They say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about coffee?
With coffee being the second most traded commodity on earth, many of us turn to coffee to start our day. Whether it’s an espresso, cappuccino, latte, or java, a good cup of that healthy coffee drink fuels the daily office worker.
Coffee is no longer just a morning beverage. These days, coffee is fueling increased performance and productivity. Two studies published by the Annals of Internal Medicine found that drinking more coffee can significantly lower risk of mortality and increase longevity.
Coffee doesn’t just help you live longer. It may also help you get through the afternoon slump when your energy is drained. Here are the key benefits of drinking coffee – all backed by science – to boost your productivity.
- Improves cognitive function
The daily routine for the average worker often includes reaching for a morning cup of coffee. As a power food for the brain, that little java jolt does more than simply wake us up from our slumber.
The Journal of Nutrition has found that your morning cup of coffee not only provides a quick wakeup call but also offers a momentary mental boost and improvements in mental performance. Even if this is just a short-term boost, increases in cognitive function can lead to improvements in performance.
Effectively, drinking coffee can help increase your ability to solve problems faster and focus on tasks more productively, meaning work performance is positively affected.
- Enhances willpower
As the workday drones on and minutes tick by, you may notice your willpower gradually depleting. The more decisions you make throughout the day, the more exhausted your brain and willpower becomes.
This is where coffee comes in. When you’re required to make a big decision, a quick java jolt will ensure you make better decisions. Caffeine strengthens your willpower. It helps heighten your moral fiber and powers of perception, improving self-control.
This secures against compromising your values and succumbing to pressures in the workplace. A cup of coffee is a good thing to have right before important decisions, such as crucial negotiations, are made.
- Helps you learn faster
A daily java fix may help you become better prepared to commit things to memory. When timed right, a bit of caffeine can significantly boost learning capabilities. A cup of coffee – or two – will help you pick up new skills, implement new ideas, and learn new technologies.
In fact, 200 mg of caffeine, or 2 cups’ worth of coffee, can prompt the brain to increase its cognitive functions to increase your ability to solve reason-based problems. Whether you’re a daily office worker or an entrepreneur, a daily cup of coffee will lead to a boost in learning capabilities.
- Improves physical performance
Outside of the workplace, a dose of caffeine can improve athletic performance. If exercise is part of your daily routine, coffee is an energy boosting drink that can enhance exercise performance and awareness.
When coupled with bodybuilding supplements, ingestion of caffeine has been found to raise the body’s metabolism and improve fat burning. Due in part to its stimulant effect, many athletes turn to caffeine to increase their productivity and focus during workout sessions.
Its positive effects on athletic performance include enhanced endurance, increased workload, reduced perception of work, and increased number of repetitions in sports like strength training.
Caffeine has also been found to reduce muscle pain. A study done by the University of Georgia found that 200mg of caffeine can cut post-workout pain by nearly 50%. Less pain the next day means improved productivity in the office.
- Lends itself to greater social interactions
In one form or another, coffee is consumed in great volume. As a ubiquitous product in modern society, particularly among working adults, coffee can serve as a social enhancer.
In today’s workplace, the proverbial cup of coffee has confidently assumed the role of the office water cooler. Whether it’s gathering around the office’s coffee pot or waiting in line at a coffeehouse, coffee lends itself to greater social interaction.
In social settings, coffee is more than just an energy booster. The positive effects of coffee in a social atmosphere can result in greater collaboration among colleagues. Caffeine consumption in a group setting can also lead to greater productivity in the performance of the group.
Final thoughts
Whether you enjoy coffee for the taste of it or for its energy-boosting properties, a cup of coffee a day does wonders for your productivity. So if you’re looking for a natural antioxidant pick-me-up with incredible brain-boosting ability, then reach for that cup of coffee. After all, science backs it up.
AUTHOR BIO
Dave Asprey is the creator of the widely popular Bulletproof Coffee, host of the #1 health podcast, Bulletproof Radio, and author of the New York Times bestselling book, “The Bulletproof Diet.” Through his work, the Silicon Valley investor and technology entrepreneur provides information, techniques and keys to taking control of and improving your biochemistry, your body and your mind so they work in unison, helping you execute at levels far beyond what you’d expect, without burning out, getting sick, or allowing stress to control your decisions.
