Taking A Caffeine Break

On Sunday, after my second cup of coffee, I made a silent decision to take a break, to give up caffeine for a couple of days.

I drink a lot of coffee. I find it hard to pass a Starbucks, Bridgehead, or Second Cup without treating myself to a hot, caffeine-infused beverage. I drink so much coffee that I'm beginning to think that it might be a contributing factor to my ever-increasing frequency of migraines. I experience one a couple of times a week; a debilitating one about once a month.

And so, as of 11:00 on Sunday morning, I had my last cup of coffee. Yesterday was a little difficult; I had cravings in the morning, but by lunchtime they passed. By mid-afternoon, I would have given anything for a cup. Those of you who follow me on Twitter heard me whinging throughout the day. After dinner, Lori was preparing dessert and turned on our coffee maker. She asked if I wanted a cup. I did. I really did want a cup. But I paused, took a couple of deep breaths and said, "No thanks. I'm taking a caffeine break, as opposed to a coffee break."

It was the toughest No I have ever spoken.

This morning, on my commute to work, it was all I could do to avoid stepping into the Starbucks that I pass on my way to my connecting bus. But I was strong. I kept walking.

I haven't decided how long I'm going to go without a coffee. I want to take a couple of days to get the caffeine out of my system (I have no idea how long that takes), and then I might limit myself to a cup a day. Or maybe one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and that's it. I'll see. The big test will be tomorrow, when I work from home. I make a wicked cappuccino, and I usually have more than one. I'm going to have to resist.

Have you ever taken a caffeine break? How did it go? Leave a comment and share your experiences.