I made a resolution last New Year’s Eve to give up coffee. I only did it because my family had dared me. They are not kill-joys – they said my consumption was excessive and “bad for my health”. The word addiction was bandied about. I thought that was a bit much, maybe there was the odd cup or two that I didn’t need but, overall, I was in control. I could stop any time.
“You will put the coffee bean wholesale market in freefall,” said my son, Andy. The other son, Sam, said my eyes twinkled when I had a cup in hand, but was positive that going cold turkey would be a good move. “What will ignite you now?” my wife Alice asked. “It’s your conversation starter.”
They all agreed I couldn’t stop. I will show them, I thought.
Coffee is one of life’s joys. Could I live without it? Credit: iStock
My family may have gotten me in a weak moment; laced by once-a-year champagne. Perhaps excessive pride and trust in my mental faculties may have contributed. The next morning I was the same jolly fellow, I think, to my sons and wife but privately my brain and I had a few conversations. Something like “… you are going to give up coffee, really?” We kept that to ourselves as we watched my family all enjoying large coffees at breakfast. That was mean, I thought.
Prior to my resolution, I drank as much coffee as I could. My day would start with an engine-starting strong espresso and then a strong latte with breakfast. Mid-morning I would have an espresso; then another with lunch, and a latte with dinner. If I was out with friends or family and was asked if I wanted a cup, I would quickly accept the kind offer. I was having five or six cups a day; sometimes more, sometimes less.
Experts often advise no more than about five cups a day, but I wasn’t convinced I was suffering negative effects from all that coffee. I’ve always been a poor sleeper anyway. Some people say too much coffee can make you a bit hyped up, yet I’ve always been a helter-skelter sort of guy. My sons often say there isn’t a moment I wouldn’t be doing something at speed: going up the ladder to check tiles on the roof, cleaning the garage, walking around the block four times at pace, speed reading the paper etc. I just make good use of my time. Chit-chat with the neighbours was quick, my mind buzzing, what’s next?
If you subconsciously label coffee’s effects as anxiety, you might reinforce the trauma.Credit: iStock
I love coffee. The smell is intoxicating, almost better than the taste. That first sip. It delights the mouth and leaves you with an “all is good with the world feeling,” however long that lasts.
The first week was difficult. Drinking anything is just a habit I told my family, but my body had more to say about this. The headaches started and became worse as the days dragged on. And they did drag on. A day without coffee seemed like more than 24 hours. I was taking more paracetamol than ever before, I became quite insular, and I was even bad-tempered some of the time. Moi? Andy said I whinged about everything.
