The Weekly Thread: hacking your morning caffeine, insights from a beekeeper, and your actions speak more loudly than your words.

Caffeine can be a very useful tool that helps you get more stuff done, and helps you stay focused and alert for longer periods of time. 

Have you ever heard someone say something along the lines of, “You don’t want to know me until I’ve had my coffee”, or “I’m not me until I’ve had my coffee”?

Maybe this person is even you. 

This is not ideal. 

We’ve all evolved to be amazing, vibrant, high-energy human beings without caffeine, we’ve just gotten away from that lifestyle. 

The truth is, we’re all “morning people”, regardless of how much you may have convinced yourself that you’re not. 

Some of us just need to unlock the true “morning person” within, which begins with a more properly set circadian rhythm, something I’ve written about extensively in various segments. 

By better understanding how the human body truly “wakes up” in the morning, can you then harness that to jumpstart your body more naturally, and then, then you can make caffeine your ally that works with your body’s natural energy to take you to superhuman levels. 

I’ll explain how. 

A Quick Primer on Circadian Rhythm 

Your circadian rhythm is a 24 hour cycle that is part of your body’s internal clock. It kind of runs on its own, “in the background”, and carries out essential processes and functions, most notable of which, cause your body to naturally wake in the AM, and naturally fall asleep in the PM. 

So, if you have troubles waking in the AM, or troubles falling asleep at night, (oftentimes they go hand in hand), one major factor is that most likely your circadian rhythm is off. 

In short, you want to consume your coffee, or any kind of stimulant only AFTER your circadian rhythm has been properly set to start the day. 

I understand we don’t live in a perfect world, and you may not always be able to do this, however, I’m here to help you focus on what you CAN control, when you can control it, and offer up the tools and knowledge to empower you to do so. 

Properly Setting Your Circadian Rhythm

Your body wants to pulse a plethora of endogenous hormones and chemicals (“endogenous” meaning “produced within”) in the morning, ideally around 6-7 am.

If you don’t pulse these endogenous hormones and neurotransmitters early enough, it has the potential to throw your energy off for the entire day, and can even be the reason you don’t fall asleep as well that night.

Your circadian rhythm is an internal clock that works in cycles, so the longer it takes to go through its AM cycle, the later it then goes through its PM cycle, where it then pulses all the endogenous hormones and neurotransmitters that cause your body to fall asleep, and recover through the night, such as melatonin, testosterone, and growth hormone.

In the AM, you pulse hormones and neurotransmitters that help energize you and allow you to get stuff done while constantly burning energy all day, such as oxytocin, serotonin, and cortisol. 

We’re going to focus on cortisol, and its relationship with exogenous caffeine consumption (“exogenous” meaning it "enters the body from outside”, or the opposite of produced within).

Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone”, and because of that, it gets a bad reputation, as high cortisol is associated with negative effects on our health. 

But it’s not cortisol’s fault we produce so much of it, which then has a deleterious effect on our health. Quite frankly, it’s a combination of our modern environment, lifestyle, and our own doing, that we have a poor relationship with cortisol. 

Cortisol is a very essential hormone, otherwise the human body wouldn’t produce it, and want to pulse it every morning between 6-7 am. 

In an ideal scenario, which is what we’re trying to better inform you of here, your body will naturally pulse its daily dose of cortisol in the morning, between 6-7 am, providing you with the necessary hormonal support your body needs to tackle all the stressors that will come your way that day.

Cortisol provides you with energy, reduces fatigue, and is basically your body’s way of saying, “okay, I know we’ve got stuff to do, so let’s go get it done!”. Cortisol helps with all of that. 

The rub is that your morning cortisol pulse is part of your body’s circadian rhythm, and needs around 12 hours to run its course regardless of when it pulses. If you don’t set your circadian rhythm more properly, it can take much longer to pulse your cortisol, but still takes 12 hours to run its course for the day. 

Meaning, you have much more cortisol in your bloodstream later at night, which then negatively affects your evening circadian rhythm pulse of hormones like melatonin, testosterone, and growth hormone, causing your body to enter its sleep cycle much later, which of course can cause sleeplessness and restlessness throughout the night. 

