The afternoon coffee can feel like a response to a long day. It is also worth asking what made that day so difficult to sustain and whether the timing of the coffee affects the night that follows.
Caffeine can increase alertness. Its effects vary with dose, timing and the individual, so a universal rule for every executive is unlikely to be useful.
Observe the pattern before changing everything
For a week, record roughly when and how much caffeine you consume, when you try to sleep and whether falling asleep is difficult. Include tea, energy drinks and other sources that are easy to overlook.
If a late dose repeatedly accompanies a difficult night, try moving it earlier or reducing it, while keeping the rest of the routine reasonably stable. A personal experiment can reveal a useful pattern without establishing a medical cause.
Do not treat the experiment as a substitute for addressing a workload that permits too little sleep. More alertness during a meeting does not create the hours needed for recovery afterward.
If tiredness persists despite a reasonable opportunity to rest, seek appropriate assessment rather than continually increasing the dose. The business task is to make the working day manageable enough that caffeine remains a choice, rather than the only way someone can get through it.
