“Can you recount a time when caffeine unexpectedly hindered your mental clarity? What did you learn from this experience and how did you adjust your habits?”
When we were just in the initial stages of getting Cafely off the ground, I was depending a lot on coffee to get through late nights of product testing and continuous calls with suppliers. One afternoon, after my third cup before lunch, I began to feel peculiarly jittery. My mind was racing, my hands were trembling, and instead of being focused, I couldn’t even stay long enough in my head to reply to an email correctly. I found myself constantly re-reading the same line and second-guessing choices I’d already made. It struck me then that I wasn’t simply over-caffeinated; it seems I was overclocking my brain and confusing stimulation with productivity!
That moment made me more attentive to how and when I was consuming caffeine. I started to space out my consumption, cutting back to lower-caffeine choices in the afternoon (something that ultimately became a central part of our product line), and adding something grounding like protein or fiber to my morning coffee. I discovered that clarity is not achieved through working harder: it’s achieved through balance.
Mimi Nguyen, Founder, Cafely
I remember one particular stretch when I was scaling an early version of Zapiy and burning the candle at both ends. In the spirit of productivity, I leaned heavily on caffeine. I convinced myself it was harmless—just a cup in the morning, then another before meetings, and maybe one more to power through late-night sprints. It felt like fuel, until it wasn’t.
One day, after my third strong cup before a strategy session, I noticed something: I wasn’t sharp—I was jittery. My focus scattered. My mind raced past the actual problems we were discussing and into hypotheticals that didn’t matter. Instead of listening, I was anticipating. Instead of clarity, I had noise. The caffeine hadn’t given me an edge—it dulled my ability to be present.
That was a wake-up call.
What I learned is that there’s a tipping point where caffeine stops helping and starts hijacking your brain. Especially in leadership, where mental clarity and grounded decision-making are non-negotiable, overstimulation can be a liability.
Since then, I’ve changed my relationship with it. I stick to a single cup of coffee in the morning—never on an empty stomach—and I swapped my afternoon pick-me-up with a quick walk or a few minutes of deep breathing. It sounds small, but it works.
The biggest takeaway? Real clarity doesn’t come from stimulation. It comes from presence, rest, and rhythm. Caffeine can be a tool, but if you’re relying on it to stay sharp, it might be a sign your system needs recalibrating. That insight changed not only my habits—but my performance.
Max Shak, Founder/CEO, Zapiy
Yes—100%. There was a point in my life when caffeine started working against me, not for me.
A few years back, I was running on fumes. Building Ridgeline Recovery from the ground up while managing staff, clients in crisis, insurance headaches—you name it. My answer? More coffee. Then energy drinks. Then both. I told myself, “Whatever it takes to push through.” But eventually, I hit a wall.
One morning, I had two back-to-back client consults, followed by a strategic meeting with my clinical team. I was wired—heart racing, palms sweating, brain all over the place. In the middle of the meeting, I literally blanked. Couldn’t form a straight thought. I felt anxious, foggy, jittery. Not tired—but not focused either. My mind was speeding but not landing anywhere. That was the wake-up call.
What I learned? Caffeine isn’t a replacement for rest, clarity, or real mental focus. It’s a tool—but if you lean on it too hard, it’ll turn on you. As a mental health professional, I should’ve known better, but even we need reminders.
After that, I scaled way back. No caffeine after 11 a.m. I replaced the energy drinks with water and cut out the need for constant “hype” by focusing more on sleep, diet, and exercise. My clarity came back—because I gave my brain what it actually needed, not what I wanted in the moment.
At Ridgeline, we talk to clients about over-reliance all the time—on substances, habits, even seemingly harmless things like caffeine. That experience reminded me I’m no different. You have to check in with yourself. Productivity means nothing if your mind isn’t showing up with you.
Andy Danec, Owner, Ridgeline Recovery LLC
I had an experience where a couple of extra cups of coffee during a busy workday ended up clouding my mental clarity instead of boosting it. I was in the middle of a big project and thought more caffeine would help me power through. But by the afternoon, I felt jittery and struggled to focus. It wasn’t until I felt exhausted and unable to think clearly that I realized the caffeine was actually causing a crash. From that experience, I learned that moderation is key. I now limit myself to one cup in the morning and drink more water throughout the day. I also switched to green tea for the afternoons, as it gives me a more stable energy boost. This adjustment has helped me maintain focus without the highs and lows that too much caffeine caused.
Nikita Sherbina, Co-Founder & CEO, AIScreen
Yes—I recall a time when I had a very important client meeting, I needed to prepare, and I decided to drink more than my usual coffee dosage. Instead of a caffeinated boost, I started to feel jittery, and my concentration and ability to express thoughts coherently was deeply affected. It was as if I was experiencing a mental rush while my body struggled to catch up.
That instance made me realize that in my case, more caffeine equals zero clarity. Now, I stick to my morning routine that includes one cup of coffee, and later, water and light snacks to support my energy levels. I make sure that caffeine consumption is timed for tasks that require my active physical engagement. The outcome? It is easier to focus and my nerves are calmer more than ever.
Sabah Drabu, CEO, CookinGenie