You also don’t want to cause an artificial pulse from consuming things that can artificially trigger a cortisol response from the body before your body has gone through its natural cortisol pulse for the day.

Namely caffeine and artificial light. 

This is the key to timing your caffeine intake like a pro. 

Caffeine, which we’re discussing now, and artificial light we touched on last week. 

If you consistently consume caffeine before your body naturally pulses its cortisol for the day, which many of us do, you begin to train the body to think that it needs to rely on the caffeine consumption for cortisol, rather than doing it on its own, causing a dependency. 

Thus, “You don’t want to know me until I’ve had my coffee”. 

On a consistent basis, this throws your entire circadian rhythm out of whack, which then negatively impacts energy throughout the day, creating a greater dependence on stimulants, and negatively impacting your sleep. 

If you time your caffeine consumption in a way that it’s consumed only after your body has naturally pulsed its cortisol for the day, the caffeine will be more effective, as it will work with your body’s already existent cortisol pulse, and not be the reason your cortisol has pulsed. 

The caffeine you consume then will be even more complimentary to your personality, provide cleaner energy, and its effects will last longer. 

In the morning, I immediately drink a glass of hydrogen enriched spring water. Then I go through a quick morning routine, and then consume my caffeine only when I can tell my circadian rhythm is set for the day. This is something you’ll be able to get a feel for over time with practice, and becoming more in tune with your body. 

An easy tell is that if you feel your body is still dragging, you haven’t pulsed your cortisol yet, and are still probably metabolizing the rest of your nighttime hormones and chemicals out of your bloodstream. It may take some getting used to at first, and you may have some slower mornings where you don’t consume caffeine for an hour or even more after waking, but with time and some consistency, your body will right the circadian rhythm ship, and you will begin to wake more naturally, more quickly, allowing you to time your caffeine more early and still yield optimal benefits. 

For me, this is typically 15-20 minutes after waking. 

Now, there is a slight exception to this rule…

If you wake and are immediately getting some dedicated exercise in shortly after waking, you can consume caffeine as an exercise performance enhancer shortly after waking up and not mess with your circadian rhythm for the most part. 

Reason being is that exercise will naturally cause a pulse of your cortisol, so if you consume some caffeine right before exercise, it won’t hit and affect your bloodstream before you get a cortisol pulse as a result of the exercise. 

I have a lot of early mornings where I wake up at around 3:30 or 4 am, and this is too early to get a proper circadian rhythm set with natural light (again, we don’t live in a perfect world), so I turn on red lights in the house upon waking to simulate a sunrise, and I do consume some caffeine pretty quickly, but it’s because I get a very early workout in to immediately start my day, which then sets my circadian rhythm. 

By Danielle Clark, Co-Owner of Mayberry Farms

September is “National Honey Month”, and I am a big proponent of the nutritional and therapeutic benefits of honey. So much so, I dedicated an entire segment in the past to bees titled, “Thank Goodness for the Bees”.

As a result, we have a guest post this week from Danielle Clark, co-owner and beekeeper of Mayberry Farms, whose products we proudly carry.  

Alongside her husband Tim, Danielle helps to manage a diverse farm with strawberries, corn, soybeans, and wheat. Their farmstead, located in Mayvile, WI, is also full of milking goats, sheep, chickens, honey bees, and four, soon to be five, beautiful children. Her passion for beekeeping and raw honey, aligns with her family’s commitment to sustainable farming practices. 

Now, let’s hear it from Danielle herself…

A Sweet Journey

My husband Tim and I grew up on family farms in rural Wisconsin and received undergraduate degrees in agricultural economics and business. We purchased our farm in May of 2017 and quickly jumped into the world of specialty crop production with our pick-your-own strawberry farm.  

In 2018, our beekeeping adventure began when Tim suggested adding honeybees to help pollinate our strawberry crop. This simple idea sparked my deep passion for beekeeping.

The Truth About Raw Honey

Raw honey is more than sweet; it’s a natural superfood with numerous health benefits. Unlike processed honey and sweeteners, raw honey is unheated and unpasteurized, preserving its natural enzymes, vitamins, and antioxidants. These components give raw honey medicinal qualities, such as soothing sore throats, boosting immunity, and providing natural energy.

