We switched to decaf for a week to see how it impacted our stress, and it gave me more energy. My wife struggles with stress, and while I struggle less I have a lot left to learn. So when she suggested we switch our automatic espresso machine to decaf beans, I was excited to try it!

I tried living without caffeine once before during covid. Apparently you need 10 days to be completely free of caffeine, and at the time I hated the experiment. It made me feel different, but I didn’t feel good. But that time I struggled to find a replacement.

This time we switched beans and I still had delicious coffee, even more cups than usual.

I did feel tired, especially in the mornings. But I didn’t get headaches and body sweats this time.

I also didn’t get the jittery, uncomfortable, energy I often have. I thought it was stress, turns out it’s caffeine.

I was also more aware of how tired I actually am. And it was easier to plan my todo list to not overwhelm mylself.

This was a success

I think I’m going to continue drinking mostly decaf. I’m also going to drink caffeine, but much less of it. Caffeine is a wonderful stimulant, but I really don’t like the sharp jittery energy it gives me. In my 20s I felt like that most of the time, so I didn’t think much about it. But in my 40s, I think this is just causing me a lot of stress and uncomfort without any benefits.