If you’re like I once was, you’re addicted to caffeine. Coffee, tea, or energy drinks, the liquid crack comes in many forms. At one point, I was drinking up to three or four cups of coffee a day. It got to the point where my energy levels seemed unchanged no matter how much I drank. I would maybe get a little 20 minute burst of energy followed by a crash. The only time it seemed that I wasn’t falling asleep was right when I needed to go to bed. I felt tired yet I would lay in bed staring at the ceiling as my heartbeat felt like it was going at a million beats per minute. When I finally would fall asleep, I would eventually wake up some hours later, often unable to fall back asleep. I knew that I probably drank a little too much caffeine, but if I quit drinking it or started cutting back I honestly thought I would die.

I decided it was finally time for a change when I developed an eye twitch that didn’t go away no matter how much I slept. After doing some research, I found that eye twitches can be linked to too much caffeine intake among other things. The twitch, coupled with the fact that I was tired of being tired, motivated me to give up caffeine. I wasn’t about to quit cold turkey like I had in the past, but tried to slowly ween myself off. I cut back from at least once a day to a few times a week. Of course right away the headaches came, along with the irritability, and being really freaking tired. I got to a point where I started drinking dare-I-say… decaf, because I thought I could trick my brain into thinking that it was regular. It may have worked a little bit, but it wasn’t until almost two weeks later when I felt normal again. I started sleeping so much better and eventually my eye twitched its last. Besides those things, I can honestly say my anxiety has gone down. I also took the step of replacing coffee with lemon water and I don’t think I’ve ever been this hydrated. I have prolonged energy and focus as well as having crystal clear pee. I’ve done some research and have come up with a list of reasons why it may be a good idea to at least consider quitting or cutting back on caffeine.

1. You’ll save money…

I’ve spent up to $8 on a single Starbucks drink. Then again I don’t believe in drinking anything smaller than a Venti. However, even by cutting out your daily grande latte, you can save $1300 per year.

2. You’ll sleep better…

According to Caffeine Informer, caffeine has a half-life of 4 to 6 hours. If you’re not interested in quitting caffeine, I would at least suggest that you quit drinking it past noon. Doing this could help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Over time, getting good, restful sleep will result in more energy that your body will produce on its own.

3. You’re anxiety could go down…

As someone who often suffers from social anxiety, I can say that quitting caffeine has helped in this area. According to Everyday Health, caffeine stimulates your adrenal or “fight or flight” gland. If someone is stressed and hopped up on caffeine, it can cause their stress levels to increase. Studies have shown that caffeine can trigger an anxiety attack or make one worse.

4. You could lose weight…

Depending on your caffeinated drink of choice, quitting caffeine could help you lose weight. I, personally prefer my coffee black or with a little cream, but drinks like Monster, pop, or sweetened Starbucks drinks usually have from 200-300 calories in them. It may be a good idea to at least cut back on the sugar.

5. Caffeine will actually do its job…

I’m not saying you should never drink caffeine again. However, I would consider saving it for times like finals week, long car trips, or if you’re working a double at your job. Quitting or cutting back will bring your tolerance levels down. This means caffeine will actually increase your energy levels like it did when you first discovered how much you loved it.

6. Should I consider quitting?...

Obviously, I’m not a doctor. However, if you find yourself dependent on caffeine for the minimal energy needed to do anything, I would consider quitting, or at least cutting back. It will be hard at first, but you may be glad you quit.