Most people you know probably have an addiction to something. Caffeine is a pretty popular option, as evidenced by the plethora of Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts that permeate our world.
Cigarettes are also prevalent, along with alcohol. These things might be legal, but the fact remains that they’re addicting, similar to heroin or cocaine.
If you’re looking to quit, much of what you’ll go through will be the same, regardless of the drug’s legality. Of course, you can expect milder symptoms from caffeine than what you’ll experience when going through nicotine withdraw, but that doesn’t mean quitting caffeine is easy for everyone.
Look at it like this—you’re learning to live in a new way. That sounds hard, right? But also do-able, and pretty cool, especially since you’re learning to live in a way that’s good for you.
Changes aren’t easy, so let’s look at what kind of alterations you can expect, and some tips for going through it.
Personal Changes
Quitting anything addictive is a big deal. For some people, it’s going to be harder than for others, and that’s totally fine. After all, there’s nothing that says quitting is easy—there are still people your age who can’t break their nail-biting habits!
However, since you’re making some big changes, it’s going to be in your favor to make some personal changes too. After all, those old habits are triggers for what you’re trying to change! Think about the end of your spreadsheet review that signals it’s time for your morning cup of coffee, or the stressful customer service call that always seems to prompt a smoke break. You’ll need to have a backup plan in mind for those situations.
Instead of running off for coffee, head away from the break room and power-walk around the building. The exercise will get your blood pumping and should have a similar effect of waking you up. When slammed with stress, take a 5-minute break to meditate. The calm will restore your sense of peace without upping your blood pressure.
Get in Shape
The physical changes you can expect will partially depend on what you’re quitting. Obviously, if you stop smoking, you can expect to see things like blood pressure and breathing problems drop, if not disappear completely. However, some things might have an even bigger effect on your overall health.
Alcohol, for example, can cause elevated triglycerides, which is a big contributor to heart disease. So it’s not just liver disease you should worry about. In addition pretty much everything from alcohol to caffeine will affect your sleep. Even if you get more sleep (say, from binge drinking) the quality of it will be significantly worse. And all those empty calories aren’t good for your weight or your diet.
While it’s difficult to discuss how you’ll be helping yourself physically in just one post—that could be a book on its own—there are some things that generally happen when you quit just about anything. Most things, especially quitting stimulants, will result in better sleep, better concentration, and more productivity.
Work Bonus
Well, since we’re talking about how your productivity’s likely to increase, shouldn’t you go ask for a raise? Actually, you might want to hold off on that. Yes, your productivity at work is likely to increase, but it wouldn’t be fair to ask for a raise just because you quit smoking! You’re no longer counting down until your next break, and you don’t get antsy during meetings that interfere with your personal routine.
In addition, you’ll probably see a concentration boost, especially since you’re no longer worried about staying caffeinated. If you aren’t going out drinking until midnight on Thursday, you’ll be able to be on time at work, without having to worry about an “emergency bathroom break”.
Overall, since you’ll feel better, you’ll be able to do more. You’ll show up more, and you’ll be willing to take on more responsibility—after all, there’s nothing else you need to do now. There’s still time for friends and slacking off, but now it can come in the form of something truly relaxing, like a book or a workout, that leaves you feeling good both before, during and after.
The benefits to giving up additional substances are far reaching.
Some may have even farther reaching consequences than we’ve discovered yet! For example, it’s been found that smoking can lead to an increased rate of mental decline but information like this is still in its infancy.
If you really want to live a substance-free life, do it because it’s the best thing to do for you. It’s better for your health, your job, and even your economic standing. Breathe deep—you’re on your way to a whole new life!