Quitting coffee is never easy, but it's a lot easier if you have determination and follow the basic plan outlined here.
This is based on the method I used to quit smoking in 1960. It’s tried-and-true; I still see variations of it on the Net today.
Various sites warn of how hard it is to kick the joe jones: headaches, lethargy and depression for sure, and maybe stomach reactions. For me, it was my last addiction to go, and it just went. I simply lost the desire to drink it. No headaches, no irritability—nothing. But don’t think dark thoughts about me while you’re agonizing away: I suffered like you when I followed this method to kick tobacco.
And chances are you won’t suffer as much. As addictive as caffeine is, it’s less so than tobacco or alcohol. Unlike those two, caffeine addiction can often be broken by gradual withdrawal. You can do this one of two ways (or both, if you’re game). (You can also be a warrior and cold-turkey it— but why torture yourself? Nobody will give you a medal.)
OK, here’s how:
For a week, drink all the coffee you want, but none for an hour after getting out of bed. If you normally drink coffee with meals, don’t drink it for an hour after eating either.
The second week, switch to the brand of coffee you dislike the most, still not drinking after rising or with meals. The third week, still following the same restrictions, water your coffee down to half-strength. The fourth week is cold-turkey time.
Or…
Mix KaPoMo (see kapomo.com) or another coffee substitute into your coffee, ¼ to ¾ coffee the first week, half-and-half the second week, and ¾-1/4 the third week. Fourth week: cold-turkey.
Before you start, you also need to do some work.
1) Commit to it. You’re cutting down, but it probably still won’t be easy. Accept that you’ll feel worse before you feel better: headaches, lethargy, depression, possibly nausea, vomiting, sore muscles and stiffness.
2) Arrange a couple of low-stress weeks for yourself. If you work 9-5, kick on Thursday so you can face the worst over the weekend.
3) Make a list of all the reasons you’re quitting. Whenever you’re tempted, whip it out and read it over—aloud, if you can.
4) Figure out how much you spend on your habit. Hallelujah! In a few weeks you’re going to have all that moolah for something else.
5) Tell all your friends and enlist their support. Have one friend you can call if you are tempted to go off the wagon.
6) Coffee may be a social event for you. Where do you meet and drink? Can you still go there and swallow something else? If not, figure out before you start how to meet your social needs elsewhere while you kick.
7) During the tapering-off time, drink lots of water and eat healthy food. (Hey, why not do that all the time?)
OK, good luck and pass the KaPoMo please!
Sources:
wiki-answers.com
wikihow.com:/Quit-Caffeine
Vanessa Raymond, “How to Quit Coffee,” howtodothings.com
