Too much coffee
It may be a crowd favourite new years resolution, but I have never struggled with my coffee consumption, until now. Now I am wondering, is it a habit that is now unhealthy?
Until recently, I wouldn鈥檛 drink too much coffee. Maybe on a social outing with a croissant, or a rare cup at the market. All in all, it was a moderated habit. However, since the exam period and the end of semester I have been drinking more. Almost every day. It was after I had finished my third cup of coffee that I thought, and felt for that matter, am I drinking too much?
Why more coffee?
As with most habits that turn unhealthy and unmoderated, I wasn鈥檛 even aware when this happened. It was a slow change that became my new norm. However, I think there are a few contributing factors to my increased consumption. Firstly, the weather. I鈥檓 sure this is something everyone agrees with and falls victim to. It is cold. The days are shorter and darker, and it can be a struggle to get out of a warm snug bed in the morning. That鈥檚 where coffee comes in. It warms my belly and gets me started for the day or simply just keeps me going throughout the day. It can even be something to look forward to. Secondly, busyness and stress are an easy way to ramp up my coffee consumption. After I realise I鈥檝e been sitting at the computer for hours, I scurry off and return with a coffee, and then proceed to sit for another few hours. It is now my go-to drink while I am studying. Finally, it is a social drink. The more time I spend at university and catching up with people, the more time I end up drinking coffee. I find myself at a loss for what to do when I catch up with someone. Nothing other than a coffee seems to suffice.
Why is it a problem?
Coffee is a great and delicious product. Like all great and delicious products, it should be taken in moderation. While the taste is great, I find that after a couple of cups I can feel sluggish and tired. It can sometimes contribute to a headache and just generally put me off my appetite. Perhaps what is also important to consider is its impact on my bank account. It is a little sucker. Slowly chipping away each day and before I realise it, it has become another major cost of living. So, while I can see that it is becoming a problem, I am trying to find ways to work around it.
Quick fixes
There are a few things I have been trying to gradually cut down on my coffee consumption. Firstly, opting for a small if I ever get a coffee, is an easy fix. If I am going to have a coffee, I might as well have a smaller one and save a bit of money. My next, most successful idea is replacing coffee with tea. I love a good green or peppermint tea. Not only are they refreshing and revitalising, but they also warm me up and steer me away from coffee. Of course, my battle with coffee continues, but now that I have set goals to cut down my coffee consumption, I am looking forward to giving them a go.