Granted I'm only 28, but my relatives along with several friends are amazed at the fact that I make it a point to not drink coffee. I hate the notion of having to rely on something(y'know, aside from food and water and oxygen) specifically designed to give me a mental boost. I always figured if I was falling asleep midday it was because I was wasn't sleeping well or something of the sort.

It's hard because I also want to get the benefits described in these studies, but don't want to become dependent on caffeine to get through the day.

Try something like meditation, exercising, taking 30 minute holidays... other non-addictive and well tested methods.

I do work out fairly regularly and try to take mental breaks(sometimes too many, haha). I just wasn't sure if there was something unique about the benefits that one gets from coffee.