to be thinking about drinking coffee...

[nervesonnerves]

(lighthearted!) I've never drunk coffee (53 yrs old). However, I am finding it increasingly difficult to get up and have the energy to get through the mornings (especially in winter), and so many friends claim they couldn't do it without their morning fix!

Would it really help me get through the day or is it a really bad habit to start?

YABU - don't start a new bad habit now if you are managing without

YANBU - drink coffee! I love my morning coffee and my day is better for it!!

Clearly she meant if you’ve got a problem with energy, brain fog or anything like that it’s not caused by a caffeine or sugar deficiency and so having those masks the root cause.

Well yes, in your 50s these symptoms might be associated with menopause and/or developing hypothyroidism (and probably other things) so it's definitely a good idea to get a checkup/blood tests

I love coffee! In moderation it's actively good for you.

Has to be Nice Coffee though, none of your instant rubbish.

Definitely good real coffee. You don't need complicated kit. An Aeropress is good and simple, doesn't take over your worktop. Ideally whole beans and a decent grinder but just start with ground in small quantities.

I'm loving all your replies, thank you all so much! We actually have a good 'bean to cup' machine at home, so maybe I'll just try one at the weekend. I will definitely listen to PP and not add sugar (thanks for that!).. and will try some early morning exercise/fresh air/ exercise so I've actually enjoyed all your comments. I won't try the Red Bull!

As a former smoker I really couldn't get exercised about a coffee addiction. It's incredibly benign. Yes it's addictive in that if you drink enough you will get mild withdrawal symptoms but in the scheme of things you can get addicted to its at the incredibly mild end of the spectrum. I love good coffee: love the taste, love the ritual of it and it gives me a nice pick-up in the morning. As long as you're not drinking 15 cups a day you'll be fine.

That said, if you're suffering from chronic fatigue, coffee might not really touch the sides. It's worth thinking about other approaches (HRT? better sleep hygiene? exercise?)

Just find yourself something that gives you 5 mins you enjoy. I love my first coffee of the day if I manage it get up before DC. But it could be tea or a nice yogurt or an orgasm 😂whatever floats your boat.

I used to get up early when Dts were small, had a half hour of lovely coffee in calm before they woke up/ I was a coffee snob. Covid
stole it from me back in 2020, haven't been able to drink it since.

Embrace the coffee!

I doubt if it will do you much harm medically, but if you're 53 and have never drunk it before, you might find that you just don't like it enough to get into the habit.