(Hey, it’s Seth. Just wanted to interject and mention that the above benefits of real raw honey is exactly why we choose to use raw honey as a natural superfood sweetener in so many of our menu items)

Natural Beekeeping Practices

At Mayberry Farms, we prioritize natural beekeeping. We avoid harmful insecticides and excessive sugar-water feeding, ensuring our honey is pure and comes from the nectar of plants. Our raw honey is never heated, pasteurized, or filtered—it goes straight from the hive to the bottle for you to enjoy.

Raw Honey in Skincare
Raw honey’s antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing properties make it a valuable addition to skincare. It contains enzymes, antioxidants, and nutrients that help soothe and heal skin. Raw honey draws moisture into the skin, keeping it hydrated and soft.

In 2020, I began making goat milk soap after bringing home milking goats in my dad’s van. That’s a funny story for another time. The addition of goats inspired the creation of an all-natural soap and skincare product line, including raw honey and beeswax in items like lip balm, body butter, and lotion sticks. 

I hope this gives you some insight into the wonders of raw honey from a beekeeper’s perspective. 

In short, here are the Benefits of Consuming Raw Honey

• Antibacterial Properties: Helps fight infections naturally.
• Antioxidant Properties: Protects cells from damage.
• Boosts Immunity: Supports a healthy immune system.
• Soothes Sore Throats: Provides relief from sore throats and coughs.
• Improves Digestion: Aids in digestion and reduces acid reflux.
• Provides Energy: A natural source of energy.

Plus the Benefits of Raw Honey for the Skin

• Antibacterial and Antimicrobial Properties: Fights bacteria, reducing acne and preventing breakouts.
• Anti-inflammatory Benefits: Soothes irritated skin, benefiting conditions like eczema and psoriasis.
• Moisturizing and Hydration: Draws moisture into the skin, keeping it hydrated.
• Healing Properties: Supports skin healing and helps fade scars.

BONUS: The Benefits of Beeswax

Worker bees produce beeswax to build honeycomb, which is used to store honey, pollen, and eggs. During honey harvesting, we uncap the honeycomb and process the beeswax using a solar oven for our skincare products or candle-making.

Beeswax is an excellent skincare ingredient due to its ability to lock in moisture. It also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, helping to protect and soothe the skin. Additionally, beeswax forms a protective barrier on the skin, shielding it from environmental damage while allowing it to breathe.

When burned, beeswax candles release negative ions that can purify the air by neutralizing pollutants and allergens. Unlike paraffin candles, beeswax candles burn cleanly with little to no smoke, emitting a warm, natural honey scent. They also have a longer burn time, making them an eco-friendly and economical choice.

Ways to Incorporate Raw Honey

Raw honey can be easily added to your daily routine. Use it as a natural sweetener for tea, coffee, or smoothies. Drizzle it over yogurt, oatmeal, or fresh fruit for a nutritious breakfast or snack. Spread it on toast or pair it with peanut butter, banana and cinnamon for a tasty treat. Use raw honey in salad dressings, marinades, or as a glaze for meats and roasted vegetables. Additionally, you can stir it into warm water with lemon for a soothing drink, or mix it with apple cider vinegar for a health tonic.

You can also purchase honeycomb to consume which also offers a natural source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, including B vitamins and trace minerals. It provides raw, unprocessed honey along with beneficial enzymes and propolis, supporting immune function and overall health.

Add raw honey to DIY face masks for its moisturizing and antibacterial properties. Mix it into sugar scrubs for gentle exfoliation. Incorporate it into homemade soap for added hydration. Use as a spot treatment for acne or combine with aloe vera for a soothing, natural facial cleanser.

Who you are speaks so loudly, I cannot hear a word you say. 

When people reflect on you, and conversely, when you reflect on others, it’s the actions, their character, or in some cases, lack thereof, that you remember. 

Sure, maybe you remember something very poignant someone once said, or you are remembered a bit for something poignant you once said, but by and large, it will be your actions; how you live, and how you treat others, that will be remembered. 

One area of my life that I try to be extremely cognizant of is backing up my word with action, with follow through, and with character. 

And it’s something I will probably never stop working at. 

I think this is something worth pondering for all of us.

In the end, your actions will speak so loudly, that no one will hear a word you say.