Caffeine Reset – 8-Week Exit Strategy

On July 13th, I started a deliberate 8-week reset from the most culturally normalized psychoactive substance: caffeine.

For years, I’ve had two rounds of double espresso daily — six shots total — not because I liked the taste, but because it worked.
It got me into flow. It helped me stay focused.
But eventually, I asked myself:

“I cycle everything else — supplements, training, recovery…
Why not caffeine?”

🧠 Why I’m Doing This

Caffeine works by blocking adenosine receptors, and while it improves alertness in the short term, it’s still a stimulant.
Over time, it subtly rewires brain chemistry. Nothing in biology is free — everything has a cost.

Even though coffee helps me sit down and grind, I’ve noticed something strange:

My best insights, creative bursts, and flashes of genius don’t happen because of caffeine —
They happen when I’m off it.

This reset is not about punishment or discipline theater.
It’s simply part of my long-term strategy for sustainable mental performance.

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⚙️ My 8-Week Off-Ramp Plan

Week 1: 2x single espressos (down from 2x doubles)
Week 2: One double + one single
Week 3: One double (10:00 only)
Week 4: One single (10:00 only)
Week 5–6: One espresso every other day
Week 7: One espresso every third day
Week 8: None

No tea, no yerba, no synthetic replacements.
Just hot water with ginger, lemon, and chili — enough to wake the system up, not hijack it.

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🛠️ Additional Stack Note

Also started creatine monohydrate (5 g daily) on this day —
for the next 2 months, as my training volume ramps up after a 2.5-month deload phase.