Does Coffee Make You More Productive?
Coming out of a long hibernation (or just a good night’s sleep) might require some assistance, like a good strong cup of coffee. If you’re thinking about setting up an office coffee station, you might be wondering if it’s really necessary or just something nice to have.
What if we told you that those morning cups of coffee might make your employees more productive? We learned why a morning cup of coffee might be the catalyst for a more productive day.
Does coffee actually increase your productivity?
Extensive research has shown that caffeine consumption is associated with an increase in alertness, concentration, and performance. This is part of the reason why morning coffee is so ingrained in our work culture. Not just in offices, but hospitals and shift workers as well.
The reason why coffee is helpful is because of the caffeine content. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant. It can help people feel more alert and less sleepy, thus better able to focus on the tasks at hand. According to Psychology Today, “Caffeine confuses the brain by taking up the receptors for adenosine (which naturally signals your brain and body to slow down when you’re tired) so that you’re tricking your body into thinking it has more energy than it does.”
Having employees who are more alert and more focused can help prevent accidents in the workplace and get more work done faster. Have you ever seen someone working the night shift grab a late cup of coffee to keep them going? This also works for day-shift workers who hit that 2pm slump. To get the most out of the coffee you consume, we offer a few tips.
Tips for using coffee to increase productivity
1. Timing is everything
Having your coffee too early or too late can backfire and either you won’t get the boost or you’ll get it too late. Being wired in the middle of the night is no fun (unless you work the night shift).
2. Drink enough coffee, but not too much
When it comes to coffee there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Moderate your coffee consumption so you are feeling energized without feeling jittery or anxious. People who suffer from anxiety are cautioned to limit caffeine intake as it can have the opposite of the intended effect.
3. Don’t allow your coffee consumption to impact your sleep
Find the time of day that lets you get the benefits of caffeine, without the drawbacks. For some people, coffee, after 11 am, is a recipe for staying up all night. If this is you, don’t let yourself fall into the cycle of chronically not getting enough sleep and balancing that with too much coffee at work. If you think your coffee is impacting your sleep try cutting back for a few days to just a cup in the morning to see if that helps!
Need great coffee for your office? Wandering Bear is here to help! Contact us today and tell us all about your team and their coffee drinking habits. We’ll help you put together a coffee subscription to power your team the right way. We offer easy-to-serve cold brew.
W. Bear