You wake up and you’re already tired, so you grab some coffee. A few hours later, you’re dragging again. Maybe it’s another coffee or an energy drink. It helps for a while. You feel more awake and can keep pushing through the day.
Then the boost starts to wear off. Your energy drops, and if you skipped lunch or only had a quick snack, that crash can hit even harder. So, you reach for more caffeine just to keep going. You might feel like the caffeine has worn off, but it can still be affecting your body.
You’re exhausted, but at the same time, you still feel amped up. Your heart may be beating faster, you feel tense, and little things get on your nerves. Even when you finally sit down, it can be hard to fully relax. You may feel more irritable, more on edge, or like you just can’t switch off.
By the time you get to bed, you’re ready to crash, but you still have a hard time winding down. You don’t sleep that well, and before you know it, your alarm goes off. Then you wake up tired and do it all over again.
Sound familiar?
You don’t have to completely give up caffeine. Try one small change and see if you notice a difference.
3 Simple Things to Try
- Ease up on caffeine later in the day.
- Drink more water during your shift.
- Eat something before you get completely drained.
Give it a few days and see how you feel. Are you sleeping better? Crashing less in the afternoon? Feeling less wired when you get home?
If you are getting through the day but paying for it at night, one small change may help break the cycle. The goal isn’t to change everything at once. It’s to make the day a little easier on your body, so you can slow down when the day is over.
If you would like to speak with a counselor about any challenge you are facing, resources are available.
In Kansas City, contact Carpenters Wellness Center-Kansas City at 816.884.9355 to make an in-person or virtual appointment with Jesse Sieve, Behavioral Health Specialist. Jesse works with participants and family members, 18 and older, as well as couples.
You may also contact:
- Mercy’s MAP by calling 800.413.8008 #2. The MAP provides free, confidential, short-term counseling to participants and anyone that lives in their household.
- Carpenters Wellness Center-St. Louis at 314.955.9355 to make an in-person or virtual appointment with Matt Cauble, Behavioral Healthcare Manager, Mercy MAP.
