From coffee to tea to soda, there’s no denying caffeine and the boost it gives to get or keep energy flowing. Caffeine is the powerhouse behind productivity and it's everywhere, from Starbucks to the grocery store shelves to the concession stands at events. Even though caffeine is widely available, it's important to remember that caffeine is still a stimulant, which comes with trade offs.

To optimize any routine that includes caffeine, it's best to start with understanding how caffeine works and affects both brain and body.

Caffeine is a stimulant that works to keep the body alert and feeling awake. It does this by blocking or stopping the body’s natural production of Adenosine that would otherwise work to make you sleepy. When caffeine and Adenosine combine, nerve cell activity speeds up and the result is a feeling of energy or wakefulness.

A whopping 80% of American adults consume caffeine every day. Caffeine is found in a wide variety of foods and drinks, in part because it is tasteless and odorless. Coffee, tea, and chocolate are amongst the most common, while some lesser-known fruits, such as guayasca berries, also contain caffeine.

At Recoop, customers report taking caffeine in the morning upon first waking and taking Recoop Balance alongside their morning stimulants. Some customers prefer taking a stimulant as their alarms go off, then returning to bed and getting up about 30 to 45 minutes later when that stimulant is taking effect. This routine can be optimal for productivity while working throughout the day.

The major consideration when taking caffeine or any stimulant is how to optimize for waking hours and productivity without sacrificing sleep or the quality of rest. Some ways you can factor the impact on sleep while using a stimulant include stopping taking stimulants within 5 hours of bedtime. The “half life” or the time it takes for caffeine to leave a healthy person's body can range from 1.5 to 9 hours, so it's important to experiment and find the routine that's right for you.

Another way to get better sleep while taking caffeine is to use natural ingredients like Vitamin C or any kind of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin c) may accelerate the excretion of stimulants, which is one of the reasons why we include it in our Recovery formula. Your body will naturally process the stimulants out of your body, but sometimes, it’s not always as quick as we’d hope. For some people, this can result in keeping them up at night when they actually want to sleep. 

You can also take additional vitamins to help replenish a nutrient that can get depleted while using caffeine or any stimulant, like melatonin. Melatonin supports rest and balances the effects of stimulants. Taking melatonin, which is a key ingredient in Recoop’s Recovery formula, close to your target bedtime can help prime your body for rest.

While caffeine is both natural and commonly used around the world, it's also a stimulant that impacts sleep quality. Still, with mindful consumption and support with natural ingredients like the ones found in Recoop, caffeine can be a powerful and peaceful part of your productivity.