In high school and university, I was an absolute coffee addict [1]. I used to down shots of espresso without feeling a thing. I had at least a cup a day, if not two or three — usually with four sugars and some milk. That all changed when I became vegan and began taking better care of myself. I have eczema, and in the process of healing my skin [2], I discovered that drinking coffee or tea seemed to make it worse. I decided to cut out caffeine for good.

It was only after giving up coffee that I realised how much I relied on it. I had grown accustomed to staying up super late [3], knowing that an energy drink, espresso, or cup of coffee would be waiting for me in the morning. By midday, I'd crash and have another. Eventually, I built up such a tolerance that I'd come home from class and immediately fall asleep. Needless to say, those first days without caffeine were tough — everywhere I went, it seemed to be taunting me — but after a few weeks, the idea of having a cup of coffee barely crossed my mind.

There Are Other Ways to Refuel

I knew I had to make some changes, so I trained myself to go to bed two to three hours earlier. (Turns out, sleep [4] is the best solution for being tired.) I started a new morning routine, practicing yoga or doing some quick stretches to get the juices flowing. At a cafe, I substituted my usual coffee for a smoothie or caffeine-free tea (chamomile is my favourite). And most importantly, I stopped wearing my exhaustion like a badge of honour.

For years I had felt that I needed to push my body to the limit to be good enough. Then I picked up a book called The Tao of Pooh [5] by Benjamin Hoff, in which Taoist principles are explained through the beloved cartoon [6]. In one chapter, Hoff writes about the "Bisy Backson," someone who's constantly doing something, who never has a moment to waste. He notes that the Bisy Backson feels important and productive, but their actions are actually counterproductive, because they only cause unnecessary stress. If I wanted to feel better without caffeine, I had to change my mindset, too.

How It Feels to Be Caffeine-Free

For all its benefits — including lowering a person's risk for a number of diseases [7] — coffee didn't agree with me. When I quit caffeine, my eczema healed, leaving behind soft, smooth skin. I slept better and felt more rested without needing an inappropriately timed nap. I got my energy from even healthier habits, like exercise. I drank more water. I no longer felt anxious and jittery.

It's been a year and a half since I cut caffeine completely, and now that I'm feeling stronger, I allow myself to have some tea or coffee-flavoured chocolate once every couple of weeks. I still haven't had coffee — not even an energy drink or soda — but I also rarely crave it. I know this: if I ever do drink it again, I'll be much more careful about how.