Sober-Curious? How Ditching the Daily Drink Benefits Your Entire Body & Mind
Today, let's talk about something a little more... spirited.
My relationship with alcohol has always been an interesting one. I was probably one of the few high-school and early college students who was not attending underage parties or sneaking into bars with a fake ID. In fact, before my sophomore year in college, I actively avoided alcohol for very good reasons that I may write about someday, but for the sake of here and now, let’s just say it changed the course of my life at a very young age and left a lot of damage in its wake. But once I was in college, of legal age, and began dating an older guy who enjoyed going to bars and drinking with friends, I found myself assimilating to the environment around me.
It started innocently enough. I ordered Blue Moons at concerts, drank amaretto sours (lol) and whiskey cokes at clubs with girlfriends, and, between me and my roommate, always had a fridge stocked with beer or a freezer full of vodka. For years, I was firmly planted in the "social drinker" camp. A glass of wine with dinner? Sure, why not? Cocktails at a party? Absolutely!
But over time, especially after I graduated and was suddenly expected to manage the daily complexities of being a Grown-Up in The Real World, my anxiety and depression grew worse and my coping mechanisms unfortunately weren’t the best. Over the years, my drinking became an easy way to numb myself from the stress of a toxic job and found myself in a cyclical loop of feeling depressed, needing to cope or find a way to distract myself, self-medicating with alcohol, feeling bad from the after effects of drinking, which helped feed the depressive symptoms I was experiencing in the first place.
Thankfully I eventually got myself out of the toxic work environment, but the damage was done — I was still overly dependent on alcohol to “wrap up the day” and help take the edge off, and I was heavier than I had ever been before in my life. My knees hurt, I was tired all the time, and I had problems like acid reflux, night sweats, and more. It wasn’t until a death in my family that hit close to home when I was 32 that I decided to make changes. I started working out regularly which majorly helped manage my anxiety symptoms (and helped with soooo many more things, but that’s another post entirely 🤭), consumed more protein to help grow my muscles and help me feel full longer, and I made more health-conscious swaps for my usual end-of-day cocktails.
As of today’s writing, it’s been 554 days without a drink of alcohol and I can proudly say it’s been the best gift to myself and my body. I’m happier, healthier (physically & mentally), and more fit than I’ve ever been in my life. My experience helped me realize just how happy and good I could feel without drinking, and that’s why I’m so excited that people seem to be opening up and becoming more interested in joining the sober movement.
Below I’ve listed some known health benefits of lessening or quitting drinking, as well as some tips that helped me on my own journey to quitting alcohol completely. But before I continue, a quick dislaimer:
I’m not here to preach or tell you what to do. This is simply my experience, one I’m admittedly passionate about, yet I recognize everyone's relationship with alcohol is different. But if you've been feeling even a little curious about cutting back, I truly hope this will resonate! Feeling better is just a few decisions and a mindset change away!
The Very Real Benefits of Cutting Back Your Drinking:
Improved Sleep: This one's a BIGGIE. Alcohol might initially make you feel sleepy, but it disrupts your sleep cycles later in the night. I was waking up feeling groggy and exhausted, and my skin was paying the price.
Increased Energy Levels: Say goodbye to that afternoon slump! When you're not dealing with the sugar crash and dehydration that often come with alcohol, you'll have more energy to tackle your day, play with your dog, be more present with your partner… the list goes on!
Clearer Skin: Alcohol dehydrates your body, which can lead to dullness, breakouts, and even premature aging. Alcohol also damages collagen and elastin cells and can cause major oxidative stress, causing free radical buildup in the body. All in all — there is NO benefit to your skin when it comes to alcohol.
Sharper Mind: Alcohol can impact your cognitive function, making it harder to focus and remember things. I've noticed a significant improvement in my concentration and memory since I quit. I’ve also noticed I feel much more creative since quitting drinking!
Reduced Anxiety: For some people (meeeeee!), alcohol can actually increase anxiety, especially in the long run. By reducing my intake, I've noticed a significant decrease in my overall anxiety levels. Paired with consistent exercise, I know how to manage my symptoms in much healthier ways when symptoms do creep up (and they will).
More Money in Your Pocket: Let's be real, alcohol can get expensive. Especially in this economy! Cutting back means more money for things I actually enjoy and can truly experience, like travel, classes at my community art center, books, restaurant dates, home projects, and more.
Tips for Adopting a Successful "Less-or-No-Alcohol" Lifestyle:
Start Small: Don't go cold turkey if you don't have to. I know that probably seems counterintuitive to how much I am singing sobriety’s praises, but it’s based on science: try limiting yourself to a certain number of drinks per week or having alcohol-free days to start. Once you achieve those, you’re proving to yourself and have actual evidence that you can quit. Rack up some wins early on and you’ll feel more capable to stop for longer periods — or completely!
Find Your "Why": What are your personal reasons for wanting to cut back? Losing weight? Feeling better? Protecting yourself from long-term disease or even cancer? Having a clear motivation will help you stay on track. For me, it was a death in my family that came suddenly. We learned the death was caused by a lifelong habit my loved one never quit and their organs were being silently riddled with cancer. For how long, we’re not exactly sure — we learned of the cancer diagnosis (Stage 4) far too late, once they were already hospitalized. They died just a couple days later. Hopefully, your “Why” isn’t so world-shattering, but I do hope it’s as personal. Dig deep, and really think about what you have to gain from this.
Explore Alternatives: There are so many delicious non-alcoholic beverages out there! Experiment with sparkling water, mocktails, and herbal teas. One of the biggest things that helped me quit drinking was finding better, healthier alternatives like Delta 8 or Delta 9 spirits to mix in to my homemade mocktails!
Be Kind to Yourself: There will be bumps in the road. Don't beat yourself up if you slip up. Just get back on track and keep moving forward. Remember: the past lives in your head, but the future lives in your hands. Decide what to do next, and forget the rest.
Overall, this isn't about deprivation; it's about making conscious choices. It's about finding what feels good for you and prioritizing your overall health and well-being.
To living healthier & happier,
