I Stopped Drinking Caffeine for 6 Months. Here’s What Happened.

Forced to give up my daily coffee fix, I learned whether I could function without it.

Sarah Olson
5 min readMay 4, 2023
Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash

Coffee has long been the backbone of capitalism. Fueling human productivity and focus, it enables us to get more done every day. Caffeine is the most widely used and depended-on drug in the world.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s no secret that many of us rely on caffeine to jumpstart our mornings or power through our hectic days. Coffee, tea, energy drinks — these caffeinated beverages have become a staple for anyone seeking a boost.

Like most adults, I have long required a daily dose of caffeine in order to function my best. I started drinking coffee in high school and quickly developed a taste for dark, bitter drinks without much sweetener or cream. Little brings me more joy on an early morning than that first sip of my favorite fresh-brewed coffee.

So when my doctor sat me down after my surgery in February of 2022 and told me that I needed to consider cutting out or reducing my caffeine intake, I was taken aback. How could I go without my beloved drink, my daily habit?

As someone struggling with both ADHD as well as chronic fatigue from my medical conditions, using caffeine as a stimulant…

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Sarah Olson

Feminist twentysomething writing from Portland, Oregon.