I basically don't like coffee and rarely drink it, but there are times a few times a year when I suddenly crave coffee, and it's currently one of those times.

Whether caffeine like coffee is good for people who meditate is a matter of opinion. In traditional yoga, for example, it's often recommended to avoid it. In Buddhism, it varies by sect. For example, in Theravada Buddhism (Southern Buddhism), there are no specific restrictions because it's not written in the scriptures.

In my case, I used to get headaches and experience breathing difficulties when I drank coffee, so I basically didn't drink it. Sometimes I would try it out of curiosity, but I usually regretted it. However, recently, I've been able to tolerate it a little more. I still don't particularly like it, but I have these periods when I crave it, and when I do drink it, I usually get bored before finishing a cup and leave the rest. Basically, I'm not a coffee drinker.

Recently, I realized something. The common saying that "drinking coffee at night will prevent you from sleeping" was definitely true in the past. However, since my meditation practice has progressed, I can now drink coffee and still sleep soundly. At the same time, I'm in a state of alertness with a relatively clear consciousness, and these two things don't contradict each other, allowing me to rest well.

However, this isn't always the case, and sometimes I just can't sleep. So, there seem to be conditions, and further investigation is needed.

Also, as I said before, I basically don't like coffee, so I wouldn't drink it just for that effect. It's just that I've noticed this effect.

When I don't drink coffee and go to sleep, it's normal, and I can still sleep soundly and enter a state of alertness thanks to the effects of meditation. However, the level of alertness I experience when I drink coffee before sleeping is something else.

This was quite a discovery for me. Coffee itself isn't that delicious to me, and I'm someone who prefers plain "water" the most, so I don't particularly like drinking murky water. However, if there's this level of alertness, coffee might not be so bad after all. I think that. However, after a few times a year when I crave coffee, I stop wanting it, so I end up not drinking it.

It is a repeat, but in the past, I would get headaches, nausea, and difficulty breathing just from drinking coffee. I also used to dislike tea, so I probably have a general sensitivity to caffeine. I like delicious green tea brewed in a kyusu teapot, but I don't like bottled tea. I never thought I would be interested in coffee.

I probably started noticing this change about half a year ago. I don't need to drink it to function, and I don't want to become too dependent, so I try to take a few days off. However, when I drink coffee and then go to sleep, I sleep very comfortably at night.

Also, it seems like I can get by with less sleep. I can wake up feeling refreshed after only 4 or 5 hours, and I wake up easily in the morning.

There seems to be a side effect of waking up early and continuing to be active. During the day, I suddenly feel very sleepy for about 30 minutes to an hour. It's a strong sleepiness that I can't overcome, even with coffee. However, it seems to be okay if I just take a nap.

On weekdays, I try not to drink too much coffee at night because, although it helps me wake up in the morning, it can cause strong sleepiness during the day, which interferes with my work.

It is said that coffee "makes you unable to sleep," and in the past, I definitely experienced that. Now, thanks to the effects of meditation, I can fall asleep quickly and wake up easily. However, it seems like I am experiencing a side effect of not getting enough sleep, which causes me to suddenly feel sleepy during the day.

Even with the side effects, my mornings are very refreshing, so I want to observe the effects of coffee (over a long period of time) to the extent that it doesn't cause any problems.