How do I reset the brain with the help of coffee

Coffee (or caffeine) - this is a great way to change the natural peaks of brain activity during the day. However, over time, the effect of it is becoming less and less, and all because of tolerance to caffeine. There is one way to get the maximum benefit from the coffee - switch your normal coffee intake and combine it with the restorative power of a nap.

Princeton Professor Arvind Narayan explained why coffee becomes less effective. Caffeine reduces the activity of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates sleep, thereby improving concentration and attention. But a regular intake of caffeine negates the benefits.

Tolerance to caffeine is produced in 2-3 weeks, and almost entirely eliminates the invigorating effect of coffee.

This means that if you drink coffee on a regular basis, very soon your body will produce more adenosine, so for a normal brain activity you will need a dose of caffeine.

It can be said in a different way - with the help of coffee do you maintain your level of adenosine, and hence the level of attention to the same level, and if for some activities it is quite normal for could be detrimental to other career.

Different levels of activity

So, most people drink coffee periodically during the day, when the feel sluggish and sleepy. It is well suited for professions that require a constant level of attention, but for others, which need bright creative ideas, the habit of coffee can be a problem. Indeed, in these professions need bursts of activity, brilliant ideas and the so-called moments of "Aha!".

Such moments - it's bursts of ideas, during which the cognitive functions are incorporated into the work. If you drink coffee when you feel sleepy, the level of attention and productivity is at an average level. Attention aligned and decreases the time you spend at the peak of their capabilities. So, to bring about the desired state giperproduktivnosti and use all their strength, you need to drink coffee when you are completely awake and quite productive and decaffeinated.

For high productivity throughout the day Narayana offers a solution: drink coffee twice a day - early in the morning to steady energy level and sleep right after dinner. Take a nap after lunch is useful to reset the brain, and when you wake up fresh and rested, caffeine further raise the level of energy and attention. In addition, you can try the "caffeine dream."

caffeine dream

Scientists believe that the effectiveness of an afternoon nap depends on two things: time to be spent on it, and caffeine consumption. Experiments carried out at Loughborough University in the UK have shown that for an amazing freshness and vigor you need to drink a cup of coffee and take a nap for 15 minutes.

1. Before you take a nap after lunch, have a cup of coffee. Caffeine should still reach your stomach, to act, so you just have time to sleep.
2. Relax and close your eyes. Even if you can not sleep, the body will get a dose of so-called "microsleep" small shutdowns of reality.
3. Reduce the time your vacation up to 15 minutes. If you sleep for half an hour, it can cause sleep inertia - lethargy, confusion and a desire to sleep.

Long-term perspective

If you want coffee remained a tool for you, not just a pleasant drink, periodically stop to drink to adenosine levels returned to normal. It's not as difficult as it may seem, and after some time, tolerance to caffeine will pass and you will be able to re-use coffee as a means of great ideas.