To ask what you enjoy about being sober

[Sunshinesusan41]

I have a really odd relationship with alcohol. I've cut back a lot. First lockdown I was drinking every night. I don't do that now and feel much better for it, but I still do drink at weekends and end up writing days off due to feeling lethargic, unmotivated and anxious the next day. But at the time I just enjoy that tipsy silly carefree feeling.

Yesterday i drank quite a lot with and after lunch. What followed was a terrible nights sleep, anxiety, restlessness and feeling wrung out and stressed yet again today. Why do I do it? It doesn't serve me in any way.

I'm going to cut back and have a few weekends off. I don't need alcohol, I just like it in the same way I like having a chocolate bar with my cuppa. I wondered what others enjoy about a sober lifestyle? I need some motivation on not giving in to the wine witch come the weekend.

Erm, everything.

I used to love wine but gave up alcohol completely a year ago. I never thought it would, I thought life would be boring but it has been brilliant! My mental health has vastly improved, my sleep has improved, I dropped two stone, my skin looks great, my marriage is better, I’m a more patient parent, I have more money… I could go on😂 I’m essentially still the same person but healthier, happier, richer and better looking😂😂😂

Other than saving a bit of money, not much unfortunately. I sleep better with alcohol (it interacts with my medication and guarantees I'll be asleep within minutes of hitting the pillow most of the time) and as long as I keep within sensible limits (a bottle of wine or so) I don't feel ill the next day.

The worst thing about being sober is the evenings drrrrrrraaaaaaaaagggggggggg on for ages. Have a few drinks and they fly by!

Not having worsened anxiety due to drinking , having a clear head and being able to enjoy the weekend without a hangover. Also , having more money in my pocket to enjoy a hobby that is actually good for my mental wellbeing.

A 6am walk on the beach when it’s quiet - no other people (except my fellow dog walkers!). It’s a beautiful feeling! Can’t enjoy that with a hangover 😂

I've just decided to have a month off the booze. I'm sick of feeling vaguely crap every Sunday - exhausted, headachey, spaced out, slightly iffy stomach. I don't drink very much but I still feel rough the next day. It's not fair!

When I've had dry periods in the past, heres what I loved:

• mornings. Waking up feeling rested and refreshed, and looking forward to the day ahead
• loads more energy

-doing more exercise, coz of loads more energy

• less anxiety
• face looking less round and puffy
• generally looking leaner and fitter

It is 100 percent better for your health and your head to not drink alcohol. If you're even slightly considering it, just go for it. Have a month off (at least) and see how you feel

Metal clarity and energy is a big positive for me too. Today I feel drained, I can't concentrate, got no energy to go for a walk or work out and missing those things has a knock on effect on my physical health and well-being too.

I enjoy the feeling of having a drink, I don't enjoy the feeling the next day, it's really not worth it.

I don’t have to worry about getting home when I can drive anywhere
No post drinking shame
Better sleep
Better skin
Weight loss

I like waking up with a clear head, having a pudding instead of wine, more money, better sleep

I think when you need alcohol as a prop you have a problem. It gives me a headache so I don't drink very often.

I quit drinking for several years & really wish I hadn’t started again as I have absolutely ballooned & don’t sleep half as well as I used to. Plus I spend money we haven’t got on bottles of wine. I need to sort this.

'having a pudding instead of wine '

Yes! Good one 👍

8 years sober here and I just simply love it.

I have no anxiety
No depression
A clear head each morning
I feel and look healthier
More energy
I'm a nicer person

Just everything.

I was a fairly heavy drinker, and now can take or leave it, might have a single G&T on a Friday night, or drink sangria if we go to Spain on holiday.
I don’t miss hangovers! Or cringing about what I did last night. Or the cost. I don’t make stupid decisions anymore, with my head clouded by alcohol, I have better friends now, not drinking buddies.

