To caffeinate or not: does coffee really increase productivity?
A morning cup of coffee has long been a normalised ritual for millions of people around the world. It is a staple both in the home and in the office, and is heavily associated with productivity in the workplace - and of course, it doesn’t hurt that it constitutes a good excuse to take a break from work, or to socialise with your colleagues and friends! Coffee consumption is also heavily linked to an increased feeling of productivity, and is known for providing a source of mental stimulation through the natural effects of caffeine. However, there do remain some conflicted opinions regarding the health benefits (and issues) that come with this coveted caffeine intake. Here, I’ll be exploring the various effects that come with coffee drinking in an attempt to explore whether or not its link to productivity really is as profound as our contemporary coffee-centred culture seems to suggest.
Why do people drink coffee?
First of all, caffeine boosts your metabolism, raising your levels of alertness and making you feel more energised. Research suggests that there are definitely tangible benefits to ingesting caffeine, such as an enhanced cognitive performance, a short-term memory boost, and an increased response time. Having said this, it does not necessarily make you more creative or more productive; it is up to the coffee-drinker to take advantage of these caffeine-induced ‘boosts.’ Additionally, coffee can sometimes negatively impact your productivity just as much as it can impact it positively - in fact, too much coffee can lead to heightened anxiety and blood pressure, which can instead hinder your productivity.
But drinking coffee means I can’t sleep?
It is given that a good quality of sleep is essential for maintaining levels of productivity - and unfortunately, coffee happens to be relatively notorious for negatively affecting our sleep cycles. Caffeine is an adenosine inhibitor, meaning that it throws off our nervous system and the natural signals it sends us to let us know it is time to rest. Since this means that caffeine essentially hijacks our sleep hormones, coffee not only makes it more difficult for us to fall asleep, but also increases the possibility of us waking up more tired the following day - which is terrible news for a night-time coffee drinker wanting to maintain productivity over multiple days. This, I can attest to personally.
The health benefits of drinking coffee
Nonetheless, all hope is not lost. Coffee is comprised of certain nutrient qualities that have actually turned out to be very beneficial to our health; for example, it contains antioxidants, which can help protect cells from damage. In some studies, the mental stimulation that coffee provides has been shown to have protective effects against chronic diseases, such as Type Two Diabetes, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson’s. Scientists at Harvard have conducted further investigations into this, and found that a moderate consumption of coffee was associated with an overall lower risk of mortality, as well as a lower risk of death from heart and neurological diseases. They concluded that coffee consumption can, indeed, be incorporated into a healthy lifestyle.
Thus, our main takeaway is that moderation is key. Caffeine will affect everyone differently, so it is important to find out for yourself how much coffee is enough to benefit you.
References:
https://procaffenation.com/coffee-increase-your-level-of-productivity/
https://www.economicjournal.co.uk/2020/02/coffee-and-productivity/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-your-coffee-habit-help-you-live-longer-201601068938