When thinking about giving up caffeine the first thing people think about is coffee. What will they do without it to start their mornings? Believe me, I wondered this, too.

You see, my career is writing, and most people know that being a writer goes hand-in-hand with multiple pots of coffee. So, what does a writer do when they’re told that they can no longer consume it? You get creative. While caffeine feels like it fuels you and gets you through the day, I promise that there are other options to give you energy – 6 reasons to be exact.

1.) B Vitamins Are Your New Coffee – Kinda

Vitamins have been my friends since being diagnosed with vestibular migraines. I had to change so much of my lifestyle that I was thankful that my doctor prescribed me a specific vitamin regimen.

That said, B vitamins have been impactful for me. They’re involved in the energy production of our bodies, and if you think about it, so many energy drinks and shots, contain B vitamins along with caffeine. At least, I’m getting half of that energizing shot.

2.) Fuel Your Body With Healthy Foods

Have you ever binged on a pizza or a ridiculously huge cheeseburger and then wanted to pass out right after? Well, that’s because the highly processed foods make you feel fatigued. It doesn’t help that you’re also consuming saturated fats that require your body to focus on your digestive system rather than your organs and muscles – also causing fatigue.

No, I’m not perfect. I love pizza (even though it’s a migraine killer,) but I do try to eat a lot of chicken and fish, vegetables and whole grains, and when I can, I stay away from the processed stuff. If you think about it, you’re getting a lot of vitamins and minerals from vegetables, protein from the meat and whole grains supply the reserves you’ll need throughout the day.

Without caffeine, I’ve realized that food REALLY is the fuel for your body. My energy levels each day are determined by what I eat.

3.) Exercising = Energy

Now, this is a tricky one that I had a hard time understanding at first. You’re telling me that in order to have energy, I need to find energy to work out? Sounds counterintuitive, doesn’t it? Luckily, I enjoy running so I forced myself to hit the treadmill, even when I was tired.

Surprisingly, I finally understood what all these other bloggers were talking about. It’s true. I had more energy after exercising. I’m not sure if it’s the endorphins from a great run, but I feel more awake and ready to start my day when I run in the mornings. However, if you think it’s absolutely impossible to think about going to the gym without your good ol’ buddy “pre-workout,” I have another solution.

4.) Caffeine Free – Pre-Workouts

Prior to becoming sick, my pre-workout was non-negotiable when it came to the gym. I needed that scoop of powder to keep me feeling energized throughout the duration of my attempt to get swole as I hit the weights. (Just kidding, we all know I was really in the back room jumping around in some type of dance class.)

Well, just a few weeks ago my husband bought me a stimulant-free pre-workout that contains different supplements that supply energy. Needless to say, it helps give that extra boost to get my butt to the gym.

5.) Jam Out To Music

I don’t know about you, but music can help determine my mood. When I write, you can find me listening to piano music for concentration, and when I’m at the gym, I will be jamming out to the soundtrack of The Greatest Showman. (Best movie ever, by the way.)

All of that said, music has an impact on me, and I’ve created playlists specifically to wake me up and give me energy when I need it.

6.) Get Enough Sleep

This should be the “duh” moment on this list. If you don’t get your allotted hours of sleep every night, you’re probably going to be tired. And if you’re like me and can’t have that cup of coffee in the morning anymore, you’re going to be a zombie.

Sleep has become a priority for me since my diagnosis. If I don’t get a good night’s rest I can say goodbye to my day. Not only will I be tired and nothing can remedy it, but I will have CRAZY bad dizziness symptoms. So, go to bed at a decent time, people. You’ll feel energized just by getting your required eight hours.

Lastly,

BONUS: The Placebo

I felt like I was going to die without caffeine. I used to wake up every morning and start my day with a cup of joe. However, those who know me, know that it’s possible that I am ADHD. I’m just naturally a hyper person, and I’m not convinced that caffeine did that much for me. Maybe it was all in my head because I work in content and marketing, so I need 6 cups of coffee to make it through the day.

Whatever the case, I still make myself a cup of decaf in the morning. I also think that because it’s been a part of my routine for so many years, I’ve convinced myself I need it to survive the day. But guys, it’s decaf.

It makes me wonder if those Red Bulls before a night out on the town even helped. Regardless, I have no choice now, so I will continue to live in my state of ignorant bliss.

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If you’re like me and had to give up caffeine, how do you find energy? Let me know I the comments below.

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