Hold That Latte: Is Your Coffee Habit Affecting Your Sleep?

‘But first…Coffee’

Triple shot latte, cappuccino with extra foam? If you love your coffee, you’re not alone. While in moderation it’s wonderful stuff, too much caffeine can interrupt your sleep. Caffeine is a stimulant, which is why you feel so perky after that first cup. It raises your heart rate and blood pressure giving you a buzz many of us rely on to get through morning meetings and school runs. Though if you’re struggling to sleep, drinking too much coffee might be why. Don’t worry! You can take our quiz to discover how to drift off naturally without giving up your morning fix.

Though first, let’s look at how those magic beans can mess up your snoozing

How does caffeine affect sleep quality?

Hmm. It depends. Age and consumption can both influence how caffeine affects the quality of your sleep. Though whatever your tolerance, too much coffee guzzling will catch up with you. Here are some of the reasons it can keep you up at night.

1. Racing minds –Caffeine speeds everything up, including our minds! Adrenaline and cortisol signal our bodies to stay on high alert. Great for busy mornings, not so great when you’re trying to sleep. Too much stress in the body can lead to stress-induced insomnia. Better sleep could mean giving up a cup or two. 

2. Out of sync –Too much coffee can interrupt your sleep/wake cycle. Meaning when you pop on your PJ’S and hop into bed, you’re not tired as your body clock is all out of sync. This leads to long nights of tossing and turning and waking up feeling all kinds of groggy.

3. Toilet… again?  Caffeine is a diuretic. If you’re finding you’re needing to pee one too many times throughout the night, coffee could be the culprit. Not drinking too much before bedtime could help, as those toilet runs can get exhausting! 

Does any of these sound familiar? If so, it could be time to tweak your coffee habit! Before we get on to the quiz, here are some ways to rise and shine naturally and reduce those caffeine cravings.

Ways to wake up naturally

• Reset your rhythm- One of the reasons we rely on coffee to get us out of bed is our circadian rhythm is all out of whack. To get back into the swing of things, try setting a new schedule. This might mean giving up weekend lie- ins though it also means clocking off from work with enough time to unwind and decompress from the day. Downtime isn’t just for the weekend. Getting up and switching off at the same time every day will help ease your body back into its natural cycle and have you waking up full of beans!

   

• Bedtime treats- For better sleep, nothing matters more than a comfy bed! When it comes to investing in rest, a snuggly duvet is essential. Think something fluffy and cosy you can’t wait to wrap yourself up in. A bamboo duvet could be just the cloud-like joy you need to get some quality shut-eye. The natural fabric reacts intuitively to your body temperature for cool summers and warm, snug winters. You might start making bedtime that bit earlier!

   

• Get up and move- Tempting as it is to press snooze, is the best thing to do when the alarm bell rings? Get up and move. Exercising the first thing will train your body and mind to feel more energised in the morning and you’ll get a natural buzz without the caffeine. Not a fan of running? No need to pace the pavement. Even some gentle stretching and a light walk will have you ready to start the day with a smile on your face.

Getting into a better sleeping routine doesn’t mean ditching the beans. A quality night’s sleep and good coffee are part of the joys of life, just be sure to find the perfect balance that keeps you feeling awesome.