You Shouldn't Need to Rely on Caffeine
Most people don't have caffeine addictions, they have a dehydration and poor nutrition issue. There is a difference between drinking a caffeinated beverage out of enjoyment and out of dependency to get you through the day. When you don't prioritize your nutrition your body is dealing with higher levels of inflammation, bloating, gut issues, poor blood sugar/pressure amongst other things. Your body can only fight off these things with the nutrients its been given.
Most people don't have the awareness or the education to know that when they are feeling like shit, it is going to be whole, natural foods as well as electrolytes and water that are going to make you feel better because you will be giving your body actual nutrients to utilize to combat a lot of these issues. Not ibuprofen and a sprite or gatorade (wtf?) Instead we are told to take certain supplements or take advantage of certain chemicals to alter our states of mind via the chemical balance of our bodies to fend off this feeling of shit we wake up experiencing everyday. This then leads to poor habits and decisions throughout the day, as well as poor sleep hygiene.
When this poor sleep enters the pattern you not only have poor nutrition habits, but poor sleep as well and this is wreaking havoc on your internal system. You have to pay the bills and keep yourself alive at work, so you opt for the energy drink or high sugared coffee in the morning, and potentially afternoon, trying to suppress your fatigue levels so you can put food on the table. Along with that, you're too tired to cook or prepare food ahead of time so you grab a gas station breakfast sandwich and a candy bar thinking this is going to do the trick. You have caffeine in the afternoon/evening with your soda pop, not understanding that caffeine has a 7-9 hour after effect where you may not feel its effects of enhanced focus and energy any longer but it is still doing its job (keeping you awake) and leading to that poor quality sleep. This cycle is one that many are trapped in and yet I wonder how one can't see the scenario you've placed yourself in.
Proper nutrition and hydration will truly fix a lot of these problems on its own. When your body is getting adequate nutrients through healthy whole foods that are high in micronutrients that assist with so many odd end functions in our bodies to take care of things mentioned prior, it naturally takes care of itself. Regardless of what you think, our brains and our bodies are designed to keep themselves alive. Your body is constantly fighting off foreign invaders (germs) and trying to flush as much waste as it can at a time to keep itself as healthy as possible. It can only do so when the things we put in our bodies matches the nutrient demands our bodies need to carry out these functions properly.
Too many people rely on caffeine to get them through their days, and especially their workouts. There's a difference between having a coffee or a sugar free energy drink in the morning to yes, help you wake up but also having something you enjoy to start your day, and having 2-3 energy drinks/sodas every single day because you are groggy, tired or "just not feeling it today" and can't stay awake at work or be productive without it. One is in moderation, the other is a crutch that will eventually snap from underneath of you. Yes, some days there will be a need for some extra caffeine to get a boost, but this should be an infrequent occurrence, not an everyday thing.
Caffeine has a ton of benefits, don't get me wrong. In fact, it is a great tool to utilize at certain times, for specific tasks or purposes. Unfortunately, that isn't how I'm seeing this stimulant being utilized.
A proper nutrition and hydration plan can alleviate this crutch from your life and give you more control of your day by having higher energy levels, enhanced productivity and more awareness. If you are always leaning on caffeine to get you through, the underlying issue needs to be addressed. This is something that is purely in your control, no one else's. If you want to start feeling better, get your nutrition in line and start prioritizing electrolyte consumption with water to fuel yourself throughout the day.