t always feel at 100%, and that’s okay. But there are times when you need to give it your all. Productivity and performance are my priority, sometimes you just have to work when you don’t feel like it.
Intake
Coffee was my favorite form of caffeine. Energy drinks are okay, but both make my teeth yellow and cause me to crash. Pure caffeine is a amazing, it’s smoother, longer-lasting, and has little to no crash. It’s everything I’ve been looking for.
Caffeine + L-Theanine
Caffeine pills and mints are my go-to. They’re cheap, and they also contain a compound called L-Theanine that reduces the crash. L-Theanine complements caffeine, making the effect more pleasant.
Quantity & Frequency
I take my caffeine in increments of 50mg. Once I build a tolerance, I quit for a week and restart. I don’t consume caffeine every day, just when I need that extra help, usually two to three times a week.
Finally, here is my dosage guide:
- 50mg: Reading, studying, coding
- 100mg: Exercising, working long hours