If you’ve ever felt your creativity get a boost after you’ve had a cup of coffee, you’re not the only one. Caffeine can give you increased energy as well as focus. Caffeine is considered a stimulant, which is why it can also give your body energy.
When you consume caffeine, it boosts the dopamine levels in your brain, which is what regulates your concentration and your ability to focus. This why so many people with long work days drink coffee throughout the day.
When you’ve been working for twelve hours without breaks, it can be difficult to keep your focus on the tasks you need to get done that day. Caffeine not only wakes you up, it keeps you alert.
However, the downside to this boost is that coffee can also have a negative effect on creativity. When you have too much coffee, you’re going to find it hard to focus on anything even the kind of projects that you’re looking forward to doing.
This is because too much of that stimulant can make your body and mind both feel restless. So when you drink coffee to help enhance your creativity and focus, make sure that you don’t overdo it.
Just like coffee, a little bit of alcoholic beverage can help you relax and allow you to be more creative. For example, some people have a glass of wine while working on a creative project such as writing, painting, and music.
Alcohol lowers your inhibitions and allows you to cut off your inner critic for awhile. But just like coffee, alcohol can have a negative effect on work and creativity. Too much alcohol can make you lose control of your cognitive functions like attention and focus.
The key to using both coffee and alcohol to increase creativity and focus is balance.
It could take some trial and error, but it’s important to find the right amount of both beverages that work for you and not to go overboard on either or your work could suffer.
Another important beverage to note is the most basic which is water. When you drink water, you’re hydrating your body. This is especially important to remember if you drink coffee, which is known to dehydrate you.
Water is vital for every organ in your body to work properly, including your brain. Without enough water, you can impede creativity. Keep in mind that you can experience dehydration without an extreme scenario, like hiking or being in a desert.
In fact, your body can become partially dehydrated if you don’t drink water all morning. Dehydration can have a negative effect on your cognitive health, including a loss of focus, trouble paying attention, and forgetfulness.
