Ask HN: Quit caffeine? Before and after anecdotes

I recently quit coffee after maybe 15 years. The biggest change I noticed was that on nights I didn't sleep well I would wake up with bad brain fog. That doesn't happen anymore since quitting. I still don't sleep great some nights but I don't feel nearly as awful as I did before.

I also learned caffeine stays in my system much longer than I thought it did. I try very hard not to have any caffeine after 11am.

I gave up due to it causing me anxiety. I can’t say I’ve noticed any real difference in my alertness or focus either way, I used to feel I needed an afternoon coffee but I got a nice grinder and found some absolutely amazing decaf coffees that certainly taste better than any caffeinated you can buy in a supermarket.

I have been off coffee for about 5 months. It’s hard to compare precisely but I definitely don’t have the same frequency of crashes anymore and I have more base energy. Although I’ve also cleaned up my diet too. I’ll probably go back to decaf eventually when my anxiety completely goes away (anxiety being the reason I’ve cleaned up my lifestyle completely, I believe it was onset by antibiotics)

I’d like to offer the opposite perspective to many of the responses here. I regularly have 2 coffees a day, and I’ve taken month long breaks from it in the past. I’ve never experienced any of the severe withdrawal symptoms people often describe, with the exception of feeling a little sluggish on the first day. I did, however, miss the routine of preparing and drinking a warm aromatic beverage in the morning. I find it a pleasant way to start the day. Also, at times where I can feel myself flagging and I need continued focus, I find a good coffee does really help. So I personally see limited downside to caffeine consumption and some nice upsides.

I completely quit caffeine in 2020. I had daily mild headache for a week or so after. After that however things got better. My sleep got deeper and consequently well-being improved.