Early classes suck. They really do, and this is coming from the early bird’s beak itself. I have enough energy in the early mornings to get myself ready and chipper for the day, but by the time I sit down for a long lecture, the eyelids start drooping. I’m comfortable in the chairs, the lights are dimmed for a PowerPoint slide, and I had a big breakfast. How could I stay focused? No, not coffee. That’s the last thing I need early in the morning.

Ludicrous. Dumbfounding. Don’t drink coffee in the morning? That’s right. According to your own body, the consumption of caffeine as soon as you awake from a deep slumber is counterproductive and the opposite of what you need. Between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., your body is producing the most of the hormone cortisol, which is responsible for helping you feel awake. Coincidentally, these are the common hours of popularity in coffee shops such as Starbucks. Basically, people are chugging caffeine when their body needs it least, causing an adverse reaction. The more they continue to enjoy the early morning beverage, the more their body loses its natural ability to stay alert during those hours. This is because, with the higher consumption of caffeine, the body decreases its production of cortisol, changing the circadian rhythm. Then it’s just a mess from there: the body is deprived of natural wakefulness so it then depends on caffeine just to reach the average energy of being awake.

What does this mean for you? Well, stop drinking coffee so early in the morning. The ideal hours to drink the beverage -- for a normal sleep schedule -- is between 10 a.m. and noon, then 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.. As I write this now, it is 4 p.m., and I am enjoying my first cup of joe. I know it can be difficult; I used to drink a hot brew of golden liquid every day before my 8 a.m. lecture, dependent on the boost. Well, it never gave me the boost of energy I needed, because my body was negatively reacting to the early consumption of caffeine. It all makes sense now!

So keep yawning in the sunrise, maybe try some refreshing stretches, and hold off on the coffee till later. It'll be difficult at first; you may even go through caffeine withdrawal, and that is no joking matter. But if you can make the change safely, do it. You’ll notice the difference a cup can make at noon.