I'm exploring whether there's demand for a convenient puer concentrate and put together a quick survey (2-3 min): https://aicofounder.com/research/ElEORiN
Curious what's working for the HN crowd—especially folks doing deep work who've moved away from traditional coffee?
I actually wish I would have discovered my intolerance earlier in life, because I used to drink 2-litres of Mt. Dew / day in high school and always had issues with anxiety.
I have found that sleep+water+exercise is all I need to stay focused.
This week I am drinking only one cup of tea in the morning and I’m still not very productive, but I would like to quit caffeine for good.
(FWIW I used to only drink a double espresso in the morning and no more, but I am a very sensitive, and anxious, person)
You want to just drink it again, but if you push through, it starts getting better, until you don't feel the need to drink it again.
You may have a tough time the first week or two after weaning down, but you’ll feel much better afterward. Probably get better quality sleep too, and be naturally more focused when awake.
Not being flippant.
There's a traditional preparation that involves a special type of mug and filtered straw, but steeping the yerba like tea works fine too. Playadito is a good brand. Anecdotally I find there's a lot of variation between brands in terms of effect/concentration so it's worth trying a few.
Hint: this pill is "money".
Reset your brain through digital detox, going for long walks without phone, etc. Brain has to wired again for focus. It will take time.
If you want to read something, print it and then read.
What ultimately shoot up my productivity was to read chapter 1 of the book - The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes.
You also need an environment conducive to focus. Be sure you’re well rested, have some fresh air, and play some calming music. Taking drugs like stimulants (coffee, tea, etc.) will interfere with this. If you want to sip on something use non-caffeinated teas. I like “yoga” blends, which are the same spices used in chai but without black tea.
> Curious what's working for the HN crowd—especially folks doing deep work who've moved away from traditional coffee?
Nicotine. But there aren't many long-term safe ways to inject it into your system efficiently. So make up your mind about that.
I prefer the Barbacau roasted type that has deep smoky notes.
It will change your life. Also the whole prep ceremony is sublime.
Enjoy.
eXpl0it3r•3mo ago
I'm not the best at this either, but enough sleep really does wonders to focus.
What also helps me with focus is the pomodoro technique in some form, basically setting myself a timer, within which I want to fully focus, no distractions, followed by a short break.
jaemo•3mo ago
The caffeine question is interesting. For me it's less about needing stimulation and more about managing the side effects of what I'm already using (coffee). If I could get the alertness without the jitters/anxiety, that'd be the win. But you're right that fixing the root cause (sleep, focus discipline) is probably more sustainable long-term.
Curious—do you avoid caffeine entirely, or just use it strategically?
Webstir•3mo ago
eXpl0it3r•3mo ago
My question was mostly if the coffee itself is the cause of the side effects, you could still consider other ways to consume caffeine, assuming it's the caffeine that provides the alertness to being with.