You’re useless in the morning until you get a cup of caffeine into your system. Or are you? The kick you believe you get from coffee may be all in your head, according to a recent study published in the journal Psychopharmacology. Researchers from the University of Vermont College of Medicine and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine found that coffee drinkers who claimed to be addicted to caffeine were no more alert or energetic throughout the day than people who were not addicted and drank no caffeine.

The explanation? Tolerance. “Most of us who drink coffee every day think that it keeps us alert, but once you get used to it, you’re no longer receiving any benefit from chronic use. All you’re doing is avoiding withdrawal symptoms like headache and fatigue,” says Stacey Sigmon, PhD, lead author of the study. Caffeine can only give you a real boost when you’re not addicted and you drink the occasional cup. So do your best to give up your fix—no matter how much you think you need it at work. Then, when you could really use a jolt, you’ll get more bang for your buck with just a single cup.