Caffeine: Why you should avoid it and what you can do to boost your mood instead
Caffeine
Why you should avoid it and what you can do to boost your mood instead
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I know that the semester is coming to a close which means professors are stocking up the workload and you're preparing for finals. The end of semester grudge kicks in and you’re unmotivated and will do anything to gain that energy back. Usually, this means loads of caffeine. Utilizing caffeine as an energy booster is actually detrimental and here's why:
1. It can make you depressed
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| Image from https://wallpaperbrowse.com/media/images/Sad-Guy-Image.jpg Caffeine has been shown to inhibit levels of serotonin in the brain, which basically means it's surpassing the “feel-good” hormones that your body needs to boost your mood. This can lead you to feel more depressed and irritable and therefore, more unmotivated. 2. It can make you physically crash and burn after the initial energy boost |
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3. It can cause sleep problems
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Caffeine can hinder the absorption of adenosine, when helps calm your body, thus affecting your sleep. Even if you drink coffee at 3 in the afternoon, it can later affect the way you sleep. Less sleep means more tiredness, which means less motivation.
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4. It can make you moody
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| Image from https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dbi-federal-childsurance-ads It can also increase levels of cortisol which leads to weight gain and moodiness and other health issues. Cortisol is a “stress hormone”. |
5. It can make you happy at first, but then extremely sad
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We’ve talked about dopamine before and how it’s a “feel-good” hormone. While caffeine does increase dopamine levels, it does it in a way where you feel good right after you take it, but then when it wears off, you feel even lower. Just like how adrenaline effects you physically, it does the same thing to you mentally.
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What you can do:
1. Limit your coffee intake
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If you absolutely have to have caffeine, try using it in small doses. Limit your coffee intake to one cup a day.
2. Don't consume it after 2pm.
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Another thing you should do if you absolutely need your caffeine fix, try not to drink it after 2pm. This way it won’t affect your sleep as much.3. Take a power nap. |
| Image from https://sleep.org/articles/how-long-to-nap/ A 20-40 minute nap can give you just enough rest to make you feel energized after, and not too much where you feel sluggish. 4. Go for a quick walk |
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Giving yourself a break from studying by doing a little exercise can both clear your mind and increase your energy. Your body is moving, so it’s ready to go! Think mind, body, and spirit, they are all connected and work together to get you going!
5. Try out a healthy recipe!
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