Today’s college students want to do it all — take a full academic course load, work, study, volunteer, join social organizations and clubs and party. However, taking on too much often leads to getting very little sleep. And getting very little sleep leads many students to caffeinate themselves to the nth degree. Whether you load up on sodas, coffee, energy drinks or even tea to keep from nodding off in class or at your part-time job, there are few things you should think about before making a regular practice out of it.
First of all, realize that caffeine is not necessary to the human diet and is in fact a psychoactive stimulant drug. As with all stimulants, it is abused when taken to excess. Everyone knows the short-term benefits of caffeine—including increased wakefulness and alertness, but many do not consider the potential for long-term problems. After long-term use of caffeine, it is possible for students to form a physical dependence and experience irritability, headaches, or fatigue if they do not get their morning cup of coffee or their daily Dr Pepper. Who wants to be at the mercy of a cup of coffee every day? Especially if that cup of coffee takes at least $5 each day out of your rapidly depleting bank account? That’s $150 or more a month!
Drinking coffee can also lead to sleeplessness after you get home from all the activities you needed the caffeine for in the first place. According to a feature article on caffeine from National Geographic, sleep loss is a heavy price to pay when you choose to drink caffeine. Caffeine disrupts the natural circadian rhythm of the human body that tells us when we sleep and when we wake up, and lack of sleep keeps the body from functioning at its full potential physically, mentally and emotionally, according to the article. If you’re sleep-deprived, good luck with trying to effectively absorb study material for a test.
The goofy thing is how many college students think they can’t really get going in the morning until they have their cup of coffee. Experts say there’s no reason students won’t wake up feeling great in the mornings if they quit consuming coffee in the first place and get a full eight hours of sleep. You might also try exercising a few days a week if it’s energy you’re after. You may find you get just the energy boost you need from a brisk walk, rather than downing another Coke.