Best things about giving up alcohol

[Moonbeams22]

Please can you let me know the best bits about giving up alcohol, sometimes when I read the blogs, listen to the podcasts etc, I think can it really be that great living af? I'm not an every day drinker but certainly at least a bottle of wine 2/3 times a week, always sleep awful after it, not sure why I'm still doing this to myself, mid aged, stressed, anxious, overweight.

I'll be one year alcohol-free this weekend and I can't think of any area of my life that hasn't improved since this time last year. I'm just generally happier, more content and at peace.

If anyone reading is contemplating a booze break, I couldn't recommend it more highly - you'll feel so quietly but deeply proud of yourself.

I had to do 'the work' by reading as many quit-lit books as I could lay my hands on - William Porter's Alcohol Explained was the book that made the most difference to how I viewed alcohol and led to me no longer even desiring a drink. I find podcasts really helpful too - Over the Influence is lovely and there's about 4 years of free weekly episodes to binge on if you need the encouragement that I did, plus a really supportive community that you can pay a monthly fee to join.

I second the idea of the 100 day target to give yourself chance to feel all the benefits of sobriety - I never, ever want to lose them so very much doubt I'll drink again!

Good luck to anyone starting or in the early days - you really can do it xx

You can plan your time (e.g. weekends) knowing that you won't feel shit, dehydrated or tired on any given morning.
You feel freer, more in control of your life, and you start to get to know yourself better.
In my case it helped me to lose a lot of weight, partly because I felt more confident to exercise.

I'm now in my 29th alcohol free month; giving up was one of my best ever decisions and life changes.

For me the very best moment is when I wake up in the morning and feel really happy, sober, healthy, and can ‘read’ my physical health and what my body is telling me, as opposed to being hung over and full of dread already for the day ahead.

I’m not completely AF but I went from a few bottles of wine a week to a few bottles a year. I also now never drink more than 1/4 of a bottle in one go. Benefits:

• I sleep like a log and get up fresh and rested
• Feel great, positive and full of energy
• Lost weight and it stays off
• Glowing, healthy skin
• I’m less grumpy and much less aggressive, more inclined to see the bright side of things
• I’m fit and healthy
• I have time to do fun stuff in the evening like reading, playing board games and learning to play guitar
• Saved lots of money
• I can go out and spend the evening not drinking.

Freedom

Less anxiety
no hangovers
enjoying the weekend days instead of them just being a recovery day
Feeling fresh on Monday
No regrets about things you have overshared when drunk
more money
New hobbies ( I now read lots , I do crafts , my garden is looking great and I love spending the weekends tending to it )
Getting up early - I wake refreshed and see the day .

This morning I woke at 730 ( a lie in now ) , had a coffee in bed , got up went and did everything in prep for the week ( ironing , shopping , lunches etc ) now I’m sat in the sun in my hot tub , the kids are in and out and playing on the grass , with the bbq on reading a good book . Sundays were usually a write off for me - pushing through a hangover , no energy , leaving everything to the last minute .

I would like to add - I am not an alcoholic . I have never struggled , I am not even a massive fan of it but my husband is and all we did socially when we didn’t have the kids , included drinking - so I used to do it because what else would I do?! He is 4 months sober and I am more than happy to have given up too - life is so much better . Life is actually beautiful , just the simple things …. But drink hides it all from you .

Something that actually made me feel so grateful to be living a sober life ….. the other week I woke up at 5am . Wide awake , as we had had an early night . My husband got up and made me a coffee and we just sat there in silence , content , reading whilst listening to the birds sing knowing it was going to be a lovely, sunny day . I then thought about all the people that would still be awake at that time , after drinking all night and then be falling into bed to sleep the day away. I can’t imagine anything worse , yet I used to do it so much . All the beautiful days I wasted

"Less anxiety
better skin/hair
better sleep
more energy
weight loss
less risk of certain cancers
more money -I cannot believe how much difference not buying 3+ bottles of wine each week makes!
less of an argumentative arsehole"

I didnt get any of this!

I went from daily drinking (but rarely getting drunk) to 6 weeks of sobriety. No change to skin/hair/weight. I seemed to just eat more snack foods in the evenings instead!

I was bored and miserable & just didn't get any of these benefits others report.

It does take longer than that and if
ypu retain the modest you are missing out by not drinking it is harder x