Emily Diao | Week 12: I Love Caffeine.
Caffeine has saved me a lot of time. Whether it’s in the form of strongly infused tea leaves or in the flavorful depths of an energy drink, it is a powerful catalyst for concentration and energy and has been my reliable companion in completing my tasks.
At its core, caffeine works by blocking adenosine, which is what is responsible for inducing sleepiness in us. Caffeine mimics the shape of adenosine and blocks the adenosine receptors without triggering the sleepiness effect, whilst also sharpening our mental clarity.
I used to take 2 hour naps, believing that at the end of one will leave me feeling refreshed and energized enough so that I can tackle my homework. That strategy is not only inefficient as it takes time to execute, it also did NOT give me that result that I hoped for. I always woke up even more groggy and sleepier than ever, which obviously did not help me complete homework very well.
Some studies even show that caffeine can even improve memory retention, increase reaction times, and enhance physical performance. I’m not drinking caffeine for that specific reason, but it is pleasant to know that caffeine includes other health benefits.
Of course, moderation does come into play here. If I want to be able to sleep everyday then I need to part ways with my beloved caffeinated jasmine tea around two to three hours before I sleep, or else I’ll be stuck with my unhelpful thoughts for the next hour in bed.
Overall though, caffeine is extremely reliable, whether you’re trying to shrug off that midday slump, power through homework, or to summon a quick burst of energy to meet a deadline, not due at 10 pm, that you definitely didn’t wait until the last moment to start on.
Hi Emily! I completely agree with you about caffeine saving a lot of time. It can be either in cramming a bunch of homework in one day, or it be for a test that is coming up in a few days. Many people keep telling me that drinking caffeine is extremely bad for me, but a little will not hurt right? Drinking a energy drink once a month of once a couple of weeks won’t do a lot of harm to me right? All I know is caffeine is a complete life saver whenever it comes to cramming a few assignments in a day. A solution I found for getting more energy is drinking a little caffeine and taking a quick nap for around 15 to 20 minutes. I tired this a few times and I saw my energy sky rocket. I was working and completely energized for a good 3 hours. Now a lot of caffeine in my opinion will definitely cause some health problems, but a little hopefully won’t.
ReplyDeleteCAFFEINE!!! Honestly I need that bad right now, especially after pulling all those late-nighters from AP Lang and AP bio prep. To be honest, I wouldn't say that I'm a big caffeine person, I don't really rely on it, but when I need it, it comes in handy. I think for all substances, not only limited to caffeine, it is necessary to maintain a balance in the ways in which we use them. What I like about your blog is the incorporation of examples and informational evidence which serves as an unbiased opinion on what caffeine has to offer. Too much would screw up my sleep, and taking none at all would leave me to be terrifyingly sleepy in the morning. So (as I warm up a cup of coffee right now) I think caffeine can ultimately serve as the perpetrator of our sleep or rather an avenue to become more proactive, but the extent towards it's use should be moderated.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily! I completely relate with you, that caffeine has the power to help me finish more work and push through the day. I too, like you, fell into the trap of taking long naps after school with the hope that I would wake up feeling refreshed and reenergized. However, like your experience with this strategy, I found myself more tired, and turned to coffee as a tool to help boost my productivity instead. I really like that you chose the topic of coffee as well, because it is just as important to recognize the small things in our daily lives that have power to help us, as the big ones. Caffeine permeates the lives of many highschoolers, and it is definitely a very effective tool. I would also love to try out the other forms of caffeine besides coffee, like tea, that you mentioned in your blog. They are probably a much better alternative. Overall, I really enjoyed reading your blog, and was able to relate to your experiences!
ReplyDeleteHey Emily, my relationship with caffeine is quite a weird one. The smell of coffee has always been a welcoming and nice scent attracting me to take a sip, but that bitter taste has never failed to disappoint me each and every time. So coffee has tended to never enter my routine. For the most part, I never needed caffeine to stay up or work. I usually liked being a night owl anyway. Then I came along energy drinks. First I was attracted by the taste. The different flavors and carbonation work together to create a blast of fun in your mouth. The thing about the caffeine is that it does not seem to make a difference to me. It does not add to my productivity or make me stay awake longer. Honestly, one time I think I had a Redbull and slept immediately after. So I would say that I do not really crave caffeine more than just a nice tasting drink from time to time.
ReplyDeleteHey Emily!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great blog to read! I truly live on caffeine, maybe that's not the best way to put it, but for me, if I don't drink it in the morning, my whole body just feels weird, kind of like a car without gas :). Surprisingly, I drink caffeine twice, one in the morning and one when I come home from school, and I still somehow sleep at night. Coffee is routine for me now, but that's because I tried the same strategy you used before. I used to sleep when I came home from school, maybe 1 or 2 hours usually, but that ended up getting me way more tired. My eyes used to "shut" when i was doing homework, and I ended up just sleeping early and waking up earlier. Coffee has been my best friend since then. I surprisingly barely end up drinking hot coffee, for some reason, that cold caramel coffee just feels so much better, but definitely, I need to learn how to make hot coffee. Overall, I loved reading your blog, as it something i can personally relate to, and can't wait to read your blog next week!