Giving up coffee is like giving up air for most of us. Ironically, it debuts on plenty of New Year's resolution lists. In all corners of the globe, the clock strikes midnight and we all run to our coffee canisters, toss the grinds in the trash and vow never to imbibe in the rich, dark goodness of a latte ever again. And then we wake up feeling groggy and hungover and curse the day we ever made such a silly decision. What now?! How will we ever accomplish our 600 tasks in a day without our life force? Easy.
1. Start your day with a big glass of water: Most of the time when we're tired, it's actually a symptom of dehydration. Being thirsty is way worse for us than a little dry mouth. In fact, not having enough water can actually cause our brain to shrink and us to perceive tasks as harder than usual. So, when life feels challenging at 7am it's not for your lack of java, it might just be that you're dehydrated.
2. Add a little lemon water to your life: One of the many reasons my coaches love coffee so much is that it keeps them "regular." And we all know that a life backed up is no life at all. So, I recommend swapping a morning cup of joe for warm water with lemon. The benefits are endless: It fires up your digestive juices, supports liver detoxification and bowel movements.
3. Adaptogens change the game: You've probably heard about adaptogens before: They're magical substances that help your body adapt to stress. Coffee, a known stimulant, taxes our adrenals while adaptogens support them, while acting as natural fatigue fighters. Ashwaganda, rhodiola, Asian ginseng and cordyceps are my go-tos and can be taken as powders or in pill form.
4. Eat energy-supportive foods: When we're struggling a bit with fatigue we naturally want to reach for sugar for a quick energy boost. But that is actually counterintuitive. Sugar will provide a temporary rush of energy followed by a big crash. When you're feeling a little sluggish, reach for foods like walnuts or coconut chips; they're rich in healthy fats to support your body and brain.
5. Squat what your momma gave ya: A side effect of giving up coffee, especially if you've become dependent, is a caffeine withdrawal headaches. That's because coffee helps to dilate constricted blood vessels. So when you stop drinking it, your vessels go back to being tight and constricted which causes pain. Instead of reaching for a jar of aspirin, do some squats or go for a nice jog. Both support blood flow and can counter the effects of constricted blood vessels.
