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PaperclipPerfector  6mo ago (text post)   3324 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for October 27, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

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Does anyone have any tips for managing stimulant use? I currently use fairly copious amounts of caffeine and nicotine - both I find extremely difficult to go without for 24 hours. My tolerance to nicotine has built to the extent that I don't feel like I receive much cognitive boost from it anymore.

I've tried taking breaks cold turkey with the idea that I can start using both again in smaller amounts once my tolerance is reset, but never get further than a few days. I actually find both about equally difficult to stop or cut down on - if I had to give up one or the other forever it'd be hard to choose.

My ideal is not to stop using either completely, but rather to use lower doses of them, less regularly and more effectively - so preferably not every day, and for specific purposes. For example, nicotine to deliberately build a habit, or caffeine to boost motivation and performance for exercise. I realize there is no free lunch with stimulants but right now I feel like I'm using them in quantities far more than optimal.

EDIT: thanks all for the advice!

I take Vyvanse for my ADHD & 1-2 cups of coffee per day.

What works for me: tl,dr: less carbs + spacing out stimulants.

Details:

  1. Have 1st coffee later in the morning. Usually, right before starting focus work. (around 10am). Avoids afternoon crash and avoid 2nd/3rd coffee.
  2. No coffee after 3pm if I plan to sleep that night. Not worth it.
  3. No heavy carbs for lunch. Avoids afternoon crash.
  4. Alternate daily Vyvanse consumption. I skip it on meeting days, and have my coffee earlier to compensate.
  5. No Vyvanse on holidays. STRICT.
  6. Only 1 coffee on holidays. STRICT.
  7. 3 coffees max per work day. 1 is ideal. 2 is borderline. 3 only if really needed. (each coffee is ~double shot of espresso)
  8. Get full night of sleep every night. No work is too important. When I'm sleep deprived, I have coffee at odd times and it messes up my routine.
  9. Not exactly cardio. But, I cycle to office and get a good bout of sun in the process. Indispensible.
  10. Hot concentrated drinks >>> everything else. For me, the punch of a hot cortado delivers a strong placebo that a mug of American coffee, milky coffee or cold coffee simply can't match. It's free (placebo) lunch. Highly recommend.

Ah the carbs thing I never considered, will have to think about trying that!

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