Ever thought of having a productive day but feel quite sleepy midway? Coffee or tea is the perfect caffeine boost you can use to be alert and energized.
Caffeine was discovered in society in 3000 BC when the Chinese used tea in their culture. And the Arabians discovered coffee in 1000 AD. It’s later adopted in Europe during the 16th century when trade between countries commenced. And ever since, caffeine has been integral to the workplace.
But most are drinking it wrong. Here’s how to utilize caffeine for a productive remote working carer.
Understanding our body
When we use energy, our body is abundant in Adenosine triphosphate (ATP). And it further degrades adenosine and binds into adenosine receptors. When adenosine receptors are paired with these chemicals, it signals our body to fall asleep.
And when we sleep, adenosine is cleansed out from our bodies.
What Does Caffeine Do?
But sometimes, we don’t have the luxury to sleep. Deadlines are looming. Your deliverables are crucial for your remote working career.
Caffeine helps us with that.
Caffeine is a stimulant that blocks adenosine receptors. It binds to the adenosine receptors to stop it from activating. When there is no signal, we don’t feel sleepy.
You can feel the effect after 15 minutes. And then, it’s fully absorbed around an hour later. Usually, the effect lasts for 2 to 4 hours. But half of the caffeine still remains in your bloodstream after 6 hours. It takes 10 hours to flush it out of your body.
When is Coffee Intake Too Much
It’s heaven-sent to be with the caffeine power-up, especially in this fast-paced remote working world. But is there a catch?
If you’re scared of taking too much caffeine, don’t be. Chances are, you won’t be intoxicated. After all, you need 10 grams of caffeine to be poisoned. That’s equivalent to 100 cups of coffee taken in a short amount of time.
A maximum safe amount of caffeine is around 400mg a day or 4 cups of coffee. But the question is, until when is it effective?
Caffeine Tolerance
Our body is amazing! It can adapt to different situations. But then, it can stop you from getting the full benefits of caffeine. Our body needs sleep. And too much dependence on caffeine hinders that.
When you drink too much caffeine, your body grows more adenosine receptors causing caffeine tolerance. And more adenosine receptors mean you need more caffeine to block the added receptors to stay awake.
That’s why after some time, people drink more coffee to compensate. But this causes side effects like increased heart rate, high blood pressure, fatigue, and frequent urination.
This should not be the way to drink it. It’s unhealthy.
How to Stop Caffeine Dependence
So how do you bring back the same effect? Should you stop drinking coffee all at once? The answer is no. Abrupt changes in consumption will just cause you withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Nausea
- Irritability
- Tiredness
- Headaches
- Muscle pain
It’s suggested to drink caffeinated and decaf drinks alternately within a 2-week period. Afterwards, lean more on decaf for the following weeks until your dependence is curbed.
Best Time to Drink Coffee
So if drowning yourself in caffeine is not the best way, how should you take your coffee?
Most people drink their coffee once they wake up. But then, your cortisol levels are at their peak during this time.
Cortisol is the stress hormone. It follows our sleep cycle. And during our waking hours, it is high to keep us, well, awake. And it gradually diminishes at night until we sleep. So you don’t exactly need it immediately when you wake up.
So the best time to drink coffee is around 9:30 to 11:30 AM to maximize the benefits for the whole workday.
Coffee Nap Hack
Want another coffee hack? It’s called “Coffee Nap,” and it can boost the benefits of caffeine intake when done right.
All you have to do is drink coffee 15 minutes before you take a quick nap.
Remember, the effects of caffeine can be felt after 15 minutes or so. So when you take a nap beforehand, you can cleanse your body of adenosine (because sleep flushes it out) and then block the adenosine receptors simultaneously.
You will feel refreshed after just a few minutes. Sweet!
Conclusion
It’s time to be more productive in your remote working career. With the help of caffeine, you can do more with less time! Of course, don’t forget restful sleep as well. Cheers to a thriving practice!
