Caffeine Crashes and How to Avoid Them

These days it seems like everyone gets their fair share of caffeine--whether it comes in the form of coffee, soda, or energy drinks.  People also are all too familiar with the afternoon crashes that often follow the consumption of caffeine.  The little-known fact is that people do not know that this issue is completely avoidable.

The Definition of Caffeine Crash

Caffeine crash (n.): A crash that usually occurs a few hours after a person has consumed a moderate to high dose of caffeine and was previously in a tired state.

Common symptoms of a caffeine crash:

• Extreme fatigue
• Inability to concentrate
• Irritability
• Dozing off

The good news is that these symptoms can be lessened or eliminated by taking a few simple steps.  Changing some habits could definitely be worth it to increase your energy levels.

How to Avoid the Crash

The first step is to try to get as much effective rest as possible.  As a lawyer and law student, this is very difficult, but this means to avoid unplanned naps, attempt to regulate your sleep schedule, and turn off your electronics once you climb into bed to avoid blue light.

Second, try to spread your caffeine consumption throughout the entire day.  Rather than consuming your coffee back to back, drink one cup in the morning and one in the afternoon.  This avoids shocking your system with a huge dose of caffeine.  Instead, the caffeine is allowed to slowly enter your system and power you throughout the day.

Third, do not give yourself an unreasonably high dose of caffeine at one time.  A single serving of caffeine is considered to be 100-200 mg (the amount in a single serving of coffee).  If you ingest more than this at one time you will probably experience a crash during the day.

The fourth step is to consume food with your caffeine.  It is best if this food is rich in protein and other essential nutrients rather than a sugary muffin or donut.  Having caffeine on an empty stomach can lead your body to process the caffeine too quickly and a crash.

Finally, STAY HYDRATED.  The only way to do this is to drink plenty of water throughout the day.  Caffeine crashes are often due to dehydration.  A proper amount of water keeps your body's natural processes functioning correctly.  Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts here.  Juice, soda, or any other drink is not a substitute for water.  You need to drink legitimate H2O to keep up your hydration.

Keep your energy and productivity up,