beta testing in your life

Recently, I read about someone giving up caffeine and its impact on their energy, productivity, and how they felt overall. At the same time, I’ve noticed the struggle it has been for me to get up earlier in the morning to get my morning routine in before everyone wakes up and “my time” becomes more “our time.”

I wouldn’t say I need caffeine to navigate each day, but I drink more of it than I should:

• A cup of coffee while writing my Daily Note
• Sometimes, a second cup of coffee or drink at a local coffee shop during the day
• Sometimes, a Celsius energy drink in the afternoon–I honestly drink these more for the taste and because I think it’ll give me an energy boost
• Always a pre-workout drink before working out–it’s part of my routine, and I think the taste of the drink and the tingle of the beta-alanine let my body know it’s time to work out.

The truth is, after YEARS of consuming pre-workout drinks before every workout (I didn’t start drinking coffee until I was in my mid 30’s and haven’t really drank sodas since college), I think my body has become immune to the energy effects of caffeine; I can drink a cup of coffee and then fall asleep 30 minutes later–I’m sure there are internal effects of this I’m not aware of but that cup of coffee does not keep me wired for hours.

So, I’m conducting a beta test or a micro-experiment.

I am going to give up caffeine and see how I feel.

My plan is to reduce the caffeine I consume slowly each day–not because I’m worried about getting headaches or the withdrawal effects because caffeine technically is a drug, but because I have a bunch of Cometeer coffee pods I don’t want to waste. I thought about just saving the pods for the future or just cutting my losses, but I’ve switched the next delivery to decaf pods, and if I cut the rest of the caffeine out, one cup of coffee each morning for another couple of weeks will be a significant improvement from where I am today.

Here are the steps I’m taking to see how I operate and feel without caffeine:

• I’ll no longer purchase Celsius drinks for my office, which is an easy thing to stop.
• I’m researching a mix of beta-alanine and BCAAs for some flavor to create my own pre-workout that doesn’t have caffeine, or I might just get a caffeine-free one that is already on the market.
• If I meet someone for coffee or swing by my favorite coffee shop, I’ll get decaf or some other drink that is non-caffeinated, which should also be an easy thing to adjust.
• I’ve already switched my next Cometeer delivery to decaf so I can keep the ritual of a morning cup of coffee while writing my Daily Note without the caffeine.

Then, I’ll see how I feel.

If, after a couple of months, I notice a significant improvement in how I feel, my energy, and any other positive side effects of caffeine, then I’ll probably stick to the changes made in this beta test. But, if I notice I don’t feel better or feel worse, I’ll consider bringing caffeine back in ways that make sense since the results of the beta test suggest caffeine is not having a negative impact on me.

There wasn’t a wake-up call or an obvious reason for me to try this beta test on my Self; it was a feeling of curiousness and a wonder of “how would I feel if I cut out caffeine?” The only way to know was to test it out and experience it.

You can, and should, run these types of beta tests, or micro experiments, as you pursue your authentic life–and they don’t have to be health-related.

You might wonder what it is like to be a swimmer; create a training program that focuses on you being in the pool for a period of time and see what you learn.

You might wonder what it is like to be a writer; create a routine that allows you to write daily and share your writing with the world and see what you learn.

You might wonder what it is like to be a good cook; create a schedule that allows you to prepare more meals from scratch during the week and see what you learn.

Whatever you wonder “what it would like to be” should become a beta test for you to find out.; the beauty of the beta test is that you are not committed to being that version of your Self forever. I’m not swearing off caffeine forever. I might. But that won’t be determined until after I’ve experienced what it is like to operate without it.

Your beta tests should excite you because you’ll have the opportunity to explore your curiosity and experience a different version of your Self; maybe you’ll learn that version of your Self isn’t “it,” or maybe you’ll learn that version of your Self is who you needed to become for the next chapter in your Pursuit.

If you don’t experience your wonder, you’ll never know, and you might miss out on the best version of your Self.

See you tomorrow and keep pursuing,

JC