Does Coffee Make You More Stressed at Work?

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Each day, millions of people wake up and pour themselves a nice, hot cup of coffee to help them start their work day.

However, drinking coffee could actually be one of the worst things you can drink, especially if you have a high-stress job.

Turns out that coffee has been linked to increased stress in the workplace. According to Livestrong.com, studies have shown that drinking coffee could lead to higher stress in men. Studies have also shown high caffeine intake can cause anxiety, according to Goodtherapy.org.

So, what other options do you have to stay awake? Here are some great alternatives to coffee that can help you kick-start your day stress-free!

Stink up your office. Different smells affect us in different ways. Some smells can make you more relaxed while other smells can make you feel more alert.

According to ABC News, scents like jasmine, citrus, and peppermint help you feel more awake. Perhaps you should look into an essential oil diffuser for your office!

Munch on an apple. Apples are awesome pick-me-up snacks for work. Although they do not contain any caffeine, apples contain good vitamins and carbs that give your body and energy boost, according to Fitness Magazine.

So, when you’re feeling that energy-low at 2:30, walk past the coffee machine and grab a crunchy and refreshing apple!

Get into an early morning workout routine. Getting up a little earlier in the morning to exercise might not sound appealing right now, but the benefits of a little exercise are awesome!

Whether it’s a 15-minute run or biking to work, getting your exercise in is definitely worth it.

Exercise has been proven to increase your energy levels, which is why an early morning run or bike ride is a great way to start your day.

Not only that, but exercise also helps reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, according to Web MD. It also helps you sleep better so you can wake up well-rested and ready to take on your day!

Coffee stress work image from Shutterstock

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3 Comments

1. 

   John

   August 13, 2012 at 8:58 AM

   A lot of people reading this probably wont try any of the above because of how addicting coffee is in the morning but yes I agree with the statement that coffee increases stress at work.

   Reply
2. 

   Bert

   June 23, 2012 at 4:42 PM

   Coffee helps me clean out the cobwebs, get a move on, get motivated. There’s a certain amount of stress inherent in life. Coffee if anything helps you deal with it better, I think. It wakes you up, it’s hot liquid, helps you process breakfast (slightly acidic, I think), has caffeine in it to jog those inert brain cells into some kind of measurable activity level, I think there’s a net benefit to it. Coffee-flavored coffee, that is, not super-triple-enhanced, fat-bearing, hyper-concentrate coffee, with 5x the caffeine.

   Why?

   They take out most of the water, dump in a lot of flavoring, and you can get a “sugar high” followed by a crash, then you’re worthless mentally and physically. Get ye Stanley thermos and a can o Yuban, figure out what strength you like best personally, and drink drink drink, but at breaktime/lunch/before-after work, not that rolling I.V. thing that some people have going, there.

   Reply
3. 

   @bespokejobs

   June 23, 2012 at 3:39 AM

   Good advice – coffee can also be somewhat addictive so I tend to stop after my 12th mug.

   Reply