Sleep & stress3 min
No Tea or Coffee After the Afternoon
Swapping the evening cup for warm water or herbal tea. A small cutoff that many sleepers find helps.
A cutoff, not a ban
Caffeine stays in the body for hours, and a late-afternoon cup can still be active at bedtime. A simple cutoff, such as no tea or coffee after about 2 or 3 in the afternoon, is a common sleep-hygiene tip, and many people find they fall asleep more easily. It is not a treatment for insomnia.
Swap the evening cup for warm water, a caffeine-free herbal tea or warm milk. Remember that cola, chocolate and some energy drinks also have caffeine. If you are used to several cups a day, cut down slowly to avoid headaches. Persistent poor sleep needs a doctor.
Ingredients
- A cup of warm water or caffeine-free tea
- A clock showing the cutoff time
- Tulsi leaves or fennel for flavour
How to prepare
- Decide your cutoff time, such as 3 pm.
- Keep a caffeine-free option ready for the evening.
How to use
- Have your last tea or coffee before the cutoff.
- After that, switch to warm water or a herbal tea.
Helpful habits
- Cut down slowly if you drink several cups, to avoid headaches.
- Remember cola, chocolate and energy drinks.
Precautions
- Cut down slowly to avoid headaches.
- Persistent poor sleep needs a doctor.
- A habit, not a treatment for insomnia.
Frequently asked questions
What if I need coffee at night to work?
- Try an earlier cutoff, but if you must, keep the cup small and early.
Is decaf fine?
- It has a little caffeine, but much less.
Will this fix my sleep?
- It helps some people. Poor sleep has many causes.