Everything. I stopped drinking in January and my mental health has improved greatly. My skin is better, anxiety has improved, I'm exercising more. I honestly can't see any reason to go back to drinking. I've just spent the weekend with family which is usually a very boozy occasion but I absolutely did not feel I was missing out on anything at all by sticking to the Heineken 0%. Usually after coming home from a weekend with them I'd be feeling absolutely desolate today, I don't miss that one bit.

I feel so so hungover today, absolutely awful. I just can’t stop drinking when I get started, and always feel so awful for the following days. Why can’t I just say no!! This thread is a reminder to stop self harming.

• I like being able to think clearly
• I like not unnecessarily ageing my skin, liver and overall health
• I like not going to A&E with an accident I wouldn't have had when sober, especially in a pandemic
• I like having no hangovers. Specifically, I bloody HATE hangovers. Stupid pointless waste of a day.

• I don't like feeling out of control of myself
• I don't like being a PITA to other people
• I don't like being in environments with drunk men leering over me and drunk women starting fights with me. Nor do I like sticking to the floor or paying excessive amounts for a drink.
• I don't feel the need to drug myself to lower my inhibitions enough to either relax or enjoy myself. I can do both better sober.

I'm somebody who drank regularly, enjoyed the nights out as a young adult etc but who has gradually completely gone off even occasional drinks as an adult. I mean, it "helps" that I had a bad illness with my liver (not alcohol related) and I am now wary of doing anything that is unsupportive to my liver because I quite like being out of hospital and my eyes and skin being the colour they should be not yellow. I do enjoy the taste of alcoholic drinks but not the effects of the alcohol. There has recently been an explosion in the availability of non-alcoholic spirits recently, and with mixers like fevertree etc it is very possible to have lovely grown up tasting drinks without the alcohol in them

Looking forward to getting pissed?

No, I like not having a fuzzy head, anxiety is better, everything is better.

I do still like a few beers each week but I'm in charge of it, not the drink.

Not much of a drinker, social only these days. But, by comparison with people my age who do drink, I benefit from:
No belly fat and small waist at 52.
Good skin that glows.
Knowing that I'm avoiding all sorts of health issues.
Knowing I'm not dependent on something to relax or get through the day.
Low tolerance, so when drinking socially feel very good after a very small amount.

A year sober, and I really enjoy not spending the rest of the night trying not to throw up when I've had a couple of gins...

Never had a problem with drink but stopped 2 years ago as was about to have surgery that would mean I couldn't drink. I don't miss it at all. My main issue was drinking would pile in the pounds - could put on over half a stone in a weekend if I did a lot of drinking. It also made me eat way more, bad skin and just feeling crap. Money was never an issue but I'm such a cheap date these days so no arguments from my bank account.

I'm pregnant so haven't been drinking for some time but have been to a few functions recently and honesty I don't miss the awful hangover and anxiety. I've noticed people use alcohol do deal with social awkwardness which I don't have the luxury of at the moment but not drinking has made me realise I'm quite comfortable within myself.
I tend to do the things I want to do rather than staying in bed with a hangover.
I don't miss the internal timer on a Friday night waiting for the glass of red wine I've been thinning about all day!

Having kids put a stop to my drinking. Having to get up early I just can't afford to have a hangover with 2 small children under 5. While I sometimes miss the odd glass of wine with a meal I am happy to be designated driver and even happier to feel fresh in the morning. Its really not worth the hangover and I can't see me going back to drinking again.

No hangovers - no amount of good fun is worth them anymore, esp with 2 young children. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a social drink but stop at 2 (or as soon as I feel I’m going beyond a light ‘merry’ feeling)

better sleep, better health, no hangovers, i can drive somewhere and know i can get home safely.

tbh, i can take or leave alcohol, i occasionally have a bottle of cider, or a glass of bacardi and coke, or pimms and lemonade.. but thats because i like the taste, and one or two of an evening now and then (literally once a month maybe) is neither harm nor foul to anyone.

I think if you drink to drink/get drunk/buzzed, then you're doing it wrong, and have an unhealthy outlook... if you're having it because you like the taste/its a little treat once in a while, then its fine.