Consider the typical LUMS student – overburdened and sleep-deprived, with yet another deadline looming, assignments and group projects essentially being categorized according to the week of their submission, tutorials, unannounced quizzes, midterms or finals just around the corner, long sessions in the library soon becoming routine (all-nighters always a favorite), the occasional giving up completely, stressing over the load of the coursework or why they procrastinated so much, and so on. Before, after, or in between classes, they’re likely to grab a cup of coffee or tea from the nearest store to get that extra boost of energy, or, in the case of the aforementioned all-nighter, have one before getting to work, and find themselves periodically going to get another, and then another. Can relate? You’re not the only one. In fact, according to one study, 78% of university students report to habitually consume caffeine greater than or equal in amount to the recommended level. I am one such student, increasingly relying on coffee as a restorative since the beginning of this semester. But to what extent is this reliance imperative and when does it become an unsustainable waste of time and money and harmful to health?
The answer, being subjective in nature, is not quite clear at all; let’s first see why you might need caffeine.
“When I don’t have coffee, I tend to sleep a lot more,” said one LUMS student. “It’s difficult to work as much as I normally do, which leads me to procrastinating more – that I can’t have.”
“If in the morning it’s to stay alert, but I usually drink a cup of coffee just for the taste,” said another student. “It’s basically a craving.”
Most students actually do have coffee or tea either for the taste or because of the ample and convenient availability of caffeine on campus (staying awake and attentive because you simply have too much left to do made easier). But there are other benefits of drinking coffee or tea as well. Did you know that caffeine can increase your metabolism by as much as 20 percent? Or that research suggests it may offer long-lasting protection against age-related memory and thinking problems? And there’s no dispute that a cup of espresso in the short term will lower fatigue and elevate mood, as well as improve logical reasoning: think about how that could work for you.
But, as always, there’s a catch. For one, caffeine, a stimulant, can be highly addictive – frequent consumption can build tolerance, requiring a higher intake to have the same experience. Closely related to this, you have coffee routinely, say at least 5 to 6 cups a week, lowering your intake will be subject you to withdrawal symptoms: from headaches and irritability, to nausea and vomiting; for the regular consumer, an apparent tradeoff exists between withdrawal and becoming increasingly dependent on caffeinated products.
The more significant incentive for managing your caffeine consumption, however, is that excessive caffeine is inexorably linked to increased heartbeat, muscle tremors, nervousness, restlessness, and most notably, insomnia. Though, as mentioned earlier, caffeine does enhance cognitive thinking in the short term, a persistent lack of adequate sleep will inevitably affect judgment, mood, and ability to learn and retain information, which in turn will negatively affect your academics.
Pay attention to how much you drink, and when you drink it.
As reported by The Huffington Post earlier this year, one study showed that caffeine consumed as early as six hours before bedtime still significantly disrupts sleep. Participants who consumed caffeine at bedtime, three hours before, and six hours before all experienced a shorter night’s sleep and diminished sleep quality. They spent more time awake during the night. Even caffeine ingested six hours before bedtime caused participants to lose more than an hour of total sleep time, even though they did not perceive unlike the participants in the previous two categories. Therefore, the late-afternoon cup of coffee or tea that you might pick up after class could be a major reason behind your sleeplessness, even though you may not feel its effect.
So, the answer – unduly, simple enough in theory, but not quite so in practice – take caffeine responsibly. Keep in mind your sleep schedule – are you an early or a late riser? Make sure next time you have a coffee or tea, it’s well before the time you usually sleep. Remember, regardless of your reason to drink coffee or tea, nothing can replace a good night’s sleep – prioritize smartly.
By Maisam Ali
Class of 2021