Originally published on The Makery

By Samantha Reichstein

Guzzling down a cup of coffee before heading out the door describes the majority of morning routines. While some hate to admit it, this action gets repeated twice or even three times a day in order to stay energized and on track. But what if I were to tell you this consistent schedule of gulp, work, repeat hurts your body more than it helps?

Avid coffee drinkers have a strong relationship with their cup of joe—one (arguably) stronger than the smell of a fresh Arabica roast. What makes strong relationships last though, is a healthy balance and desire to change things up every so often.

So instead of insisting on a refill next time your office clock reads 3PM, try out one of our five tricks to help maintain a healthy relationship with caffeine.

1. Love Your Label

Ditch the grab-and-go approach and invest some time into researching coffee brands with organic labels. While conventional coffee seems like an easy solution, harmful pesticides and toxic chemicals are just a few substances missing from its lists of ingredients. When in need of a healthy caffeine fix, you can always rely on Chameleon Cold-Brew: both an organic AND direct trade coffee.

2. Drink Proactively, Not Reactively

Ignore the afternoon slump by prepping your mind and body before exhaustion kicks in. Allow ample time for your favorite cup of caffeine to digest so the magic works right when you need it! Bringing caffeine into your routine before craving it allows both physical and mental persistence to shine. (Hint: drinking a cup before a killer workout does wonders!)

3. Don’t Forget About H20

Caffeine keeps the creative juices flowing, but water is essential in order to maintain everyday activities. Balance out caffeine intake with a cup of water for every empty mug of coffee, especially in the afternoon. Want to kill two birds with one stone? Ditch the fear of dehydration and exhaustion with a glass of Chameleon Cold-Brew Concentrate: 4 oz. of cold brew and 4 oz. of water.

4. Add Power To Those Power Naps

Drink a cup of coffee before laying down for your mid-afternoon snooze. Contrary to popular belief,  caffeine works best an hour after consumption, not immediately after downing a mug. Instead of waking up groggy and dazed, you’ll feel energized and ready to conquer the world—well, at least ready to conquer what’s left on your to-do list.

5. Sweeten Those Sides

Cut back on cream and sugar intake by swapping it for a naturally sweet snack! Treats like berries or raw cacao keep your body feeling full, energized and alert without unwanted jitters and crashes. Chameleon Cold-Brew’s ready-to-drink flavors pair perfectly with these natural sweet, healthy foods… just saying!

A world without caffeine is a dark and scary place, but fortunately there is no need to quit cold turkey. Try out these healthy coffee habits and pick the one (or even all five!) that work best for your body and schedule. Every relationship takes work, but with the right mindset and decisions, it can last as long as you wish.