90 Days Alcohol Free
At the beginning of 2024, I decided to take the plunge and give up alcohol. It’s something I had been thinking about for a while. At this point in my life, ditching alcohol wasn’t that big of a stretch. I hadn’t been drinking much, and having been through a few dry months in the past, I realized just how much I enjoyed feeling good. And let’s be honest, taking care of myself is definitely a priority in my life, so it didn’t make sense that I was still consuming a Group 1 carcinogen. I realized that I couldn’t truly be focused on my health and still consume alcohol.
I suppose I hesitated until now for a variety of reasons. All of them now clearly ridiculous. I travel a lot, and when I eat out alone, I prefer to sit at the bar. I figured it would feel strange to sit at the bar with dinner, and no drink (newsflash- it doesn’t). I always had a drink at the bar before a flight to calm my nerves- something I’ve now realized did just the opposite. Finally, there was always something that tricked me into feeling that hopping over the my local bar to have a cocktail or two relaxed me after a long day. (Note that not one of the reasons listed here are the BS “studies” that tout alcohol’s health benefits because THERE ARE NONE.)
So, here we are, 90 days later. No alcohol. And this is what I’ve learned:
Alcohol Makes You Feel Like Shit
Even if I wasn’t hung over, I never felt 100% waking up after drinking. Drinking alcohol made falling asleep, staying asleep, and getting anything that remotely looked like quality sleep hdamn near impossible. This is where my Oura ring really helped. I could wake up after having 1 drink at happy hour, and data showing my increased heart rate and lack of deep sleep were staring me right in the face. It became more noticeable on days I didn’t drink just how much better I felt. When I feel better, I tend to have better workouts, better focus throughout the day, and am less likely to want to indulge in some crap food that I’m going to feel guilty about later. At this point in my life, my goal is to put 100% into each and every day. I can’t do that with alcohol.
The Mental & Emotional Shifts Were Surprising
I always would read about people who had given up alcohol and experienced amazing changes in their mental and emotional health. I’m not a person who experiences a lot of anxiety, and I feel like life has been treating me pretty well lately. So when I started to notice just how different some stressful or anxiety producing situations felt without alcohol in my life, I was pleasantly surprised. It honestly feels like I can handle anything thrown at me, and my ability to evaluate uncomfortable situations and feelings is eye-opening. It’s difficult to describe- but it’s all positive.
Your Lifestyle Will Change
I don’t care if my friends drink, and I love that they support my choice. But there are always going to be people who don’t understand why you’re not drinking. At one point before I stopped drinking, I had gone to an event that was essentially an all-day drinkfest and decided not to drink. My “friends” spent all day harassing me about not drinking, instead of enjoying the 48 hours I was in town for the weekend. So yeah, some things have to change when you stop drinking.
Not drinking will change your friend circle, but only in a positive way. It’s also given me back time to pursue my passions, it’s changed the way I look forward to my days, and it’s given me a renewed focus on my health (who knew I could be more focused).
New Opportunities Open Up Your World
One of the things I’ve discovered during my first 90 days without is just how mindful I am of the world around me. It’s as if alcohol was holding me back. I’m spending more time with people who light me up. I’m learning new things. I’m seeing positive changes in my health & happiness. I’ve uncovered a whole world of non-alcoholic choices in how I celebrate life’s moments both big and small.
But I’m also not wasting my time. If something or someone isn’t adding something positive to my life, they don’t need my attention. If it’s going to keep me from showing up 100% in my life, I don’t want it.
It’s a nice milestone to hit 90 days, but it’s more important to know that I’ve done something for myelf that I have wanted to for a long time. It feels like the right decision at the right time. I feel more confident, and I love who I am these days. Life is what you make of it- why not make it amazing?
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